Let's go to the pub and listen to some music! Join me for two conversations with Irish tin whistle player Maggie Wallace and Trad music session host Callum Forsyth about all things traditional music in Glasgow.In these conversations, we cover:The commonalities & differences between Irish and Scottish Trad music scenesWhat it's like to learn an instrument as an adultWhy Glasgow is such a hotspot for traditional musicHow pub sessions in Glasgow are usually structuredand more!Visit our websi...
'A Coorie Winter' is a story about getting cosy (or 'coorie') in the great outdoors during the Scottish winter months. We're heading to the Cairngorms National Park and the Moray Coast for stops in Aviemore, Tomintoul and Findhorn.In each location, we're trying another coorie winter activity, from hiking with reindeer on the Cairngorm plateau to sweating in a wood-fired sauna with sea views and star gazing at the Cairngorms Dark Sky Park. Things don't always go as planned, but that's part of ...
Join me for a conversation about Gaelic Songs and the role of singing in oral tradition with Gaelic singer Ali Coyle (Alison Mhic Giolla Chomhgaill). As a Gaelic learner in Argyll, she has taken on the role of a tradition bearer, learning Gaelic songs and their stories. In this conversation, Ali shares how she got started with singing in Gaelic and how songs shape her relationship with Gaelic culture and history. We talk about the role of singing in Gaelic oral tradition, the sheer varie...
'Good for Crofting' is a story about living with and off the land. Crofting is an integral part of Scottish culture in the Highlands and Islands, and on a crofting tour with DJ Cameron in South Uist, you can learn more about it. We learn what distinguishes crofting from farming, talk about sustainable crofting techniques and get a glimpse of the unique relationship between a crofter and his land and animals.DJ takes us to the machair to meet his sheep and cattle, shares about the challenges h...
'The Sounds of Mousa' is a story about two back-to-back trips I did to Mousa, a small island off the west coast of Shetland. First, we head there at night to witness the return of thousands of storm petrels to their nests. The next day, we return in daylight to explore Mousa Broch and the trails across the island. Along the way, we'll meet the men who take you to the island, learn about traditional sheep farming and dive into the history of the island.At the end of the episode, I share my top...
Last week, I spoke with Francesca Lo Verso, an outdoor therapist and host of the “We Are Here, Too” podcast. One of the questions I asked her was about exercises we can do to tune into our surroundings, feel more present in the moment and connect with nature around us.From this, we came up with the idea to create a special episode with a couple of guided nature meditations for you.So, today, we aren’t travelling anywhere in particular. Instead, I invite you to hit pause, metaphorically speaki...
Join me for a conversation with outdoor therapist Francesca Lo Verso about nature connection and how to be more mindful of nature on the go. Francesca is a therapist with a focus on outdoor therapy and host of the "We Are Here, Too" podcast about life abroad and mental health. We met up to dive deep into that feeling of connectedness with nature, why it’s important and how it can add to our travel experiences.Francesca tells us how we can connect more deeply with nature while we’re out and ab...
Join me for a conversation with Russell Fraser, the Managing Director at Loch Ness Hub & Travel and Chair of the Scottish Community Tourism Network, SCOTO. We hear the story of the local community in Drumnadrochit, and how they stepped up to the challenge of running the local visitor information centre. But that's not all they do - from e-bike hire and baggage transfer for hikers on the Great Glen Way, to providing public toilets and offering school meals, the Loch Ness Hub works hard to ...
This story was recorded LIVE at the Tremula Festival in Brighton on 21 September 2024.Local communities should be at the heart of sustainable and slow tourism in Scotland.'A Slow and Winding Journey' is a story about discovering the wild landscapes of the Isle of Harris - without losing sight of its community of people who take care of North Harris, its mountains, beaches and coastlines.We'll go for a hike to spot eagles on the North Harris Estate, join local guide and former ranger Daryll Br...
Covering great distances isn't necessarily the best way to see as much as possible when you travel.'One Mile Magic' is a story about picking a mile-long stretch on the Berwickshire Coast and exploring it in depth. We'll enjoy a slow morning on the beach of Coldingham Bay, go snorkelling and swimming on the Berwickshire Snorkel Trail, and follow the coastal path to the charming fishing village of St Abbs.None of the places we visit in this story are further than a 30-minute walk apart - let me...
'Push and Pull' is a story about slowing down and exploring the Isles of Barra and Vatersay by bike. I spent 3 nights on these islands which I had only visited once before - to travel even slower, by foot on the Hebridean Way. Yet somehow, I never felt like I did these islands justice - seeing so little of them on my hike...That's what this story is about - maximising your time on the island, while also slowing down to immerse yourself in the landscapes.We'll explore Barra and Vatersay by bik...
Wild for Scotland is coming back soon with brand new stories and conversations digging deep into what it means to travel slowly and with purpose.Season 6 of Wild for Scotland is all about "Slow Travel". We’ll take it slow, soak up our surroundings, pay attention to the littlest details, and will find joy in the small things all around us.Our journey will take us to distant islands and ancient civilisations, to bustling villages and crowded pubs.We'll slow down physically and mentally, make en...
In this episode, we speak to Freya Bromley, host of The Tidal Year podcast, Alycia Pirmohamed, a poet shortlisted for the Nan-Sheperd Prize, and Mollie Hughes, world record-holding adventurer extraordinaire, about their latest books. We talk to the three authors about their journeys as writers, how they draw inspiration from water and what we can expect from their books:The Tidal Year by Freya BromleyAnother Way to Split Water by Alycia PirmohamedBlue Scotland by Mollie HughesShop all wa...
Join me for a conversation with Caroline Willis from the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust. We discuss the impact marine tourism has on coastal environments and marine species like whales and dolphins, and what we as visitors can do to minimise our impact.Caroline also tells us about the work the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust has been doing since the 1990s, their various citizen science projects and initiatives to encourage responsible marine tourism in Scotland.Visit our website to find ...
Scotland's Snorkel Trails highlight suitable places to snorkel in search of marine wildlife all along the Scottish coast - and they help us fight against the "extinction of experience".We speak with Elouise Cartner from the Scottish Wildlife Trust about her work on the trails and how snorkelling can contribute to stronger relationships between people and the coast.And we hear from Lyle Boyle from local nature conservation charity The Ecology Centre, who helped picking the sites on the new Sou...
'A Long Time Coming' takes you on a journey along the River Tay, from its source to the sea. We hop inside a canoe to follow the footsteps (or paw strokes?) of beavers who live on this river system - and learn about their troubled past.We talk about beaver reintroduction programmes in Britain, learn interesting facts about beavers and head out to hopefully meet them on the river banks. Visit our website to find the full show notes incl. the transcript, tips for a trip to Ardfern and Loch Crai...
'All That Could Be' is an explorative adventure story set in the waters of Loch Craignish. We go snorkelling and paddleboarding to immerse ourselves in the dazzling underwater world of seagrass, meet its inhabitants and form a relationship with an eco-system that normally goes unseen.We speak with Philip Price of Seawilding about the importance of seagrass meadows for our coast and climate, and meet native oysters that have been reintroduced to the loch.Visit our website to find the full show...
'Healing Waters' is a deep-dive into my own personal experiences with swimming, grief and depression. The story takes you first into my mind, and then on a journey to the Isle of Coll I undertook in search of healing.Visit our website to find the full show notes incl. the transcript and links to further resources about the topics we cover on the show.This episode contains contextual references of grief, depression and suicidal ideation. I wanted to let you know upfront, so you can take care w...
'Salt of the Earth' is a story about a landscape of extremes. Twice a day, the salt marshes of Scotland get flooded by the incoming tide and the plants that grow here perform their own secret magic trick - surviving and thriving in both fresh and saltwater!Visit our website to find the full show notes incl. the transcript, tips for a trip to St Andrews and links to further reading about salt marshes.Thank you to Helena Simmons of the Green Shores salt marsh restoration project at the Universi...
'A Vastness of Space' is a story about my trip to the Flow Country, a region of vast peatlands spanning Caithness and Sutherland. We travel through the area by car, by train, by bike and on foot, and learn about the fascinating ecology of a blanket bog. From its complex system of interlinked peat pools to a variety of birds and insects that call these moorlands their home.We also talk to Milly Revill-Hayward from the RSPB who - along with her colleagues - takes care of the Forsinard Flows Nat...