Scotland Outdoors

BBC Radio Scotland

4.8 (43)
NATURE
UPDATED WEEKLY

A topical guide to life in the Scottish outdoors.

3D AGO

Bracklinn Falls, Needle Felting and The Cabrach Distillery

Golf courses are often criticised for their lack of biodiversity, but at The Plock, near Kyle of Lochalsh, a community project is reclaiming the local golf course and giving it back to the wild. Mark met up with the local ranger, Heather Beaton, to find out more about this rewilding initiative. A new award-winning footbridge has been built at Bracklinn Gorge near Callander. Mark visits the site and meets with advisor and architect Murray McKellar from the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, to hear about the innovative design of this new bridge. The remote area of The Cabrach was once a hotbed for illicit whisky production, before falling into decline through the late 1800s. Now a new distillery has been built in the area, aiming to bring the historic whisky trade back, but reimagined through a sustainable and community focused lens. Mark meets up with members of The Cabrach Trust to find out about their efforts, and maybe even taste a wee dram. Rachel is on the West Highland Way, with Ian Alderman and his 10 year old daughter Eve. The pair, who are both autistic, have been walking together to raise money for charity, and have now successfully completed all of Scotland’s Great Trails. We are joined on the programme by Tracey Howe, who is now 1/3 of the way through her walk around the British Coast, to raise money for UK Cancer Charities. We speak to her just as she has reached Land's End, to find out how she is getting on. Fiona Finlayson is a needle felt artist who seeks out her materials across Scotland on her travels, and brings it back to her studio to craft models of pets and other wild animals. Rachel joins her in her studio, to find out how her passion for the craft first came about Mark met up with Graham Gillie, a conservation carpenter with the Antarctic Heritage Trust, before his 5th visit to Antarctica. He is responsible for maintaining some of the historic sites on the continent, and battling the harsh weather conditions. Mark found out what it is about such a challenging job that appeals for him.

1h 24m
6D AGO

Preserving Antarctica's Heritage Buildings with Conservation Carpenter Graham Gillie

Mark Stephen hears from Graham Gillie about his extraordinary working life in Antarctica

22 min
MAR 1

Kingfishers, a Gunpowder Mill and a Halifax Bomber Relic

Mark visits the Montrose Air Station Museum to hear about a new addition to their collection, part of a Halifax Bomber, which crashed in the Angus glens in 1944. Shan Brewis tells us the story behind the plane crash, and how the piece of wreckage came to be discovered exactly 80 years after the tragedy. Red Squirrels in Scotland are often under threat, but Rachel finds out about the newest concern for our native population. Speaking to Meja Vesterlund from Saving Scotland's Squirrels, she hears about the threat of squirrel pox. Global celebrations have been taking place this week for World Gaelic Week. Mark spoke to Robyn Ireland, Gaelic Officer with Nature.Scot, about the Forgotten Woodlands project, which mapped Gaelic place names in order to show historically wooded areas across Scotland, demonstrating both the ecological and cultural relevance of the Gaelic language. Roslin Glen Country Park is something of a hidden gem, close by to the well-known Rosslyn Chapel. Mark is shown around by park ranger Alan Krumholds, who divulges the interesting industrial past of the area, and its present day, flourishing flora and fauna. Erected in 2014, the Tom Weir Statue in Balmaha is a fitting tribute to the popular mountaineer, author and broadcaster. Rachel talks to John Urquhart, from the conservation charity ‘Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs’, to reflect on the decade since the statue’s installation and the new campaign to upgrade the signage and information in the area. Professor Catherine Heymans joins us on the programme, reflecting on the Planetary Parade phenomena that has gripped the UK over the past week, and shares her thoughts on the benefits of getting out to gaze up at the night sky. Lossiemouth Community Council has discovered an innovative use for last year’s Christmas trees. Phil visits the beach where these discarded trees are being repurposed as a defence against coastal erosion. Rachel is out on the Water of Leith with wildlife photographer Tom Kelly, to find out about the rich variety of species that he captures on a daily basis at his patch along the river.

1h 25m
FEB 26

Wildlife on the Water of Leith

During the Covid lockdown, Tom Kelly decided to stroll along the Water of Leith Walkway every single day and take photographs of the wildlife in the area. The photographer from Edinburgh has always had a keen interest in nature and he wanted to explore what was living in his own neighbourhood. The result is a huge collection of photographs showcasing what lives on and near the river at different times of the year.

25 min
FEB 22

A Soutar's Shop, Jigsaws and Gorillas

Winchburgh in West Lothian is expanding rapidly, with several new housing developments underway. At the heart of these new developments is the 85 acre Authcaldie Park, where Mark visits a group of volunteers who are building a new centre piece for the area – a model cathedral made entirely out of willow. RSPB Loch Leven has recently hosted the Convention of Migratory Species, a UN convention with 130 member states involved. Rachel meets up Sarah Scott and Professor Des Thompson to find out about the aims of this convention, and the impact that climate change is having on our migratory birds. The Glasgow Seed Library is an initiative which aims to collect and share seeds within the wider community. Helen Needham went along with one of the seed librarians Rowan Lear, to find out more about the purposes of a seed library, and the huge diversity of seeds they have in store. Back at the Convention of Migratory Species, Rachel hears from some of the international experts present at the meeting, and what their worries are for other migratory animals worldwide. The Ballogie Souter Shop was once a humble timber shack where generations of Deeside villagers went to get shoes made and repaired. Since its closure in 1941, the shop has been stuck in time, almost completely untouched. Now owned by the Birse Community Trust, Mark heads along to see what artefacts he can discover, and the plans to preserve and protect the collection. The Scottish Mountaineering Trust has announced they are the sole beneficiary of the estate of Scottish mountaineer and innovator, Hamish MacInnes. Mark and Rachel are joined by the John Hutchinson from the trust to find out how they hope to honour Hamish’s legacy. The work of Scottish biologist and polymath Sir Patrick Geddes is being explored and celebrated this weekend as part of the Edinburgh 900 events calendar. Helen Needham met up with the Director of the Scottish Storytelling Festival Donald Smith to learn more about him, and his impact on the study of natural sciences. Ian Redmond is a biologist and conservationist best known for his work with mountain gorillas and elephants, but was also one of the delegates at the Convention of Migratory Species. He explains to Rachel why people in Scotland should still be concerned about the impact of climate change on animals like apes, that live thousands of miles away from us.

1h 22m
FEB 19

The Glasgow Seed Library with Rowan Lear

Helen Needham meets seed librarian Rowan Lear

24 min
FEB 15

Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Snowdrops and a Beaver MOT

Auchnerran Farm is run by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust as a demonstration farm to test and trial conservation and land management strategies. Mark visits the farm to hear about their projects and how they manage these alongside a profitable enterprise of sheep farming. It is the 20th anniversary of the opening of Five Sister’s Zoo this year, and the facility has grown from very small beginnings to now housing over 160 species on site in West Calder. Rachel chats to Brian and Gary Curran about their growth over the last two decades and their recent attempts to rescue zoo animals from Ukraine. 2025 marks 20 years since the Scottish Outdoor Access Code came into force, and Mark is joined by journalist and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch to look at exactly how this has impacted Scotland’s relationship with the outdoors. Rachel is on the banks of Loch Lomond visiting a project attempting to combat erosion on one of Scotland’s most popular hills. Conic Hill has undergone a £900,000 path restoration, and access officer Dave Robinson meets her to explain why such a project is so necessary. Mark is at Dunnottar Castle, one of the locations featured in Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s novel Sunset Song. Speaking to Emily Cruickshank, Mark finds out the history of the castle and spots some of the wildlife that surrounds it. Mark and Rachel are joined by a lifelong scholar of Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s work, Bill Malcolm, to find out more about the author’s background and the incredible impact he has made on Scottish literature, even 90 years on from his death. It is the height of Snowdrop season, with many gardens across Scotland opening their gates for visitors to enjoy the carpet of white flowers. Mark visits Bruckhills Croft in Rothienorman and meets Helen Rushton, whose garden boasts nearly 600 different varieties of the plant. Back at Five Sister’s Zoo, Rachel finds out about the important work the zoo does in partnership with the Beavers Trust, managing populations across Scotland. Mark heads to Charlesfield Farm and meets Trevor and Lorna Jackson, the couple behind Border’s Bubbly, who are hoping to be the first sparkling wine producers in Scotland

1h 24m
FEB 12

Sunset Song - Exploring The Mearns - Part 2

The 7th February 2025 marks 90 years since the death of Scottish writer Lewis Grassic Gibbon, author of Sunset Song. In 2016, it was voted Scotland's favourite novel. In this archive programme, Mark Stephen explores the area it was set in, the Mearns.

29 min

See All (644)

4.8

out of 5

43 Ratings

Always entertaining

Feb 8

kmax6

Greetings from Dawson Creek, BC, Canada! No connection to Scotland but love the humour and variety in this podcast. 😊
Thank you

2021-02-13

fermquine

I lived and worked in Aberdeenshire until moving to Canada in 2003. The stories, the language and the fun on your show take me back and make me laugh.
Fantastic

2020-07-26

Claire Frances McCann

I absolutely love this podcast. I moved to Ontario 15 years ago and miss Scotland constantly. I usually go home every year but COVID put a stop to that this year. This podcast is helping ease the homesickness. Thanks guys.
Refreshing ASMR for Indoor Nature Lover

2020-02-27

batscanfly

This show is so soothing to listen to. I love Scotland Outdoors. I deeply enjoy going out in nature and this show provides me with that fix when I can't get outside.