Podcasts about Aviemore

Human settlement in Scotland

  • 55PODCASTS
  • 88EPISODES
  • 46mAVG DURATION
  • 1MONTHLY NEW EPISODE
  • Jan 20, 2025LATEST
Aviemore

POPULARITY

20172018201920202021202220232024


Best podcasts about Aviemore

Latest podcast episodes about Aviemore

Green Signals
Investigating railway accidents – Interview with RAIB Deputy Chief Inspector

Green Signals

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 23:41


Railway accidents and train crashes are investigated thoroughly to find out what caused them and how they can be prevented from happening again. We spoke to Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) Deputy Chief Inspector Andy Lewis to find out how accident investigation has changed, what RAIB's role is, and to learn about recent accidents. We discuss the Flying Scotsman collision at the Strathspey Railway in Aviemore in September 2023, and the more recent fatal accident at Talerddig in Wales in October 2024. In this episode: (00:00) Intro (00:20) What is the RAIB? (03:01) How does RAIB work with other investigators? (08:27) Why does it take so long to produce accident reports? (11:17) Flying Scotsman crash at the Strathspey Railway (16:57) Talerddig train crash report (21:37) Broughty Ferry report Membership: If you want to see even more from Green Signals, including exclusive content, become a member and support the channel further too. YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals/join⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Patreon - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Green Signals: Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.greensignals.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Newsletter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow: X (Twitter) - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/greensignallers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/greensignallers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits: Photos & video - Shutterstock, Transport for London, Network Rail, HS2 Ltd, Southeastern, Telerail Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Wild for Scotland
A Coorie Winter - A Winter trip to the Cairngorms & Moray Coast

Wild for Scotland

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 26:14


'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 any winter adventure to Scotland...Visit our website to find the full show notes incl. the transcript and links to places I mention in this episode.Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Birch Grove Cabin. Book now at birchgrovecabin.co.uk and quote “Wild for Scotland” to get 10% off your stay from December to February 2024. Coming to Scotland? Start planning your trip to Scotland with my FREE Trip Planning Checklist. Get it here! Browse my Scotland itineraries for your next trip.Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!Join our email list for weekly resources and glimpses behind the scenes.Follow us on Instagram @wildforscotlandAlso check out my Scotland blog Watch Me See!

The Ski Podcast
224: Ski Show Special ft Dave Ryding, Chemmy Alcott, LISTEX, Carv 2 & more

The Ski Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 61:32


This episode is a Snow Show special, including interviews with Dave Ryding, Chemmy Alcott and others at the 2024 London Snow Show, Northern Snow Show and the industry event LISTEX.  We discuss the upcoming World Cup season, the Alpine Ski World Championships in Saalbach, the growth of the Magic Pass and there's big news about the future of the London Snow Show itself. Plus we have a new competition where you can win some great prizes. Host Iain Martin was joined in the studio by Jamie Grant – the founder of Carv.  Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code If you are heading to the snow, listener, then don't forget that you can save money when you book your ski hire at intersportrent.com and use the code ‘SKIPODCAST'  You'll get a guaranteed discount for ski hire in France, Austria and Switzerland and to make it even simpler you don't even need to use the code, just take this link and your basket will automatically be reduced. SHOW NOTES Jamie was first on the podcast in Episode 193 (1:00) The Carv team were testing the Carv 2 in Valle Nevado, Chile in September (1:30) Glencoe is planning a new £26 million gondola (3:00) Listen to Iain's report from Glencoe earlier this year in Episode 203 GB Snowsport athlete Mia Brookes came 5th in the Snowboard Big Air at Chur (3:30) The new GB Alpine Foundation has already raised over £160,000 (4:00) Listen to Iain's interview with GB Snowsport CEO Vicky Gosling in Episode 222 Dave Ryding chat (5:15) Dave has moved to Head Skis (6:00) Chemmy Alcott chat (7:00) Marcel Hirscher is back representing the Netherlands (8:15) Could Lindsey Vonn make a comeback (8:45) Ski Sunday schedule for 2025 (9:00) Neil McQuoid, Racer Ready Magazine (11:00) Julia Eder, Salzburgerland (13:45) The World Champs will take place from 04-16 February in Saalbach (14:15) The Ski Podcast sponsors the Carrick-Smith brothers – Zak, Freddy and Luca (16:15) Zak Carrick-Smith (16:30) Luca Carrick-Smith with Phil Smith (18:30) Freddy Carrick-Smith (21:20) Iain presented at the London Show about ‘How to Ski Flight Free' (22:15) Iain has taken a Flight Free Pledge for 2024 (22:30) Dom Winter, Protect Our Winters (23:00) Find out about POW's Carbon Literacy Courses (25:00) Inghams are celebrating their 90th anniversary this year Helen Taylor, Inghams (25:30) Listen to Iain's special interview with Lesley McKenna Lesley McKenna, Wandering Workshops, Aviemore (27:45) Mike Richards reported from the new Northern Snow Show (31:00) LISTEX is a B2B event that took just before show, organised by MTN (32:30) Iain moderated a panel on how the industry can help skiers make better choices (33:00) The Mountain Travel Network is taking over the London Snow Show (33:15) James Gambrill from MTN (33:45) Jamie Grant, founder of Carv (37:00) Carv 2 launched on 14 October (37:15) Buddy Passes mean that the Carv can now be shared with friends (41:45) Carv uses data from over 500 million turns (43:00) The algorithm for 24/25 is 6% more accurate than last year (45:45) Ski IQ is now different values for different terrains (46:30) Carv 2 is available at £159 until 28 October (51:00) Sebastien Travelletti, Vice President at Magic Pass (52:00)        COMPETITION – WIN A CARV 2 and more (57:45) Simply complete our short survey to be included in the draw to win prizes including a Carv 2, Vallon Aviator Sunglasses, Wild Caper underlayer, Atomic Atom Hydrogen water bottle, Verbier beanie, Val d'Isère Opinel and more. The survey is open until the end of November, so just take this to get your name in the draw. Feedback I enjoy all feedback about the show so please contact us on social @theskipodcast or by email theskipodcast@gmail.com  Ed Parkinson: "Thanks for the pod. I find it brilliant and very informative. I'm an avid skier and I love gear." Rachel: "Great podcast, thanks guys! Just moved to Revelstoke from the UK for my first season and now feel way more prepped to go buy my first pair of skis'" If you like the podcast, there are three things you can do to help:    1) Follow us. Just take a look for that button and press it now  2) Give us a review or just leave a comment on Apple Podcasts or Spotify  3) Book your ski hire with Intersport Rent using the code ‘SKIPODCAST' or take this link You can follow Iain @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast

Active Outdoors
Exploring Scottish Hill Tracks with Colin Cadden, a volunteer with ScotWays

Active Outdoors

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2024 0:13


Colin Cadden, who lives in Aviemore, was one of around 130 volunteers who helped survey routes across the country for the latest edition of the guide to Scottish Hill Tracks. Compiled by ScotWays, the Scottish Rights of Way Society, the sixth edition of the guide is published exactly 100 years after the organisation first published […]

Self Directed
#84 Marc Wallert | Strength Through Crises: Surviving 140 Days Kidnapped in the Jungle

Self Directed

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 54:05 Transcription Available


Marc Wallert is a resilience expert, keynote speaker, and author best known for surviving a 140-day hostage ordeal in the Philippine jungle in 2000. Drawing on this life-changing experience, he helps individuals and organizations build resilience and thrive through crises. Marc shares insights on leadership, mental strength, and stress management through his keynotes and his book, "Strength Through Crises," where he emphasizes the power of acceptance and optimism in overcoming challenges​(Marc and his wife are fellow travelers; we have met them through the worldschooling community. When we first heard Marc's story, we knew that we wanted to record an episode with him. In this episode, Marc shares the extraordinary story of being held hostage in the Philippine jungle. He recounts the life-changing experience of being abducted, the mental strategies that helped him survive, and how he turned a terrifying crisis into a source of strength. Marc's journey offers powerful lessons on resilience, personal growth, and navigating life's toughest challenges.

Self Directed
#83 Rob Brinded | Unlocking the Mind-Body Connection: Healing Trauma and Reconnecting with the Body

Self Directed

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024 51:27 Transcription Available


Rob Brinded is an experienced performance coach and healer specializing in the intricate connections between the mind, body, and spirit. With a background in elite sports, including football, ballet, and combat sports, Rob developed a unique approach to injury prevention and rehabilitation, focusing on the holistic integration of physical and emotional health. Over the past 25 years, he has explored how thoughts and emotions influence physical well-being, leading to his innovative energy medicine and posturology methods. Today, Rob works with clients worldwide, helping them unlock their body's full potential by understanding and resolving deep-seated emotional imbalances. His work emphasizes the importance of staying present in the body, free from the limitations of the mind and spirit, to achieve optimal health and performance.

The White Out - Ski Podcast
S3. E3 Summer Climbing, Via Ferrata and all things Marmottes! Plus the best climbing resorts around the world and a spotlight on Whistler British Columbia

The White Out - Ski Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2024 36:54


This week we explored news from around the world of summer and winter mountain resorts including:Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network, Glamos that the countries glaciers have 31% more snow on them now than on average over the years between 2010 and 20209% of skiers in French resort were from the UK, that's the largest group after the FrenchFrance's ski season has just come out with some good news about the snow because above 1800 metres, snow accumulation was 20-30 cm's above the averagePeak Retreats have just launched what they say are affordable family summer holidays in the mountains and I took a look at some of the deals they have on offer – they go to the likes of Les Contamines, Samoens, Le Grand Bornand and Val Cenis. For around £1100 you can get a nice two bedroom apartment for a week that also includes a return ferry crossing, so pretty decent. Check those out at peakretreats.co.ukSkiline are offering chalets in Les Gets, Morzine and some of the Austrian resorts too. Chalets and apartments significantly lower than during the winter months, even during the school holidays.We also talked all things climbing and we discussed Via Ferrata another great way of getting up the mountains.We looked at some of the best places to go including:Chamonix including Mont Blanc at 4,805 metres, plus classic routes the grand Jorasses, the aiguille du dru and aiguille VerteGlenmore Lodge near Aviemore in Scotland The Dolomites are still probably the most famous destination to experience Via Ferrata – publishers Cicerone have a guide book with 75 routes included cicerone.co.ukWe discussed the Swiss Valais including the likes of Zermatt, Verbier, Nendaz, Crans-Montana, Anzère, Veysonnaz, Saas Fee, Leukerbad, Grimentz and Zinal as great places to experinece Via Ferrata.We also looked at:Crans-Montana - super luxury hotels, spas, golf, wakeboarding, e-mountain biking, hiking and incredible local wineVerbier – ride a huge network of mountain bike trails, listen to classical music, hang out in cool bars and pubs, great hiking of course and explore the area on a road bike.Nendaz and Veysonnaz, relax with the family, take long hikes, try paragliding, have a go at via ferrata and of course try mountain biking toosaas fee, well we mentioned the via ferrata, again great hiking but spectacular glacier scenery too and ride the funicular to the topFor more info head to Valais.ch/enAmnd finally we explored Whistler and all it has to offer in summer including:Whistler Mountain Bike Park, Peak to Peak Gondola, The High Note Trail, The Audain Art Museum, The Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, Fairmont Chateau Whistler or the Four Seasons Resort, ZipTrek Eco Tours, Whistler Farmers' Market, The Whistler Golf Club, designed by Arnold Palmer and the Nicklaus North Golf Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus.In the meantime Enjoy the mountains :) And Please do leave a review as it's the only way other like minded travellers get to find us! And don't forget to check us out on the following channels inthesnow.cominstagram.com/inthesnowTikTok@inthesnowmag youtube.com/inthesnowmagfacebook.com/inthesnowand contact us with your suggestions for further episodes at dom@InTheSnow.com / robert@ski-press.com

The Spokesmen Cycling Roundtable Podcast
EPISODE 352: Laura Laker

The Spokesmen Cycling Roundtable Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2024 67:53


21st April 2024 The Spokesmen Cycling Podcast EPISODE 352: Laura Laker SPONSOR: Tern Bicycles HOST: Carlton Reid GUEST: Laura Laker LINKS: https://www.the-spokesmen.com/ https://www.ternbicycles.com https://twitter.com/CarltonReid https://twitter.com/laura_laker https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/potholes-and-pavements-9781399406468/ Carlton Reid 0:11 Welcome to Episode 352 of the Spokesmen cycling podcast. This show was engineered on Sunday, April 21 2024. David Bernstein 0:28 The Spokesmen cycling roundtable podcast is brought to you by Tern bicycles. The good people at Tern are committed to building bikes that are useful enough to ride every day and dependable enough to carry the people you love. In other words, they make the kind of bikes that they want to ride. Tern has e-bikes for every type of rider. Whether you're commuting, taking your kids to school or even carrying another adult, visit www.ternbicycles.com. That's t e r n bicycles.com to learn more. Carlton Reid 1:04 I'm Carlton Reid and today's show is a chat with like journalist Laura Laker, author of an excellent new book, Potholes and Pavements. This is a travelogue featuring Laura's travels around the UK, writing on some of the best and worst bits of Britain's National Cycle network. From jaw droppingly gorgeous looking ancient military roads in the Highlands of Scotland to dark and dingy urban back streets blocked with barriers. As the books subhead warns, it's a bumpy ride. Um, so you've written a book. Is this your first? Laura Laker 1:46 Yeah, my first my first book, believe it or not, Carlton Reid 1:49 well done. Congratulations. It's a brilliant first book. One of many. I'm sure it'll be one of many. I noticed you've got a an agent. Yeah, you say in the back and thank him. So I'm guessing you're going to be doing more books? Laura Laker 2:00 Yeah, I guess so. I'm not trying to think about it too much. This one was very long in the gestation. I had an idea back in 2017 to do a basically ring around talking to people. I'd listened to the audiobook of John Steinbeck's Travels with Charlie, in which he travels across the US with his big poodle, and talking to people and he says he's most wonderful conversations, which were later question for their veracity, but it's just, it's just a wonderful format. And I love I'd kind of in that trip to America, I rediscovered my love of talking to strangers, which I had as a kid, and I'm kind of lost over the years, I guess, being British, but spending time in the US where everyone is just willing to talk to you and tell you their life story. I rediscovered this just love of cycling, is brilliant for that, you know, just talking to people you're travelling around, you might stop at some lights, or you might pass someone on a path and just get chatting to them. And it's wonderful people have the most amazing stories, I think Carlton Reid 2:59 Well, there's two teachers that you met, hopefully they will read the book. You weren't avoiding them. Laura Laker 3:07 I know Greg and Norton, they were so brilliant. And the most unexpected encounters and I was up in the Cairngorms and travelling alone and feeling a bit like oh, you know, such a beautiful, it's ridiculously beautiful up there. I'm always just astounded by Scotland, and how how it's possible for somewhere to be so beautiful. And the NCN [National Cycle Network] across the Cairngorms is something else, it's really quite remarkable. A lot of its off road, it's this dedicated path. It was an old military road. And the rest is on fairly quiet country roads. And I was pootling along on my big pink ebike, which I did some of my adventures on and I saw these roadies coming up behind me and I thought well that they're going to overtake me in a bit. And sure enough, they did. We said hello. And then I saw them stopped at this bridge and they were looking over and they just had this wonderful kind of whimsy about them this they weren't they were going a long way actually they're going from kind of Aviemore back to Preston where they were at least one of them lived and doing it over a couple of days in sort of training one of them's an Ironman enthusiastic participants, but on the way they were stopping looking over bridges, that sort of waterfalls over rocks and like looking across the landscape and just enjoying the scenery. And that for me is what cycling is about. It's about appreciating the world around us and the people around us and so they said we'll ride with us for a while and as you know ebike your Aberdeen bought a bike mine included, maxes out at 15 and a half miles an hour which these guys were obviously capable of exceeding quite easily. So but they they rode with me for quite some time and we chatted and they were just fantastic. And then yeah, they they stopped for a week and I had to run inside for a week. And then I came out and they'd gone Carlton Reid 4:51 but it's quite a nice way to say goodbye. Are you are you are you taking notes as you're going along? So you wrote their names and what they did. And or you coding stuff. How are you physically? Laura Laker 5:02 Yeah, so I get back at the end of a ride and write stuff down. And I do think it's best that way, especially with travel writing, because you forget so much so quickly. And the big three Cornwall, I think is, you know, in the early parts of the book, when I first started the exploration, further afield, you know, writing stuff down as you experience it, or very soon after is really important because you lose a lot of the detail and the texture of what you're experiencing. And I think it just makes for much richer story that way, but also difficult to do because you're having to memorise and maybe that's why Steinbeck was getting criticised because he wasn't writing No, no. As he was going along, he's remembering it. Well, memories can do. Memory is really interesting, actually. Because we we probably most of us think that our memories are fairly good, or the way that remember things is correct. But actually, it's very, very subjective. And the longer time goes on, the more we forget, or the memory gets warped, or things get introduced that didn't exist, maybe and it's really very, very subjective. I've got I don't know for some things, I've got quite a good short term memory so I can remember to a certain extent, but obviously, as Homer Simpson once said, you know, one thing comes into your brain another thing has to leave it so. Carlton Reid 6:23 That's 100% me though. So this book Potholes and Pavements, a bumpy ride on Britain's National Cycle network, it comes out May the ninth published by Bloomsbur. £16.99. Excellent, excellent book. I read it yesterday and got up early this morning to make sure I finished it before I spoke with you. Now normally when when I talk to people for this podcast, I always get them to send me a photograph so I can do the you know, the socials and the thing that goes on the show notes. What have you with you, oh, an hour and a half to do that. Because I have ridden with you ridden with you on bits of the ride that you are right that you mentioned in your book. So when you mentioned that, you know the cycle superhighway. You make an item was like, I've got that photograph because I was holding my camera photographing you behind me? Laura Laker 7:20 Yeah, with Brian Deegan. Carlton Reid 7:21 There's knowing smiles when I'm reading your books like I was on that ride. Like I know, Laura. Oh, my word. It's also like me on that ride. And when you describe windmills, yes. But the windmills and it's a cute book for me. Also cute because I know lots of these people who you're describing. And I know in the book, it says he didn't want to be described as a hero. But he is a hero. And because it's about the National Cycle network, then clearly that's got to be the guy who not single handedly founded it, but certainly pushed it through with those with those early innovators. So that's John Grimshaw. So he comes in, he's, he's in at least three or four parts of the book, you've clearly gone to speak to him a number of times wonderful. And it's fantastic that he's in there, because he really doesn't get the recognition he deserves. Laura Laker 8:16 Yeah, it's interesting. I mean, he I obviously have to speak to John Grimshaw. Because a lot of people as he points out, and as I tried to convey in the book, a lot of people and probably, you know, uncountable numbers of people were involved in the foundation of and development of the National Cycle network. And then it's maintenance ever since many of whom are working for very little, in fact, nothing, because they loved it. But John really seemed like, talking to people and talking to him, was the driving this real driving force behind it and his kind of self belief and single minded determination, I think was a major driver and he is such a character. I mean, a bit of a Marmite character, I think, but, you know, it seems like you need people to kind of drive things forward. Carlton Reid 9:05 Cos you need somebody like that. He's a visionary. Yeah, you know. I love Malcolm Shepherd. I love Zavier Brice, the people who are in charge now and Malcolm was the guy who came in after after John. But Malcolm wasn't a visionary. Malcolm was an accountant. And when when the organisation any organisation any business gets big, then you very often need somebody else to take over. And there's lots of faction there at the time. You don't go into it in a great detail. That was enormous friction there and there's still enormous amount of bad blood between people. Laura Laker 9:46 Yeah, and it's interesting because Caroline Lovatt. Here's another key figure from fairly early on and still works with John today. On there, they're still building cycle routes under a different organisation, cycle routes and greenways and Um, she says that, you know, for for years, according to her, John kept disappearing from the kind of record of that of the history of the NCN on Wikipedia, she kept putting him back in. And um, yeah, I mean, the story was, and that was a difficult part of it to tell. But it was one that had to be mentioned, I didn't want to go too into it. But obviously, you know, John, leaving Sustrans under fairly strange circumstances, and really against his will, was was part of the story that needed to be told. And it was a different and I spoke to a number of people and nobody really, I think, you know, there were potentially nondisclosure agreements. And so nobody really talks about what exactly happened, which is why I call I mentioned the omerta. Because it really seems like everyone has a slightly different story, or, and I and again, I, you know, it's memory and it was a painful time. And it was a long time ago. And it's quite common, as you say, with new organisations, you've got this big driving force, but then sometimes they're not the person to carry on leading an organisation once the first major thing is done, and, you know, they might not be great with people is, you know, having a skill to start and drive something is not the same as being a sort of manager of people and diplomats. And it's, yeah, it's quite often it's a painful process, certainly not unique, I think. Carlton Reid 11:16 No, it's very common for that kind of thing to happen. However, saying that it's very important to recognise who was that visionary? And I think he lost an awful lot of that. So, so wonderful to see John. central to that. So that's really nice part of the book because I, you know, John, John is a wonderful, wonderful guy, and absolutely, this would not have happened without him. I know, there's lots of other people you know, David Sproxton, all these kind of people were there at the same time, George Ferguson. So So Sproxton was Aardman Animation. So people who know admire animation, George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol, at one point, all these individuals were there at the time, but it needed that guiding force that needed that. Just somebody who woulda just said no, and just went ahead and did it. That was that was the ethos of Sustrans in the early days. So that Laura Laker 12:12 Yeah, yeah, because the status quo then as it is, today, is very much stacked against cycling routes happening. And so you kind of need a rebel who's not willing, who's you know, not willing to take no for an answer? Who's going to be able to make things happen? And I think in a way that kind of, I guess, you know, being from a fairly well off upper middle class background, you have the confidence really the education that kind of gives you that confidence and and then the character and self belief to just to drive that forward. Carlton Reid 12:47 Mmm. That you didn't mention not even once Cycling, Touring Club CTC cycling UK. Because the book isn't in all cycling, you are you are laser focused on the National Cycle network. But there was also friction between those two organisations, you know, stranden effect was an upstart organisation, then it got for £42.5 million with Meatloaf handing that over on TV or that kind of stuff. And there was there was an awful lot of friction between still is between strands and and what is today cycling UK. So you haven't got into that at all. What Why didn't you go into that? Is that just because you wanted to just stay laser focused on the cycle network? Laura Laker 13:36 I mean, I mentioned that not everyone felt that Sustrans was being helpful because they felt that cycle route should be delivered by government and charities stepping in. And taking that role almost allows the government to say, well, you know, someone's doing it. Now. We don't need to get involved. But I mentioned the kind of tension between certain types of cyclists. I think I might quote to you, I think I've got you in the references on that. But I mean, I don't know if I just don't know how. I don't know. It's yeah, it's a tricky one. It's how much to include, and you always have to make these decisions, what to include and what not to include, and I guess I just didn't feel like that was a key part of the story at all. There was some thinking at the time around that but and I'm aware that there was tension and I know that Mark Strong for one who gets quite a mention in the book, talked about Sustrans being too successful and not successful enough in that, you know, they were doing this job notionally? No, they were doing a great job for with what they had and who they were and ie not the government and with not very much money but they were doing enough just to allow the government to just say, You know what, well Sustrans is delivering the National Cycle network, tick, job done. Let's get back to the serious business of roads. Carlton Reid 15:01 because there is there is you meant we will get on to the very positive points, you've got like a bunch of what what do you call it in the book where you've got a whole bunch of asks basically? Oh, yeah, the manifesto, the manifesto. There you go. Number one, we'll go through these points. 10 point manifesto. So there's some positive stuff to talk about that. But you don't really mention that there's this that, you know, you're talking about, you know, this should be funded nationally, and there is that struggle, bear with you know, this is a charity, etc, etc. But then you've also got the weakness of you have actually got to at least have British Cycling as well, three competing organisations, going to government and asking for money for various things. And wouldn't it be nicer and more practical and may even get more stuff? If there's only one organisation so there is that there is the absolute fault line running through cycling? That is one of the reasons why it's very easy for the government to not do stuff because they're getting told different things by different organisations and one organisation saying don't back them back us. So there's that kind of friction there. Laura Laker 16:22 I don't know if that's if I see it that way. I mean, Sustrans cycling UK, and British Cycling, and things like livable streets are all part of the walking and cycling Alliance. And I think what that what that's trying to do is to unify the voice, because ultimately they want the same thing. I mean, British cycling's coming at it from a sports point of view. But recognising that its members also need safe roads to cycle on. And that means a whole host of other things, safe protected routes in cities. And that's popular with members. And then cycling UK, originally a touring group, now a charity that lobbies for Safe Routes, safe conditions, and also delivers stuff for government, such as what to fix your ride, and a bunch of other things. And then Sustrans is a National Cycle network and behaviour change programmes. So there are overlaps, but I do think they are distinct. And I don't see I don't see it as I mean, they probably have internal, you know, perspectives on things and perhaps don't always agree with what the other one was doing. But I think I think they tend to present a fairly unified front these days. Carlton Reid 17:30 They're not as bad nowadays. I mean, it's when you get rid of it certainly did not get rid. That's the That's the wrong phrase. When individuals leave organisations, it can change because a new people come in, and you know, those alliances are, that's what you're just used to. But you know, before that alliance was put in place, they were cats and dogs, they were really hating on each other and slagging each other off to government as well. So that's why government was able to go up. This cycling is just mad look, these these, you know, what they, these three cats in a sack just fighting each other. Laura Laker 18:03 And then you saw, I mean, I think I talked about, you know, Malcolm Shepherd, who was the CEO after John Grimshaw. He went to ministers, and he was saying, why aren't we getting the funding we asked for? Or why are we getting taken seriously, I think was the question. And he was told, Well, you don't ask for enough money, basically. So they were thinking and perhaps this kind of historic infighting is also a function of the fact that these were kind of fledgling organisations to an extent for some time, not very much funding. They were run by enthusiasts probably, who all had their own ideas. And of course, let's not forget that there were also the vehicular ISTS who didn't even believe that we needed cycling's of which I think cycling UK early on was one and that might explain why they disagree with Sustrans who were trying to yes, no, there was a whole cohort who stands for that reason, absolutely. 100%. So maybe that, you know, it perhaps is a function of just the whole movement being in its infancy. I mean, it's been going for a good 40 or so years, but I don't know, maybe it was maybe it was just run by enthusiasts for a very long time. And that's why it's taken a while to kind of mature but also I think it was going I mean, our cycling lobby, organisations were kind of leading the way for much longer than a lot of European countries in a nice talk about this in the book in countries like France and in the Netherlands and in Denmark, they all started their calls for National Cycle networks or at least safe routes, thanks to charities and voluntary organisations. And then fairly quickly, were all taken on by the government who saw this as a piece of infrastructure firstly, quite often for leisure, but then they realised people were using these routes for commuting trips, and it was it needed to be part of the infrastructure and was taken up with great enthusiasm and in Sweden as well. By the various local departments and regional governments and delivered quite quickly and at quite a kind of scale. And that hasn't really happened here. And so perhaps those kinds of just the longevity of those cycling groups being so crucial to anything that happens for cycling, has kind of made this whole, I don't know, split more important than it would have otherwise been. Carlton Reid 20:24 Yeah. And like in the Netherlands, the the organization's tried to fight against this, but the government tax cyclists, and cyclists actually paid for the roads. Laura Laker 20:34 They did, that's right. Carlton Reid 20:37 But it's the very fact and this was a cyclist at the time were fighting against, they didn't want to be taxed. In the UK, and the Netherlands, they were taxed. And then cyclists became national infrastructure. And that became critical, as you say, and the fact that you know, there wasn't, there was some national infrastructure, obviously, I've done this the 1930 cycleways project. But the CTC is the British Cycling as of the time fought against all of this, they fought against taxation, they fought against cycle routes. And so there is there is some argument to be made that cyclists have been their own worst enemy. So I know in the book, you're saying, you know, it's just such a no brainer. And it is to back, you know, for want of a better word or phrase active travel. Now, in the book, you've got various people are saying we should call it something different. Laura Laker 21:27 Yeah, Lee Craigie. Carlton Reid 21:27 yeah. Yeah. But, you know, cycling has been difficult, at the same time. And it's like, what's happening in Wales, and in Scotland, is inspiring, possibly, because it's actually coming from above. A lot of it, you know, there's obviously enthusiastic people working on the ground, etc. But a lot of this is coming from government ministers. So that helps. Yeah. And, Laura Laker 21:54 I mean, we have this idea, and I'm sure we're not alone. And this point you just made and the example of the taxing of the cyclists in the Netherlands, which is something I learned during doing the research for the book, I didn't actually know about this, but I, you know, the reason we lost the railways that then became a lot of these greenways was because, you know, we see transport as needing to wash its own face needing to fund itself. And the railways at the time, were losing money for most of the routes. And so that was the reasoning. And, you know, with roads, obviously, drivers are taxed it's not sort of ring fence funding. It's not a road tax, it's, but you know, it is making the Treasury money and cycling has never really done that. And I, I think fundamentally, the way that way of thinking about transport is wrong, because of the benefits, the much wider benefits that transport gives us in terms of, you know, being able to access education and health and social opportunities and for our physical and mental health. And it's, its benefits span far beyond its own kind of silo. But we don't really see it that way. And I'm not really sure actually, if anywhere managers to think of it this way, but I think post pandemic, things like free bus services and in different countries has maybe illustrated that people are starting to think about it differently. But ultimately, I think it's it's a very tricky one. Because like you say, we in a way we weren't, we were own worst enemy in terms of our predecessors in the cycling world. But we were working within philosophy that's that dictated that actually, if you're going to build something, you know, who's making money from it, or, you know, how is the Treasury getting that investment back and not really seeing it as this makes people healthier? Or this gives them opportunities or promotes businesses, local tourism? And all of this? So yeah, I mean, if we'd done it differently, who who knows of cyclists in the UK? So fine, we'll pay a tax. Who knows? We might have an NCN now, but, and even today, it's a little bit of an uncomfortable conversation, isn't it? Because, you know, nobody wants to be taxed. Carlton Reid 24:02 So the book is, it's a polemic in many ways, not not all the way through. But there are definitely bits in there that are strident. And I cannot argue with at all I'm reading it nodding along. And certainly the bits about like the national infrastructure, right, and it's all being spent on roads. And it's it's the so many reasons why that is crazy. Yeah, and why spending even just a fraction of the roads budget on on a national cycle network, you know, genuinely joined up one high quality would bring many more, many more benefits. And then you've got and the irony is, and I did a new story on this is, you have a government minister, who has written the foreword to your book, and he said This is not government minister, a former government minister, a former Transport Minister, Jesse Norman, and then it's like, why don't you do this when you're in power? It's great. You've said it. It's wonderful that you're saying all these things. But you could have done this, you could have pushed for this. And he was also the Financial Secretary of the Treasury. Yeah, he could have released money. Yeah, let me see what he says. But Laura Laker 25:26 it's so difficult, isn't it? And it's, again, it's kind of facing it's the status quo. I mean, it's, I think, maybe important to remember, and I'm not making excuses for anyone. But, you know, he was a junior minister, certainly in his first round is cycling minister. And so he would have had to tow the party line. So I don't know how easy it is for. I mean, he's a very intelligent guy. He cares about cycling. But then he's part of a system, which ultimately, I guess, maintains the status quo doesn't want to upset the applecart. And that's why, in the manifesto, I, you know, I think it's so important that people speak up for these things, because I think until there's an outcry for it, it's very difficult for any one minister, unless we have a cycling Prime Minister, to change all of this. There's a lot of vested interests in maintaining, you know, roads for cars, keeping car manufacturing, going and, you know, taxation on cars is going to be very problematic, because obviously EVs electric vehicles don't pay, you know, drivers with EVs don't pay cortex. So what's gonna happen there? But yeah, I mean, it's difficult, but I think people need to speak up for this kind of thing. We get a lot of kickback pushback from people when there's cycle routes coming. But those are the minority. And one thing I tried to highlight in the book is that most people want this once cycling routes, they they want other options and to drive. And, you know, between two thirds and four fifths of people in representative polls say that they'd support this and many of them, even if it meant taking road space away from motor vehicles. But that's not what politicians listen to. And I think increasingly, politicians are listening to angry people on Twitter. And you know, if Mark Harper's comments about LTNs and 15 minute neighbourhoods is anything to go by, which was straight out of the kind of conspiracy theorists, Twitter playbook, you know, they're listening to the loudest voices. And I think until people say, you know, we actually want choice. We don't want to have to breathe polluted air, we don't want to have our neighbourhoods dominated by motor vehicles. We want our kids to be able to go to school safely. I think it's gonna be difficult for things to change. Carlton Reid 27:45 Hmm. So you have mentioned a variety of routes that are actually pretty good. So yeah, Keswick one is one of them. Laura Laker 27:55 Threlkeld, yes. Carlton Reid 27:58 And that's why I know, I know the route well, as good as now, you know, a cycleway there because that was that was long in gestation. But basically, it's it's it's, it's popular. You know, people say, oh, like, but that's a popular route now, isn't it? Laura Laker 28:15 Yeah, yeah, people drive there. And I mean, that was that was interesting for a number of reasons. I mean, incredibly beautiful. It sort of weaves through Greta gorge, which is just this kind of just this amazing landscape, this sort of rocky river which meanders through this very deep wooded valley. And it's on a former rail line. And it was, which storm was it was it 2015, there was a big storm, which basically crumbled a couple of the bridges with the sheer volume of water that ended up going through this narrow gorge. And then it was out of action for a couple of years. And that was an important, crucial route and a tourist attraction for local businesses. One pub owner apparently offered the local council, I think it was the national parks something like 30 grand out of his own pocket, reopened the route, but it was actually a sort of 2 million pound job. So that wasn't going to go all the way. But you know, this was a really important tourist attraction for people and people drive there because there aren't safe routes to get to and from the ends, so people drive and park and then cycle along it and cycle back. But yeah, it's popular, it's really popular. And they when they put the bridges, the new bridges in Sustrans with various parts of funding, they resurfaced it and there was a big hoo ha about putting tarmac on instead of the gravel that had been there before. But that actually opened up it up to far more people, including people who use wheelchairs and mobility scooters, because any sort of rough surface or uneven ground can tip someone in a wheelchair and it effectively makes these routes unusable. And this is something that I really learned in the book and feel very strongly about now. And there was a big outcry nationally about tarmacking this path because it's in the Lake District and everyone's He has an opinion about the Lake District even if they've just been there once and we all feel like we own it because it's such a beautiful place and I guess rightly so. We all care about it. Carlton Reid 30:07 The Lakers. Laura Laker 30:09 Lakers, my people. Yeah. The people who holidayed in the lakes were known as the Lakers. Yeah, which is brilliant. So yeah, they, you know, they held their ground and they tarmac it and you know, the numbers increased drastically. And this story plays out all over the country, wherever there's a improve surface on a path. Suddenly, it's open to everyone. And this is what this is what cycle rich should be in, in my opinion, it should be open to everyone. Carlton Reid 30:37 Yeah, it's like the cinder path. That's the Sustrans route national cycling group from from Whitby to Scarborough. That was the one that had a load of of people complaining because Cinder path you know, they were going to be tarmacking just parts of it. And lots of people are saying you know but this this this will you know, destroy it or whenever lots of yobs in and it just never got done. And then it's it's impossible for a lot of the year because it's just it gets just too rutted into mud into too horrible. And this is, you know, we discard it would just be so easy. You know, between these two conurbations and small conurbations, if you could ride there on an all year round an all weather path? Laura Laker 31:21 So yeah, I do. I do worry about this, because it's, you know, they say it's an effect gentrification. And you're you're bringing, you know, urban into the countryside yet. There's roads everywhere, and they got tarmac on, and nobody seems to be kicking up a fuss there. What's What's your problem? Yeah, I know. And I think it's just we have this idea about what the cycle routes should be or could be, and we see them as leisure routes quite a lot of the time, we have this kind of set idea about cycling, that it's not, you know, it's not a commuter option, or, but you know, it is, but it goes beyond that. And it is about who can access these parts. And quite often, having an uneven surface will lock a lot of people out. And you know, we're an ageing population in this country. And as we get older, we will all have disabilities, and mobility issues. And it shouldn't be that you know, these paths are any open to a few people. But yeah, it's a difficult one. And we would like to say we've never think twice about it for roads, we've never think about having a road as a dirt path. And I can you know, visually tarmac is not a beautiful thing, but I think if people understood that actually, it's it's not just about the visuals. This is about people and this is what these parts are for they're for people. Carlton Reid 32:34 Well you can make if you want it to be just that colour, you can make the the asphalt you can you can you can dye the asphalt. So it's it's more expensive. But you can you can do all sorts of treatments you can do to make it all weather doesn't have to look, you know, black. Yeah. So anyway, so let's go to another assessment. That's some negative ones. Where they tried to be certain, but then you point out the Polgate one, between Polgate and Glynde, which is almost happened to you by by mistake. Not mistake, but it's certainly a by accident. Yeah. And you're talking about it being just brilliant. So describe that one. Laura Laker 33:11 That's amazing. Yeah. So I was told about this. And then I know someone who lives in Lewis, which is at one end of it. And so we we we met at the station and cycled along this path. And so it's beside the A27, which is a national highways road. And it's right by the sales downs, which is hugely popular with cyclists. And basically, there were so many people cycling on this incredibly terrifying road. It's one of those narrow and winding A roads with huge volumes of traffic. I mean, I went on a walking trip near Louis the other day, and I had to cross it with no crossing and it was it was genuinely terrifying. I can't imagine people cycling on it, because it's, you know, six months. So yeah, anyway, people were being held up in their cars because of people cycling. And so national highways decided it was going to build a path alongside and it's this this was a real eye opener for me because they had done what needs to happen around the country. They had built a path behind the hedge row, which is wide and tarmac and smooze with lots of planting and culverts and bridges over rivers and and they just laid it you know, very little problem. I don't know if they owned the land or perhaps compulsory purchase probably a mixture of I think it was a mixture of both. And so they built this amazing kind of 10 kilometre joyful route, which is just you know, it's just like a road. It's like no stress. You just carry on. There was someone on the mobility scooter the day I was there, a couple of people on bikes, but it was basically hadn't opened yet. And yeah, it was just there. But it's quite funny because at either end, it just stopped because then that's the local councils job to kind of deliver it beyond. But you know, it shows what's possible if you have a national body with the power and the funding, and they have, you know, multi year funding pots which helps plan and deliver this stuff and they just did it, they just sort of swept aside all of the normal problems that I talked about in the book that usually dog these cycle routes. And yeah, it's quite, it was quite marvellous, quite Carlton Reid 35:11 I found it fascinating because one of the things you say is, as we just mentioned there, it, it was an effective bill to get the cyclists off the road. We made enough nuisance of ourselves, that is 1930s to a tee, you know, the transport, you know, built those 500 miles of cycle tracks in the 1930s to Dutch standards laced around the country. Some of them weren't brilliant, but some of them were amazing, you know, 12 foot wide Dutch Dutch level, concrete curbs, you know, perfectly brilliant bits of cycling infrastructure that are now just some of them are white elephants, because they didn't link up to anywhere. But, you know, the government at the time said, Oh, we're doing this for the safety. No, they weren't they were doing it to you know, get cyclists on the road because we're slowing down motorists, but you kind of almost don't care if if if you get a really superlative route behind the hedgerows. Yeah. Okay. It's such a difference. Yeah. That's the difference. It's got to be good. You can't just fob you off with shared route pavement, which is what yeah, the criticism of Sustrans has been is like there's so many shared route pavement. And that's why Sustrans got a bad rap, even though it wasn't their fault. And they were just trying to fill in the gaps. Laura Laker 36:28 That yeah, yeah. And yeah, they just have to use whatever was there, which was quite often a pavement along what would have been a not too busy road in the 70s or 80s. But it's now a sort of thundering highway and being on a pavement with no barrier between you and or no, no sort of space between you and the 60 mile an hour traffic is far from pleasant, and no, no, no parent is going to choose to cycle on that. If they have any other choice, you know, they're going to avoid that like the plague because you know, one little wobble or mistake and then you know, it's horrific there, you know, possible outcomes. But yeah, it's you know, it's, it's fantastic. Because you don't even barely know the roads there. It's just cool. It's just gorgeous. I'd like to go back actually, because it's been a good year, I think since I saw it. At least actually. Maybe Yeah, I think it's at least a year and yeah, let's see how the trees are bedding in and because it was brand new at the time it just been done. But yeah, it is. Ultimately it is possible. And regardless of the motivations it just goes to show what's possible. I liked recently because Andy Streets and his Walking and Cycling Commissioner Adam Tranter he's on my podcast. They announced they're going to deliver the HS2 cycleway alongside in and around HS2 between Coventry and Birmingham. And when they get to Kenilworth, they're basically connecting up to one of their 1930 cycleways into Coventry. So I quite like that, you know, it's sort of linking something that's already there. And Carlton Reid 38:01 yeah, and that's also a John Grimshaw project, wasn't it? That was that was a John Grimshaw. Laura Laker 38:05 Yeah. He cycled the whole thing. Yes. Yes, he's been he's been trying to get that one, you know, for a lot for a long time. And yeah, it does stand alone. No, you need really, you need the HS2, of course, just stand alone without it. Carlton Reid 38:21 It does. Yeah, saying that, it would have absolutely been put in at the same time, that would not have been the difference. So that is point three. So in your 10 Point manifesto, that's basically work together a behind the hedgeroq Act, compulsory purchase orders, all these kinds of things that only government can do. Yeah. needs to be brought in into play. Yeah. And then you you've said and it's very ambitious. But when you think about it's like, yeah, you could do this easily. And that is you know, if if this was done and if money was provided, and compulsory purchase orders were put in like you would do for roads, you can have an unbelievably fantastic truly superlative national cycling in four years. Laura Laker 39:02 Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, Brian Deegan active travel England reckoned reckoned on this, because, you know, they have such a huge amount of power and to take go to build a cycle, which basically takes three years generally you do you have a year to kind of plan it a year to consult and tweak and then a year to build it. And for that you need multi year funding, because without that, you can't plan anything, basically. And that's why we've ended up bits and bobs of improvements, because it's like, you get the money, you have to spend it pretty much immediately. But yeah, I mean, the amount of funding a body like national highways has would be enough to you know, link these existing routes. Sometimes there are quiet roads, you know, I guess, in the Netherlands, you have through roads and access roads, things like low traffic neighbourhoods, in the countryside. That is a that is a kind of measure that you can do. And some of it it doesn't all have to be Are these sort of high quality pieces of massive engineering cycle routes, either behind the hedge row or on main roads? Some of it can just be tweaking kind of existing infrastructure so that it's not not every road as a through road. But yes, it's some it's amazing. And I kind of did a double take when I heard this. But when we put our mind to something, it's amazing what's possible. Carlton Reid 40:24 And potentially, we will see the fruits of this in Scotland, and Wales, Scotland, Wales are putting in some really ambitious stuff. And Mark Drakeford going, you know, will they backtrack on the 20 mile limit? And will they, you know, reverse a lot of stuff that Lee Waters that all this kind of stuff is potentially up in the air? We don't know yet. Yeah. But Scotland does seem to be, you know, putting their money where their mouth is, you know, that the amount of money that's going in there, per head, dwarfs what we see here in England. So the potentially you've got, you've got like, in five years, you could have something incredible. In Scottish cities in Glasgow. Yeah. You're talking about Glasgow? Laura Laker 41:09 Yeah. And yeah, Glasgow was amazing. I mean, that was the first time I'd been to Glasgow, on that trip. And I was blown away, actually. So they're developing a city wide network of routes, they're lowering in bridges across, they've got this very kind of, I guess, I guess they had this, at the time, they were building roads, they had a very ambitious programme of building like highways. And maybe that's about the culture of the city that when something comes along, when an idea comes along, they kind of embrace it. Whereas Edinburgh has historically been much more conservative. And so when, when highways when sort of urban highways came along the bond level load of those, and now cycling is seen as this big sort of saviour of health and climates and all of these important things, they're going all out on cycle routes, which is fantastic. And yeah, I was really blown away by what they're doing really high quality protected routes with planting alongside, you know, for extreme weather, it's really important to have permeable and green planting on tarmac. And, yeah, and these beautiful bridges and this massive bridge that I saw, and you know, they're really, really ambitious, I think, I've got a piece coming out about Edinburgh in the next week or so. And it talks about the difficulties that Edinburgh has faced very, very different than the city very conservative. But similarly, it's had a huge amount of funding. And I think they're finally getting to the tipping point there where they're starting to deliver real change, you know, hopefully. But yeah, it's, you know, the money's there, I think there's still difficulties with politics. So they've got these active freeways, which would be a kind of National Cycle network for Scotland, these rural routes, you know, the plan is there, or at least the idea is there, but it's not being rolled out yet. So who knows what's going to happen with that, but definitely, the funding and having that long term funding does make it much easier. I'd really love to see Scotland, you know, doing big things. And I think Scotland and Wales have been very, very forward thinking and a lot of things got maybe Scotland particularly, and more consistently than Wales, because as you say, there's a bit of a question mark. Now over Wales, they've, you know, they had the active travel act, they arguably took term coined the phrase active travel with the active travel act about a decade ago. And yeah, but stuff, you know, they have the policy, they had the money, but again, it's very, very slow to change. And I don't know, maybe they maybe if Westminster were a bit more proactive and supportive, it will be easier, who knows, but you're always going to come up against these kinds of difficulties, local politics and stuff, but I think money talks, you know, the money's there for it local investment, which Council isn't going to want public realm improvements, and you know, health. Carlton Reid 43:49 Money is number one, in your manifesto, so it's funded, and okay, we get the money from it. Here's what you say, stop expanding road capacity, and we have delivered a comprehensive network of cycling and walking routes. Hallelujah. Yeah, exactly. It's just like, you know, we've got so many roads, why can't we have more and more and more and more, as we know, it just fills up with traffic if we're gonna have build it and they will come Okay, let's do it for bikes. Now. You know, roads have had eighty years of this, let's have 10 years for for bikes, but walking and . It's just, it's a no brainer. And the LTNs thing kind of like it's so frustrating. Because we're only talking like a few streets. We're not we're not talking. That's when you hear you know, the the shock jocks you'd think is every single road in the country is going to be catered and you're going to hand it to cyclists. That's, that's how it's portrayed. And we're actually you know, maybe maybe a fraction of 1% of roads. really, genuinely is all too Talking about is currently got anyway. Yeah, having safe cycle routes, you know, don't get it get blown up by us people like us journalists, Laura, we're to blame for misrepresenting this. That's that's, that doesn't say good things about our profession, does it? Laura Laker 45:22 No. And I think I think I mean, it speaks to the kind of economics of journalism that, you know, people want eyeballs on stories nowadays because it's that's what makes advertising revenue funding for journalism is fallen off a cliff. And I think this is sort of desperation about the industry at the moment. But, you know, I think it's important to remember that the people shouting against this stuff are a minority, and most people want this stuff or are willing to try it and see, and most of us want quiet, safe streets, we want our kids to be able to play out in safety, we want clean air, we want, you know, peace and quiet. And I think because we haven't seen it, a lot of cases, it's difficult to imagine. But you know, ultimately, these things happen. There's, there's a pushback from a handful of people who are noisy, but I think if we have conversations about, you know, what we could, what we could get from these improvements from these schemes, then it's much positive way of talking about it. Of course, that's not how news works. And I think that's why we need leaders who are willing to sort of look beyond that short period in which a lot of journalists are shouting, and a few people, some of whom have genuine concerns and need to be listened to a shouting and listen to them. But you know, this is something that people want actually, and, you know, the benefits so enormous. Once it's happened, I don't think people would want to go back. Carlton Reid 46:46 Yeah, this is the thing. It's like, a good example is Northumberland Street and Newcastle, which is a pedestrianised street used to be the A1, you know, really the central state through the centre of Newcastle. It's I think, outside of central London, Mayfair on Oxford Street. It's the highest grossing per square foot retail zone in the country, because it was pedestrianised. And it just made it easier. And nobody in their right mind would say, we need to make that the a one again, guys, you know, let's get the cars and buses soaring and you just wouldn't do it. But Newcastle spent the best part of 20 years doing this, it wasn't an overnight thing. We had to spend a long time, a lot of angst getting it done, but nobody would wish it away now. And that's what when we're not getting with all these LTNs and all these cycles, if only if we put them in, nobody would complain about them. Not really not once they see it, it's just if people don't like change. Laura Laker 47:47 yeah, none of us like change just a thing. And it's hard to picture. And I think it's easy to dismiss people's concerns. Because you know, it's normal for us not to want change, it's normal to be concerned about something if you can't picture it. And you're, you know, many of these are genuine worries about businesses, and how will I get from A to B and, and all of this, but yeah, I think what's been lacking in this conversation is just some sort of grown up honesty about, you know, this is going to be a change. But ultimately, it's going to be one that's positive for these reasons. We, you know, we are going to listen, but ultimately, this is a an agenda that most of us support. And we know it's beneficial for these reasons. And I think we've I don't know, I think there's too much government in this country, and in many English speaking countries, kind of almost government by fear of what the Daily Mail might say, in response to this policy. And even the the recent announcement by governments about you know, stopping anti motorist measures was all caps. You know, it was like almost a Daily Mail headline. Carlton Reid 48:52 Yeah, it's quite scary and sad. Yeah. But then, you know, like you say, if you know, for the ones that hold their ground, you know, stuff dies down, people say actually, that actually is much better. So you know, where I'm coming from, I know where you're coming from. And you're saying people want this, but I'm gonna play devil's advocate here and say, Well, no, they don't people want to drive around. And if you're a woman at night, and you describe a lot of the routes, the Sustrans routes, the Nationals, you wouldn't want to go there at night, and probably no matter how much lighting security whatever you put in, you probably would still feel that way. In. Yeah, yeah. On a bicycle, you're not protected. Whereas a car, a woman, a single woman can get into a car can lock the door, can maybe have, you know, dark windscreen even so nobody knows who's in there. You then become this powerful individual who can get around in safety at the end of the day. But bicycles aren't like that, Laura. So you're you're basically making it more insecure for women to go about as independent beings. Laura Laker 50:11 Well, so as a as a woman who cycles on her own at nights that that route from Arnhem to Nijmergen in the in the Netherlands, so I ended up leaving that event and it was dark and cycling home on my own however far it was, it's a good hours ride along these routes, but because you don't have to stop, you actually feel safe. It's only when you have to stop that you start to feel unsafe in my experience. I mean, there's certain routes like along the canal, I live in East London, along the Li River that I have cycled at night, but wouldn't do now. Because you know, that is very isolated. And people have been known to jump out with bushes. But I think for the large part, if they're well designed, and other people are using them, then cycling at night for me isn't a problem. You know, you're moving you're Yeah, I don't Yeah, I very rarely felt in danger of cycling through London at night, for example. I mean, it's been the odd park where I felt a bit sketchy, but I think if you design them, well, not every path is going to feel that way safe at night. But I think in urban places where a lot of people will be cycling to and from at night, it will probably be fine. I mean, you probably feel quite safe. It's about kind of eyes on the streets in a way having people they're with you. Yeah, and I think if a route were well used enough, and don't forget, you know, if you're, if you're, you know, you're not going to necessarily, you're not going to drive home after a night out if you've had a drink. And so you will have to sort of walk a section of your journey. Most likely, if you're in a place like London, you hate taking public transport, maybe you take a taxi, but I feel I don't feel like if I'm on a busy road, walking alone at night that I am safe with those other people around me because I don't feel like people who are driving through again to necessarily stop and help me if something did happen. So I think kind of busy streets can feel unsafe, even though they're very highly populated. And, you know, theoretically, and this kind of, there's been research on this, you know, people who live on quiet streets, no more of their neighbours, this sort of social safety element, and people start looking out for each other. Whereas if you have a traffic dominated environment, it's people tend to turn away from the street. Carlton Reid 52:28 Yeah, I don't disagree. But if it is looking at the motivation of many, many people, I mean, humans are generally lazy. Yeah. They generally want comfort. They want their own things, and they want security, all of those things you have in spades in cars. The downside is, because everybody wants that. And everybody's in a car, it means you don't get anywhere. Unknown Speaker 52:57 Yeah, I don't think that's a whole story. I mean, I think a lot of the time people drive because the alternative is either aren't there don't feel possible, or they don't feel safe. So cycling on the road wouldn't feel safe, you wouldn't even most people wouldn't even consider it. But we've seen I grew up in rural West Somerset, and you had to learn to drive as soon as you turn 17, you would take your test, you buy a car, and you drive everywhere, because the buses mean the buses are even worse. Now. They were okay at the time, but not great. But they just took longer, and you couldn't get everywhere you needed to go my friends as a teenager lived in variable kind of communities. And so you had to drive there was just no other option I would have loved to cycle. And you've seen in London, where we've got a growing network of roots, suddenly, all these people from all walks of life, all kinds of demographics. Laura Laker 53:48 genders, you see a much better one gender split, but also all types of people cycling. And that kind of speaks to the fact that actually, people do want to do this and they may want to convenience but they also want to enjoy their journey. They also want to save money. Cycling can be incredibly convenient, no parking worries, it's so much cheaper you know you don't have to stress of finding a parking space or you know, paying vast amounts of money. I think something like I forget the number who in transport poverty in this country because of cars basically. They spend something like 19% of their income on their car with finance lorry, using facts to convince me that's Carlton Reid 54:36 Anybody can convince with facts, come on. At that juncture, I'd like to go across to my colleague David in America. Take it away, David. David Bernstein 54:45 This podcast is brought to you by Tern Bicycles. Like you, the folks at Tern are always up for a good outdoor adventure by bike—whether that's fishing, camping, or taking a quick detour to hit the trails before picking Unknown Speaker 55:00 up the kids from school. And if you're looking to explore new ground by taking your adventures further into the wild, they've got you covered. The brand new Orox by Tern is an all-season, all-terrain adventure cargo bike that's built around the Bosch Smart System to help you cross even the most ambitious itinerary off your bucket list. It combines the fun of off-road riding in any season with some serious cargo capacity, so you can bring everything you need—wherever you go, whenever you go. Plus, it's certified tough and tested for safety so your adventures are worry-free. With two frame sizes to choose from and a cockpit that's tested to support riders of different sizes, finding an adventure bike that fits you and your everyday needs has never been easier with the Orox. Visit www.ternbicycles.com/orox (that's O-R-O-X) to learn more. Carlton Reid 56:04 Thanks, David. And we are back with Laura Laker the Laker people. And she's the author of potholes and pavements a bumpy ride on Britain's National Cycle network. It's not actually out yet, isn't Laura. It's actually middle middle of the next month, middle of night. Hmm. Yeah. So you having a launch day what you're doing? Laura Laker 56:28 Yeah, I've got some. You've got like, You got speaker a bank and tell us tell us what you're doing? Yeah, so I've got I'm having like a bit of a party for some friends and family. And then I've got a talk in Stanford's in Covent Garden. I'm speaking in Parliament. But I think that's more of a parliamentary event. And I have got an event at Stanfords in Bristol with Xavier Bryce, we're going to discuss the future of the NCN. I've got one I'm speaking in Oxford, at a bookshop. I'm going to be interviewed by Emily Kerr, who's a green Councillor there. I have got a there's a literary festival in Wantage in November. And we're looking at other events as we speak. Carlton Reid 57:16 Excellent. And this is two hundred and .... All right, I'm going to deliver the end of the book. We're talking 264 pages, and then you've got references back. I mean, one of them. Thank you very much. Laura Laker 57:32 Yeah. Carlton Reid 57:34 Thanks. as well. Yes, at the back there, but there's, there's lots in this. So who's gonna be? Who's your audience? Who's gonna be reading this? Who do you think will be reading this? And what might actually could it start something big with with in politics? Can we could we get this like your manifesto? Can it get out there? What do you hope to happen with your book? Laura Laker 58:00 Yeah, well, obviously, I want everyone to read it. I mean, my editor at Bloomsbury was saying, you know, it's probably going to be cycling enthusiasts, people who I guess already, maybe listen to your podcast, my podcast, read our articles about cycling. But I would like to think that you know, these people, these two thirds to four fifths of people who want more cycling people who think, you know, why do I have to drive everywhere? Why aren't there safe cycle routes? Why can't my kids cycle to school, and see that might see this book and think, Oh, this is going to tell that story, this is going to explain it to me. And so I hope that it's going to give people a sense of kind of why we are where we're at, with the history of the NCN and the stories, but also, you know, how wonderful it could be if we had this thing, this network of connected routes, if it were possible for all of these people who say they want to cycle and more who maybe don't even know they want to cycle could do so. And I hope that, you know, my perhaps naive hope is that people will read it and think, you know, this could be such a wonderful thing, why aren't we doing it? And how can we get it to happen and I hope policymakers you know, we've got an election coming up I think this speaks to you know, forget the culture wars. I think this speaks to all sides, you know, of politics, I think, you know, individual freedom and choice is a conservative value, right? Cycling, cycling delivers on that. Carlton Reid 59:26 Cycling is so libertarian is a form of transport I've had many conversations This is freedom. Why is this left wing? Why do people always assume it's just this thing? Laura Laker 59:42 Yeah, it's become a cultural thing. And it's only for I think, you know, certain factions of the right perhaps see this as a wedge issue. And a way of you know, rallying people around them on based on kind of outrage like false outrage really, untruthes. and you You know, in terms of the left, this is, you know, great value for money, the Labour Party is very, very keen on showing they're working and proving to people that they can be trusted with the economy. It delivers on the green agenda, it's so beneficial in terms of cutting carbon emissions, it delivers on health, pretty much every department that we can think of this offers people access to work, you know, so many people who are out of work, especially in rural communities can't even afford to go and find work or stay in a job because the transport is too expensive, or it's too patchy doesn't go in and they needed to go. So there's like barely a thing that this doesn't touch. And I really hope that you know, along with kind of griping, which is, I hope not too much of the book, and the polemic side that this shows actually, you know, this is great for tourism, this is great for our mental health. This can bring us together, you know, it's about in Scotland, I saw that a cycle route can be a linear park, it can be about artwork and community. It can bring people together from different walks of life around a space. And, you know, cycling delivers on these things. And, you know, if we kind of dropped the culture was narrative, which is nonsense. You know, we could see all of these benefits fairly quickly and for very little money, and have a far better country for it. Carlton Reid 1:01:18 Many people would baulk at having Boris Johnson back. And you do mention this in the book of what he and Andrew Gilligan were able to do. Hopefully, it doesn't seem like I want him back. But will it that that is what you need. I mean, you do talk about having a cycling Prime Minister, we had a cycling Prime Minister, we had a Prime Minister who said it was me a golden age for cycling. So we need we need him back. Laura, that we just we need we need Boris back. No, we don't like that back there. Are there other other politicians are available? We just need people to believe in it. And you know, I hope that people read the book and think, actually, this is something we can believe in, but don't need one of the good things about Boris Johnson. Not only did he you know, talk, the talk, walk the talk, all that kind of stuff. But he was right wing. So he could he just instantly takes away that that part of this oversight is a left wing things like well, here's this right wing politician who's pushing for this Andrew Gilligan, Telegraph writer. These are not left wing people in any way, shape, or form. So is that what we need we actually need and then we'd like all politicians to do this, but by the same thing, you need somebody almost on the opposite side to be doing this, they've got more chance of pushing this through. So that's why Boris Johnson did so well, because he was right wing and the Mail isn't gonna, you know, rail against what Boris Johnson was doing. They never did. Laura Laker 1:02:46 They did though. They did. They totally did. I don't think they discriminated against him because he was towards their political leanings. I mean, it's unlikely we're going to have another conservative government, right, when we've got the election coming up, it's going to be Labour by all likelihood. And so they're going to be the ones in power delivering. So I don't know, Carlton Reid 1:03:09 But they backtracked over their green policies. I mean, what hope do we have? Laura Laker 1:03:12 I know I know. I know it's incredibly disappointing. And the thing is this this stuff like the green agenda, more broadly investment in insulating homes, for example, is such great return on investment and if they're thinking about finances and showing they're working insulating homes is just a total no brainer. You know, we all pay far too much for our energy bills. We live in draughty leaky homes. So many houses are mouldy because of the cold walls are damp Yeah, I just think you know, and green technology, huge growth industry. Solar and wind where you know, we're windy little island, but a lot of coastline. Offshore wind is fantastic. Carlton Reid 1:03:55 But in your in the book, you show how national highways basically is an organisation set up to build roads. And once you've done something like that, and that's their raison d'etre. Guess what they're going to build roads. Yeah. So yeah, it's that oil tanker you know having to put the brakes on and change a whole culture so we're not talking about you know, Cuz your manifesto is saying you know, stop funding this and yeah. Laura Laker 1:04:28 Wales did this basically with their no more roads or no more roads and less they increased active travel and public transport policy. They basically have kind of repurpose their national highways body around this agenda, you know, fill in the potholes. We've got a road in a dreadful state and, you know, develop use all their skills and power and funding for active travel. You know, public transport in this country is drastically underfunded. Buses are so important, especially in rural areas, especially people on low incomes, especially for women and Do you know buses are so important? We're really, really not kind of reaping the power the massive power of the bus.? Carlton Reid 1:05:08 Yeah, that's in your book as well, because you're talking about how buses, you know, need to be able to carry bikes. Yeah. And that's, you know, that's a small part of what they could do but the broader transport perspective that's that's so impor

Flame Christian Radio
INTERVIEW, Lisa Live - Julie McEwan (Aviemore) Oct 2023

Flame Christian Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2024 27:41


74 listens

The Ski Podcast
203: Ski Scotland Special ft Ben Lawers, Glencoe & The Wild Weekend

The Ski Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2024 42:17


This episode is a Scotland Special, looking at resort skiing and backcountry options, some of this season's events, as well as how to travel there by train. Iain was joined by Amy Marwick, a freelance journalist, marketing consultant and qualified Ski Instructor. SHOW NOTES Amy was on the show in Episode 198, in conversation with our equipment expert Al Morgan at the Ski Test Listen to Katie from Ski Goddess in Episode 183 (2:15) Alex Armand from Tip Top Ski Coaching reported from Les 2 Alpes (2:30) Andy Butterworth from Kaluma Ski reported from St Anton (3:00) Alex Irwin from 150 Days of Winter reported from Courchevel (5:00) Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST' at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout. Zoe Atkin took 2nd & 3rd at the women's Halfpipe WC Calgary (6:30) Jasmin Taylor was 3rd in Aal, Norway – her 51st podium (6:45) Listen to my interview with Jaz in Episode 200 I was based in Killin in Perthshire (7:00) My mother learned to ski on the slopes of Ben Lawers (8:00) The first Scottish Ski Club hut was built there in 1932 (8:45) Helen Cole is the Senior Ranger for the National Trust, who own the Ben Lawers Nature Reserve (9:00) Iain interviewed Blair Aitken in Episode 202 (11:30) The clouds parted to give us some exceptional views (12:00) Iain skied at Glencoe when it was pretty windy! (14:45) Andy Meldrum is the MD at Glencoe Mountain Resort (15:45) Amy previously raced on the Scottish Freeride circuit (21:00) The ‘Flypaper' at Glencoe is steep! (22:30) Watch Amy's ski movie ‘LATE' The Wild Ski Weekend is at Cairn Gorm on 16/17 March (23:45) The event is based at Glenmore Lodge (24:15) The clouds parted on Ben Lawers to offer some superb views (27:44) The Brits took place at Aviemore in April 2023 (28:45) Listen to Iain's interview with Kirsty Muir (29:45) The Mighty Coe takes place on 01 and 02 March (31:00) The Brits will place place at Tamworth Snowdome Iain travelled to Scotland on the Caledonian Sleeper (32:00) Blair Aitken has seen more customers taking the Caledonian Sleeper (33:30) The Upbattle – a snowboarding touring event takes place in Cairngorm on 16/17 March (34:45) Listen to Iain's interview with Jamie Grant, founder of Carv, in Episode 193 (37:30) Al Morgan shared his thoughts on audio options for helmets (37:45) Feedback (36:00) I enjoy all feedback about the show, I like to know what you think, especially about our features so please contact on social @theskipodcast or by email theskipodcast@gmail.com Anne Pedersen: "The Norway episode (201) wasexcellent" Borre Wickstrom: "Great podcast about Norway, but Beitostolen is amazing. We had a week there in Jan: super slopes, amazing for families. They been having an influx of happy British skiers this year.” Robin: "Enjoyed the Norwegian episode! Sunmore is certainly on the ski touring list after seeing some of the terrain in films by Jacob Webster and Nikolai Schirmer" Mark Woods: "I have now listened to every past episode, and am finally up-to-date. This is great content Iain, with excellent contributions from interesting guests (special mention to Al). Please keep up the great work." Grant Adam: "Love the podcast! Discovered it late last year and I'm working my way through the episodes. Keep up the good work.” If you like the podcast, there are three things you can do to help:   1) Review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 2) Subscribe 3) Book your ski hire with Intersport Rent using the code ‘SKIPODCAST' or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout   There are 208 episodes to catch up with and 166 were listened to in the last week. That even includes some of our Olympic Specials from PyeongChang 2018 The Ski Podcast is almost always in the Top 10 in the Apple Podcast charts – that's in the ‘Wilderness' category.  There is so much to listen to in our back catalog, just go to theskipodcast.com and search around the tags and categories: you're bound to find something of interest to you.    You can follow Iain @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast

Flame Christian Radio
LISA LIVE - January 2024 with Bruce McEwan in Aviemore, Scotland

Flame Christian Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2024 59:52


Flame Christian Radio
LISA LIVE - October 2023 with Julie McEwan in Aviemore, Scotland

Flame Christian Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2023 59:24


The Triathlon Brick Session
Gravel World Champs with Tom Martin

The Triathlon Brick Session

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2023 105:56


Mark catches up with elite cyclist Tom Martin who recently raced at the Gravel World Championships in Italy a few weeks ago. Caroline Livesey also chats with Mark about being selected (elite) for the World Gravel Championships and her race in Italy. Long time listener Neil Pirie kindly sent in an audio race report from the Aviemore gravel triathlon. You'll also get to hear how well the two Nepalise students are doing thanks to your kind donations. Just giving link here - https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-fund-education-for-two-children-in-nepalDirty events link here - https://durtyevents.com

Signals to Danger - Railway disasters in the UK
RAIB Roundup 6th October '23

Signals to Danger - Railway disasters in the UK

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2023 31:13


On this week's RAIB roundup we have a quick look at the incident with Flying Scotsman at Aviemore last week, we chat about the recently opened Stafford SPAD investigation and I let you know exactly what types of incident an operator needs to report to the branch. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seriously…
An Almanac for Anxiety: In Search of a Calmer Mind - Episode 1

Seriously…

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2023 15:12


Anxiety is the most common form of mental illness in the UK, with nearly a fifth of people experiencing it over the course of a year. Although it is often treated through medication, there are many alternative ways which are proving to be very effective in reducing anxiety amongst some people. In this series, we explore how connecting with the elemental forces of nature helps people with a range of mental illnesses to feel better. We also learn about the current academic research behind these methods. In Episode 1 - Fire - we visit an overnight camp on the banks of the River Spey near Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands run by the charity Fire and Peace. According to the participants, - who have a range of mental ill health and addiction issues - the experience of spending time around the fire in nature is transformative when it comes to promoting feelings of connection and wellbeing. We also hear new research which shows how being around a campfire can be calming. Produced and Presented by Helen Needham Research by Anna Miles and Maud Start Original Music by Anthony Cowie Mixed by Ron McCaskill A BBC Scotland Production made in Aberdeen for BBC Radio 4

Quiet Landscapes with Margaret Soraya
Exploring Aviemore: Photography, Connection, and Passion with David Russell

Quiet Landscapes with Margaret Soraya

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2023 40:50 Transcription Available


My conversation with David uncovers how photography transcends the mere act of capturing a moment. It's about forming deep connections, understanding the essence of a place. We talk about how childhood experiences can influence our work. Passion drives us, and David's unwavering passion for the outdoors is a testament to that. So, prepare to immerse yourself in the magic and wonders of Aviemore through the fascinating lens of David Russell from Highland Wildscapes

Commercial Property Investor Podcast
197 - From Frog-Kissing to Niche-Finding: The Sweeney Brothers' Journey

Commercial Property Investor Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 56:24


Join Jerry as he sits down with Martin and Stephen Sweeney, two dynamic brothers who have found their niche in the booming industry of apart-hotels. In this engaging episode, the Sweeney brothers share their remarkable journey in the commercial property business, highlighting their expertise in identifying ideal buildings and mastering the art of construction. Prepare to be fascinated as they describe their sequence of projects including the recently opened Aparthotel in Aviemore and they also delve into their exciting new venture in Inverness. Don't miss out on this conversation as Martin and Stephen take us on a motivating ride through their world of commercial property investment. Martin and Stephen also spend a little time talking about how to successfully work closely with a sibling  KEY MOMENTS ""We've always got on well together. I think because we are different, we get stuff done." "The big thing was we said, right, let's monetize every single inch of space that we can." "We're offering smart tech there. People can come, it's secure, cameras in the car park, comfortable beds, high pressure shower, smart screen TVs, high speed internet. So all this is so you've gone, you've looked at this property, you've immediately thought of Park Hotel… This is really lucrative and there is a scope here to build a brand on it in the right places." "You need that element…we interact with investors as they see how we operate and they see…And it takes different skill sets, which myself and Martin have both got."   Join us at the CPI-Network:A community of commercial property investors. Get in the Swim membership

The Ski Podcast
177: Tim Warwood, BBC snowboarding commentator

The Ski Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2023 69:05


Iain is joined by Tim Warwood: BBC snowboarding, skateboarding, BMX reporter, and generally ‘very loud voice' (his words). We discuss how snowboarding took him from Tamworth to Colorado to commentating around the world on the sport.  Among the many stories Tim shares, he tells us how he persuaded Bill Nighy to lipsync to Kim Wilde, what's it's like being a “professional snowballer” and the truth behind that infamous moment when Jenny Jones won bronze at Sochi. SHOW NOTES Tim is not 50 years old, despite what it says on FamousBirthdays.com He started snowboarding at Britain's first indoor snow centre, the Tamworth Snowdome (6:00) Tim's first season was in Winter Park in Colarado (8:45) Listen to Iain's interview with Pat Sharples, GB Snowsports Head Coach (9:00) Listen to our interview with pioneer snowboarder Chris Moran (14:20) He did definitely finish 3rd in the Banked Slalom at the 2023 Brits (14:50) Tim may or may not be current British snowboard slalom champion… (15:00) The Brits took place in Aviemore in April 2023 (16:00) Tim was working in Vail when he started making snowboard movies (19:00) Adam Gendle is Tim's long-time film-making partner (21:30) Jeremy Sladen at the Snowboard Asylum sponsored the first set of movies that Tim and Adam produced (23:00) Titles includes ‘Proper', ‘Big Ass Big Airs', ‘Show Offs' and ‘Terminal Ferocity' (23:45) Check out Tim's 2006 Brits Video (25:00) Watch the movie ‘Chalet Girl' (26:45) And definitely watch the closing credits… (28:30) Tim presented ‘Freesports on 4' (31:30) Iain interviewed Ski Sunday's Ed Leigh in Episode 169 It featured events the Xbox (Gumby's) Big Day Out (33:00) The London Freeze took place at Battersea Power Station (34:00) In 2014, Tim was asked to join the BBC Sport team to cover the Sochi Winter Olympics (35:00) Who wouldn't want to be a “professional snowballer” (36:20) Jenny Jones won Team GB's first ever Olympic medal on snow in the snowboard slopestyle (37:45) Ed Leigh, Aimee Fuller and Tim got rather excited… (38:30) The ‘Daily Mail' described the commentary team as  “Immature idiots” (39:20) Tim was a reporter for the BBC at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, held in 2021 (43:00) Being a reporter is more than just an “eyes and teeth” role (47:00) Tim also reported from the Commonwealth Games for the BBC (50:00) Beijing was a different experience as Tim was located in Manchester (52:00) Tim filmed a feature on splitboarding for Ski Sunday in Scotland (55:00) Look out for the hare when Tim went snowboarding in Weardale (59:15) Find out about Yad Moss in Episode 88 of The Ski Podcast (1:00:00) Enjoy ‘Gravity Grandma' on YouTube (1:01:45) Catch up with more of Tim's work on ‘The Indestructibles‘ (1:03:00) Watch ‘The Nearly Men' with Marc Webber (01:03:45) Find out more about Tim's ‘Famous First Words' game show tour (01:05:00) Read White Lines' defence of the infamous Jenny Jones commentary   “Riding switch is like writing left-handed while wearing a chip hat and being attacked by seagulls” (01:08:30)

Unknown Passage
Episode 165: Rodrigo Falcon - Argentinian Missing In Scotland Since 2022

Unknown Passage

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2023 67:04


December 11, 2022. Aviemore, The Scottish Highlands. Argentinian Rodrigo Falcon disappears in the early hours of the morning, after leaving a nightclub in the village. The last confirmed CCTV footage of Rodrigo shows him walking in the opposite direction to home. For over five months, Rod's family and friends have searched in vain for him, to no avail. If you have information on the disappearance of Rodrigo Falcon, please contact the Missing Rodrigo Falcon Facebook page, leave a voicemail on 0800 887 0111, text 0745644100 or email rod@mm.st Theme music: ⁣ Undertow by Scott Buckley | https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley⁣

PopMaster
Steve in Edenbridge vs David in Aviemore

PopMaster

Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2023 14:40


It's Wednesday's edition of Ten To The Top and another two Quiz fans give it a shot.

Seriously…
All Work and No Homes

Seriously…

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2023 29:04


Communities in the Scottish Highlands are facing a housing crisis so bad, it's been described as a clearance for the 21st century. According to the Convenor of the Highland Council, Bill Lobban, “the species most under threat in the Cairngorms National Park isn't the Capercaillie but the young family trying to find a home”. Ironically one key cause of the problem is also what brings most into the local economy – tourism. Across the region the growth of the tourism and hospitality industry is driving the demand for 2nd homes and many houses are now used for short-term holiday lets, with the result that very little accommodation remains for locals searching for somewhere to live, what does remain is usually unaffordable or unsuitable. The knock-on effect is that businesses across the Highlands are struggling to find staff and even when they manage to find them, they often lose them because there's no rental accommodation locally. A sector which has been particularly hard hit is hospitality where low wages exacerbate the issue with the result that hotels and restaurants find themselves in the unenviable position of having plenty of customers but not enough staff to serve them. Often, the only way many businesses can secure staff is if they provide accommodation but that's not always suitable for long term employees and skilled staff who might have young families plus not all businesses can afford to buy or manage housing for their staff. It's not just the hospitality sector either which is suffering, the salmon farming industry is being hit hard too and its not just low paid workers, all professions are being priced out of the housing market by too many people chasing too few properties. In Rental Health: All Work No Homes Pennie Stuart heads first to the northwest Highland village of Ullapool to hear how the business community is responding to the unintended consequences of the tourism boom while further south in Aviemore, in the heart of the Cairngorms national park, she hears about the radical solutions being proposed to bring staff, homes and tourism back into some kind of balance. Produced by Dan Holland Presented by Pennie Stuart

Quiet Landscapes with Margaret Soraya
Stonescapes inspired by Caithness with Lisa Poulsen

Quiet Landscapes with Margaret Soraya

Play Episode Play 33 sec Highlight Listen Later Mar 20, 2023 29:55


Lisa Poulsen creates beautiful digital landscapes using photographs of Caithness Stones from her studio by the sea in Thurso, in the far North of Scotland. Join Margaret as they chat about her beautiful, individual style of artistry. She describes her process of building upon her chosen landscape template and adding multiple layers in photoshop, producing delicate and wonderful results. Her talent and empathy shines through.She believes the story, the why, behind her work is almost as import as the work itself.  It has developed over the years to be more about people and their connection with the place and the benefits that can be gained from this.Articulating beautifully her experience of early motherhood, being replenished by the landscape and her artwork she outlines her progression to where she is today. Her recent work is much more about life experiences and how our natural environment can benefit our wellbeing. Lisa is excited with lots of ideas for her masterclass at Margaret's Festival in Aviemore in October.  https://www.inspiredbycaithness.com/https://www.instagram.com/inspiredbycaithness/

We Are Makers Podcast
We Are Makers In Conversation with Timber + Stitch

We Are Makers Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 95:57


We travelled to meet Jack Coe in his workshop in Aviemore, Scotland. His small business is Timber + Stitch, which he co-owns with his wife, Colleen. Jack started Advantures before #vanlife took social media by storm, building and renting camper vans, later selling the rental side to focus solely on build-to-sell campers. He is one of the original van builders in the UK and has likely forgotten more than most have learnt in building vans, with great vision for bringing colleens work (screen printing) into the studio too. We can't wait to see what timber and stitch evolve into.  We Are Makers Insta: @weare_makersWebsite: https://wearemakers.shop/ Timber and StitchInsta: @timberandstitchvansWebsite: https://www.timberandstitch.co.uk (new website coming soon)Like this podcast and want to watch it? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! Or, Like to read? Discover our biannual publication that includes stories of makers worldwide! (We ship worldwide too!)

Quiet Landscapes with Margaret Soraya
Bill Ward on editing styles and the Creative light festival 2023

Quiet Landscapes with Margaret Soraya

Play Episode Play 30 sec Highlight Listen Later Jan 20, 2023 46:37


Bill Ward is a photographer and actor living in Bristol, specialising in creative landscape photography. His photography is mainly project based and he has a strong leaning towards water and enjoys creativity using abstract, ICM and multiple exposure. Margaret welcomes back Bill to the first episode of her 2023 podcasts.  Always highly entertaining, he describes how he manages his busy life, whilst Margaret explains how, with her house up for sale and a move to Harris imminent, her life is opening up.Keep listening to hear them explore their different culling and editing styles - it is fascinating to hear how different personalities work! What do you do with your photographs?  Bill explains that he 'carries his photographs with him'. He feels it's the quality of time that you have to spend, memories of a feeling at that time is what photography is about - photographs are a reminder of that feeling.Reflecting on last year's Creative Light Festival, Bill loved that photography was at the centre, but with all sorts of other creative influences feeding in. He relished the energy and sense of community with like-minded souls, all coming from different directions. This year's Festival in Loch Insh, Aviemore is in October with tickets on sale now.Don't miss this first podcast - a perfect start to the year!

Quiet Landscapes with Margaret Soraya
Creative light festival roundup plus speaker clips

Quiet Landscapes with Margaret Soraya

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2022 25:55


Margaret Soraya's first ever, highly successful, Creative Light Festival was held in the Highlands of Scotland at the end of October 2022. Her vision was to provide an environment where creatives could gather, face-to-face, and be around people who are bold, uplifting and supportive - a deeper experience than a typical photography 'conference'.  Listen in to hear her reflect on the weekend with 2 of the speakers, KJ Nasrul and Carien Borst.KJ describes how she feels after meeting up in person at the Festival, after a long period of online communication.  She experienced  a freedom and joy - not felt for a long time - something has opened up!Listen to Carien explain how she felt moved by the experience of sharing creativity, feeling the connection of like-minded people and hearing so many different stories.Whilst  the Festival was a mix of outdoor and indoor Masterclasses and talks, continue listening to get a flavour of the talks and hear clips of some of the speakers - Bill Ward, KJ Nasurl, Justine Ritchie and Kim Grant. Dates for next year's Festival at Aviemore will be released shortly.  There is a already a waiting list so be sure to get in early if you are keen to attend!https://creative-light.co.uk/

Entrevistas de Radio SAGO
Altum Lab: Inteligencia artificial para mejorar alimento de salmones en base a la harina de pescado

Entrevistas de Radio SAGO

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2022 18:46


Región Acuícola conversó con Francisco Paredes, director de estrategias de negocio de Altum Lab, startup que ofrece inteligencia artificial para mejorar la eficacia y producción en distintas industrias, entre ellas, la acuícola. Paredes destaca que esta startup ofrece soluciones inteligentes para mejorar procesos, incluyendo la alimentación de los salmónidos. Para fines de año, Altum Lab proyecta abrir oficinas comerciales en Taiwán e Indonesia. Además, ya comenzaron su apertura en Europa, tras ser una de las startups invitadas a participar de Aquaculture UK, en Aviemore, la feria de la industria acuícola más grande del Reino Unido. Acá la entrevista completa. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/entrevistas-radio-sago/message

Young Hearts, Run Free
Robbie Dunlop Roll With It - Young Hearts Run Free - S6 Eps 1 - 15 July 2022

Young Hearts, Run Free

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2022 118:09


Hello Season 6, we've been expecting you. And we are off to a flyer, quite literally, with this week's guest Robbie Dunlop. Robbie has enjoyed a remarkable 2022 so far and we were super keen to get the lowdown from the man himself. We start with a look at happenings over in California as our gal Debbie Martin-Consani mastered the conditions at the Badwater 135 AND we've a competition for all you to enter!! And it is well worth winning, we've a place at the Run with Pyllon event on 13 August up for grabs! Listen to find out how you can join Debbie and James Stewart in Aviemore! With two outstanding outings under the belt this year bringing 2nd place finishes at the Highland Fling and West Highland Way Race our guest Robbie is enjoying the time of his life out on the trails. His year-on-year improvement since a debut marathon in 2016 has been astonishing. Robbie gives us the story of his running journey. From a footballing background to finding running. Learning his craft from some of the best, understanding the importance of structured training and consistency along the way. We then home in on those 2 recent great outings on the West Highland Way. In Robbie's own words they both ‘couldn't have gone much better'. We get under the skin of all that though, a 16 hour and some loose change West Highland Way doesn't just happen after all right? We have our first shwank discussion of the season (quell surprise!) as well as find out Robbie's nutrition/hydration fav choices. Robbie unveils how his own motivation and inspiration was super-powered by his daughter Maisie. A real personal reason for stoking the fire. Robbie offers us an honest and refreshing take on his own progression into the world of ultra-marathons, a super talented athlete with a super humble outlook. We know fine well there is plenty more to come from Robbie, his dedication to learning and improving is meticulous, he's only getting started! So, grab your ear buds, give Alexa a shout or whatever you do and settle down for our amazing season opener with Robbie Dunlop. Find out more about Run with Pyllon event here RUN WITH PYLLON

Scottish Property Podcast
Starting with nothing and building a multi million pound portfolio with Kristina Castillina

Scottish Property Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2022 64:51


In this episode, Nick and Steven chat to the good life property investor, Kristina Castillina about how she has gone from having nothing to building a portfolio, SA business and recently sourcing 30 properties in 2 years.We talk about the following:* Beginning as a performer and singer * Living in Aviemore as a child * Spending £18,000 on property training* Starting as a network marketer * Building up a buy to let portfolio in Blackpool to replace working income* Hitting problems and reaching a reset point * Her first joint venture partnership* Struggling with builders and being taken advantage of* Short term lets and running a a serviced accommodation business* Juggling business and family lifeHow to get in touch:www.fyldecoastandcountrystays.comInstagram: @thegoodlife_propertyinvestorPROPERTY NETWORKING:  Book your ticket for a Scottish Property Podcast networking event near you.Visit scottishpropertypodcast.co.uk for ticket links⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hope you find it useful and we would appreciate it hugely if you could find time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.  Connect with us on social media:  Join the Scottish Property Podcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/628274537711227/Steven Clark on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenclark84/Nick Ponty on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nick_ponty/ Email us: Steven@steven-clark.com Nick@arcproperty.uk

EV News Daily - Electric Car Podcast
18 May 2022 | Non-Tesla Superchargers Open in UK, Spain, Austria, Belgium & Sweden

EV News Daily - Electric Car Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2022 22:44


Show #1471 Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily, you trusted source of EV information. It's Wednesday 18th May, it's Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story so you don't have to.  CHRIS HARRIS DRIVES 1,000 HP EXPERIMENTAL ELECTRIC PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4 RACER - Porsche has already announced that it will produce electric sports cars in the future and it just revealed a one-off electric racer based on the current Cayman. Called the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance, it has full competition aero and runs two upgraded motors that can give it a combined 986 hp horsepower and briefly even up to 1,073 horsepower. - Chris Harris drove it for the Collecting Cars YouTube channel and he also had quite a long and interesting chat with Matthias Scholz, Porsche's GT racing vehicle project manager Original Source : https://insideevs.com/news/586409/chris-harris-porsche-cayman-gt4-electric-driven/ 16 TESLA SUPERCHARGER SITES OPEN TO NON-TESLA VEHICLES IN THE UK - Tesla has confirmed that, from today, certain Supercharger network locations will be available for non-Tesla electric vehicles, as part of an expansion of a Europe-wide pilot scheme to allow vehicles from other brands to charge using the network. - Launched in November last year in the Netherlands, the expansion of the pilot scheme means selected stations in Spain, Belgium, Sweden, and Austria join 15 UK Supercharger stations being opened to electric cars of all brands, compatible with the Supercharger Type 2 CCS connector. - The UK's 15 stations contain 158 individual charging points - 20 per cent of the UK's Supercharger network - Folkestone, Grays (East London/Thurrock), Uxbridge, Birmingham, Cardiff, Wokingham (near Reading), Thetford, Trumpington (near Cambridge), Banbury, Manchester and Flint Mountain (near Chester). Scottish locations include Adderstone, Dundee and Aviemore. Welsh coverage includes the superchargers at Aberystwyth. Original Source : https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/tesla/358026/15-tesla-supercharger-sites-open-non-tesla-vehicles-uk SWEDISH BATTERY FACTORY NORTHVOLT BEGINS SHIPMENTS TO ELECTRIC-CAR MAKER - orthvolt AB became the first European firm to start commercial shipments to a carmaker last week, giving shape to the continent's five-year push to counter Asian dominance in supplying energy cells for electric vehicles. - The first deliveries, which came from Northvolt's plant in Skelleftea, Sweden, were made on schedule, a spokesman said. The company is hiring about 150 people per month at the plant, which currently employs about 1,000 workers, he added. - Northvolt, which plans to scale up production over the rest of the year, recently said it had secured more than $50 billion in contracts from electric-car manufacturers Original Source : https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-17/europe-s-first-homegrown-battery-plant-begins-shipments EUROPE'S FIRST HOMEGROWN BATTERY PLANT FROM NORTHVOLT BEGINS SHIPMENTS - For years, China has fostered closer ties with mining companies in Africa and South America, potentially exposing manufacturers elsewhere to supply bottlenecks. Northvolt, which plans to scale up production over the rest of the year, recently said it had secured more than $50 billion in contracts from automakers including BMW, Volkswagen Group, Volvo and Polestar. Original Source : https://europe.autonews.com/suppliers/europes-first-homegrown-battery-plant-northvolt-begins-shipments EUROPE'S BIGGEST BATTERY RECYCLING HUB GOES LIVE Original Source : https://recyclinginternational.com/batteries/europes-biggest-battery-recycling-hub-goes-live/49124/ 2023 GENESIS GV60 ELECTRIC SUV PRICE AND AVAILABILITY ANNOUNCED Original Source : https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/2023-genesis-gv60-price-availability-electric-suv/ GENESIS GV60 THREE YEARS OF FREE CHARGING FROM ELECTRIFY AMERICA Original Source : https://electrek.co/2022/05/17/genesis-gv60-owners-will-receive-three-years-of-free-30-min-charging-from-electrify-america/ USED MODEL 3 AND IONIQ 5 ARE NOW WORTH MORE THAN BRAND NEW Original Source : https://thedriven.io/2022/05/17/model-3-and-ioniq-5-resale-prices-are-now-worth-more-than-brand-new/ ŠKODA AUTO LAUNCHES PRODUCTION OF MEB BATTERY SYSTEMS AT MLADÁ BOLESLAV HEADQUARTERS Original Source : https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/2022/05/skoda-auto-launches-production-of-meb-battery-systems.html TEXAS GAINS NATION'S FIRST ELECTRIC VEHICLE TECH CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Original Source : https://www.newsweek.com/texas-gains-nations-first-electric-vehicle-tech-certification-program-1707198 MERCEDES-BENZ AND SILA ACHIEVE BREAKTHROUGH WITH HIGH SILICON AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY Original Source : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220517005810/en/Mercedes-Benz-and-Sila-Achieve-Breakthrough-With-High-Silicon-Automotive-Battery XCHARGE LAUNCHES BATTERY-INTEGRATED CHARGER IN COOPERATION WITH BYD Original Source : https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xcharge-launches-battery-integrated-charger-in-cooperation-with-byd-301548575.html QUESTION OF THE WEEK WITH EMOBILITYNORWAY.COM What's the best way to help educate your friends, family or colleagues about electric cars? Email me any feedback to: hello@evnewsdaily.com It would mean a lot if you could take 2mins to leave a quick review on whichever platform you download the podcast. PREMIUM PARTNERS PHIL ROBERTS / ELECTRIC FUTURE BRAD CROSBY PORSCHE OF THE VILLAGE CINCINNATI AUDI CINCINNATI EAST VOLVO CARS CINCINNATI EAST NATIONAL CAR CHARGING ON THE US MAINLAND AND ALOHA CHARGE IN HAWAII DEREK REILLY FROM THE EV REVIEW IRELAND YOUTUBE CHANNEL RICHARD AT RSEV.CO.UK – FOR BUYING AND SELLING EVS IN THE UK EMOBILITYNORWAY.COM/ OCTOPUS ELECTRIC JUICE - MAKING PUBLIC CHARGING SIMPLE WITH ONE CARD, ONE MAP AND ONE APP MILLBROOKCOTTAGES.CO.UK – 5* LUXURY COTTAGES IN DEVON, JUMP IN THE HOT TUB WHILST YOUR EV CHARGES 

Looking Sideways Action Sports Podcast
Episode 182: Lesley, Lauren and Hannah - Triumvirate

Looking Sideways Action Sports Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2022 71:34


Full episodes info and Show Notes - www.wearelookingsideways.com When does cultural guardianship become another form of toxic gatekeeping? How can you connect your own personal take on activism with the bigger themes? How can ski touring and splitboarding be a vehicle to increased creativity and self-awareness? And just why is Scotland one of the most unique places to ride a snowboard in the world? All topics covered in this week's episode with Lesley McKenna, Hannah Bailey and Lauren MacCallum, impromptuly recorded during my recent trip to Aviemore to take part in one of Hannah and Lesley's Wandering Workshops. This was a brilliant three days which mixed splitboarding with a much-needed creative reset. While there, I decided to grab Lesley, Hannah and Lauren for a chat. “What do you want to chat about?”, asked Lesley the day before, as we were heading uphill through classic Scottish four-seasons-in-one-day conditions. “Let's just press record and see where we end up”, I replied. Which is exactly what we did, and as I suspected it might, it quickly evolved into a subtle, all-encompassing chat that covered a hell of a lot of ground. Of course, it helped that I was chatting to three of the smartest, most passionate people I know. This is actually the first time I've interviewed three people for the show, and I thought it worked really well. Big thanks to Lesley, Hannah and Lauren for taking the time to do it, and for the brilliant conversation. Thanks to Matt Ward for the theme tune, to my editor Fina Charleson, and to Duncan Yeldham for production support.

The Ski Podcast
92: Andermatt, Nevis Range, LISTEX & 'The Mighty Coe' report

The Ski Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2022 53:01


Episode 92 features Andermatt, LISTEX, the Nevis Range and The Mighty Coe event. Plus we have snow reports from around the Alps, and we find out when accidents on the piste are most likely to occur.  Iain Martin was joined ‘live' by Babsi Lapwood from the Mountain Trade Network, Al Morgan from SkiKitInfo and Katie Crowe from Battleface Travel Insurance and down the line by Chris O'Brien from Nevis Range. SHOW NOTES The Ski Podcast has been voted ‘Best Wintersports Podcast' in the Sports Podcast Awards. Thank you to everyone who voted for us. Thanks to Switzerland Tourism for supporting the The Ski Podcast 2022 marks the 175th anniversary of the Swiss railway - 1847 marked the opening of the first Swiss train route between Zurich and Baden.  Simon Burgess told us about skiing in the Lake District in Episode 73 Babsi skied in Sud Tirol In Episode 81, we discussed what length skis to get We discussed the wearing of helmets in Episode 88 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hXal2dl-fsA   Dave Burrows from SnowPros Ski School reported from Morgins, Switzerland Alex Armand from Tip Tip Ski Coaching reported from Les 2 Alpes, France Steve Angus is a private instructor in Val d'Isere, France Elena Protopow reported from Tirol in Austria Iain was in Andermatt when the lifts closed in Switzerland at the start of the pandemic in March 2020 Read about Iain's journey by train on Ski Flight Free Samih Sawaris was the Egyptian responsible for the renaissance of Andermatt Iain's guide was Florian Tresch You can take a look at Iain and Florian's route here:  Find out more about Swisstainable  Vail Resorts seen potential too:  https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1503295056089960449   Iain spoke with Chris O'Brien, MD at Nevis Range, re sustainability  Nevis Range worked with carbonfootprint.com  Listen to our interview with The Mighty Coe organiser Neil Dalgliesh in Episode 89 Al was in Aviemore for the Glenmore Lodge Wild Weekend  Check out ‘The Escalator' here You can find out more about LISTEX here Iain visited the new Vallandry gondola in January https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnJKwcjLYTQ   Reviews/comments wherever you leave them always welcome, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, social media or via email.   If you'd like some stickers, please email us with your address.  Don't forget you can always buy me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/theskipodcast. All cuppas are much appreciated.   I also enjoy all feedback about the show, so please do email. You can follow me @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast

Active Outdoors
Running the Speyside Way extension from Aviemore to Newtonmore

Active Outdoors

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2021 0:14


In the latest episode of the Active Outdoors podcast, John Davidson is running the newest section of the Speyside Way - the 20-mile stretch from Aviemore to Newtonmore.

Adventures in English
Scotland's Reindeer

Adventures in English

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2021 5:32


It's getting close to Christmas and we had some special visitors to our town recently to turn the Christmas lights on. Reindeer! Reindeer are of course very significant this time of year as it's Reindeer who famously pull Santa's sleigh. Did you know that Scotland has its own herd of reindeer, in fact they are the Uk's only free-ranging herd of reindeer living mainly in the Cairngorm mountains, close to the town of Aviemore. I'd like to tell you a bit about them today. Reindeer were actually native to the UK until around the 13th century but they unfortunately died out, becoming extinct for a number of reasons but probably due to climate change or hunting. They were eventually reintroduced in 1952 thanks to a Swedish man, Mikel Utsi. Mikel Utsi was born in Karesuando, northern Sweden, into a reindeer-owning Sàmi family and following his marriage and move to the UK, he was actually on his honeymoon in the Cairngorm mountains when he realised how similar the landscape and climate was to his homeland and decided to try to reintroduce Reindeer here. The Cairngorm mountain range has sub arctic conditions, the only part of the UK to do so and is often subjected to blizzards, snow and ice. The perfect environment for hardy reindeer. The first 7 reindeer were brought over from Sweden by ship and quarantined at Edinburgh Zoo before being released in the Cairngorm mountains. Over the years the herd has grown substantially and there are now 150 Reindeer, most freely roaming the Cairngorm mountain range. They aren't wild, every Reindeer has been named and a close eye is kept on them but they are mostly free to go where they want. If you go to the town of Aviemore you can visit the Reindeer Centre and take an organised hill trip up to the mountains to feed the reindeer who may even eat out of your hands! It's a wonderful experience to see these animals up close in their own environment. Some interesting facts about reindeer, they have 2 layers of fur to keep them warm and very wide hooves which are a bit like snow shoes and stop them from sinking into the snow. Both male and female reindeers can grow antlers and they can easily find food under the snow by using their hooves. They mostly eat grasses, moss shrubs and trees. In winter it's mostly lichen. Some of the reindeer have been trained to pull sleighs and they occasionally travel around the country in the run up to Christmas. As well as visiting the reindeer in their natural habitat you can also adopt one. For a small fee you can help support the work of the Reindeer Centre, run mostly by volunteers and receive regular updates on how your reindeer and the herd are doing. There are more than a 1000 supporters from all over the world. I hope you get a chance to visit these magnificent creatures one day. Thanks for listening. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/adventuresinenglish/message

PUB SONGS for Celtic Geeks
Wild Mountain Thyme in Scotland

PUB SONGS for Celtic Geeks

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2021 28:31


How a musician saved the lives of hundreds of people on a sinking cruise ship. A story of bravery, leadership, and extreme cowardice. Is Wild Mountain Thyme an Scottish song or an Irish song? And guess which recorder player can be heard in a jewelry shop in the Highlands of Scotland? It's Pub Songs & Stories #244. WHO'S PLAYING IN THE PUB TODAY Welcome to Pub Songs & Stories. This is the Virtual Public House for musicians to share the stories and inspiration behind their music with your host Marc Gunn. Subscribe to the podcast and download free music at PubSong.com. 0:33 - WHAT'S NEW? Today's show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Thanks to Expat Fledgling, Krory Dempsey, Ryan and Kelly Melville, John Mota There's an MP3 of “Mingulay Boat Song”, a questionnaire to help plan my Coffee shows. What's coming up? Loreena McKennitt What song would you like to hear more about? 3:25 - UPCOMING SHOWS NOV 17: Coffee with The Celtfather @ 11 AM EST NOV 24: Coffee with The Celtfather @ 11 AM EST NOV 27: “Firefly Drinking Songs” at Giga-Bits Tabletop Cafe in Marietta, GA @ 4-6 PM 3:46 - STORY OF OCEANOS What would you do if your ship started to sink? Jump ship or do what it takes to save the lives of hundreds of people. Paul Eastman is our storyteller today. He is the lead singer and songwriter for the Celtic Rock band, Coast. He tells the story of Moss Hill, a musician on a cruise ship whose bravery saved the passengers. MTS Oceanos was a cruise ship that sank in 1991. It suffered uncontrolled flooding. Her captain and some of the crew were convicted of negligence for fleeing the ship without helping the passengers, who were rescued thanks to the efforts of the ship's entertainers. But I'll let Coast tell that story... 12:54 - “Oceanos” by Coast from 10.2 You can find out more about the band on their website. They also have music video with footage from the ship as people are rescued and it eventually sinks. And you can watch a documentary about the Oceanos on their blog. This is from their latest album, 10.2. If you enjoy the band, the music, the story, please... 17:45 - SUPPORT WHAT YOU LOVE The musicians on this podcast are happy to share their music freely with you. You can find their music on streaming music sites. But streaming is a way to sample the music. If you hear something you love, these artists need your support. Please visit their website, sign up to their mailing list and buy something. You could buy a digital download, a shirt, a sticker, a pin, a songbook, jewelry, or even the classic physical CD. Your purchase allows them to keep making music. And if you're not into the physical stuff, many artists accept tips or are on Patreon. So again please support the arts. If this show made you happy, then you can also join the Gunn Runners Club on Patreon. Your support pays for the production and promotion of my music and this podcast. If you have questions or comments, drop me an email.  Save 15% with an annual membership. 18:38 - NEXT TIME We're stepping back in time as I share Stories from how my music career began. It's all from a live episode of Pub Songs & Stories that was recorded at CONjuration in Atlanta. Loreena McKennit is coming to an episode soon. 19:03 - STORY OF WILD MOUNTAIN THYME "Wild Mountain Thyme", also known as "Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go?", is a Scottish/Irish folk song. Yes. Scottish AND Irish. The lyrics and melody are based on the song "The Braes of Balquhither" by Scottish poet Robert Tannahill and Scottish composer Robert Archibald Smith. They were adapted by Belfast musician Francis McPeake into "Wild Mountain Thyme". According to Wikipedia, Tannahill's original song was first published in Robert Archibald Smith's Scottish Minstrel. It is about the hills (braes) around Balquhidder near Lochearnhead. Tannahill collected and adapted traditional songs. "The Braes of Balquhither" may have been based on the traditional song "The Braes o' Bowhether". McPeake is said to have dedicated the song to his first wife, but his son wrote an additional verse in order to celebrate his father's remarriage. "Wild Mountain Thyme" was first recorded by McPeake's nephew, also named Francis McPeake, in 1957 for the BBC series As I Roved Out. While Francis McPeake holds the copyright to the song, it is generally believed that rather than writing the song, he arranged an existing travelling folk version and popularised the song as his father's. When interviewed on radio, Francis McPeake said it was based on a song he heard whilst travelling in Scotland, and he rewrote it later. Bob Dylan's recording of the song cited it as traditional, with the arranger unknown, though Dylan's copyright records indicate that the song is sometimes "attributed to" McPeake. In her book Fragrance and Wellbeing: Plant Aromatics and Their Influence on the Psyche, author Jennifer Peace Rhind describes "Wild Mountain Thyme" as essentially a love song, with the line, "Wild Mountain Thyme grows among the Scottish heather" perhaps being an indirect reference to the old custom of young women wearing a sprig of thyme, mint or lavender to attract a suitor. Rhind also notes that, in British folklore, the thyme plant was the fairies' playground and often the herb would be left undisturbed for their use. As for me, I don't remember where I found the song. But it would've been when I started performing at Renaissance festivals or possibly MP3.com. Andrew McKee and I worked our first arrangement for the song in 2000 for the Brobdingnagian Bards album Gullible's Travels. It was later re-recorded with a better version for A Faire to Remember. It stands out largely because of Andrew's recorder solo. It's beautiful. But it's also just a gorgeous song, covered by many people. One of my favorite moments for this song happened on my Celtic Invasion of the Highlands of Scotland in 2013. We were staying in Aviemore, Scotland in the Highlands. I remember walking through the gift shop, when I heard Andrew's unmistakeable recorder playing. My mind nearly exploded as I searched the shop for the origins of the sound. I found a small glass cabinet that had jewelry in it. Gorgeous jewelry made of compressed heather. There were necklaces, earrings, pendants and brooches. It was just fantastic. Then there was like a TARDIS in my brain. It flashed back to an email I had received years earlier. A company asked me if they could use our recording in their shop. So there it was the Brobdingnagian Bards, or rather Andrew McKee, because it was really just the recorder part, on repeat in Scotland. You can check out the company at heathergems.com. In the summer of 2009, I worked out a new arrangement of the song for my CD, The Bridge. That version also inspired a lot of people. It's one of my favorite songs on the album. I love this song, but one of the things that made me so proud about performing this song is hearing my own improvement in singing. It's one of those songs that as I got better, I developed a better ability to phrase things in how it's sung. It makes me feel really good about my own vocal abilities. 24:05 - “Wild Mountain Thyme” by Marc Gunn from The Bridge Pub Songs & Stories was produced by Marc Gunn. The show is edited by Mitchell Petersen with graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. You can subscribe and listen wherever you find podcasts. You can also subscribe to my mailing list. You will get regular updates of new music, podcasts, special offers, and you'll get 21 songs for free. Welcome to the pub at www.pubsong.com! #coastband #wildmountainthyme #oceanos #pubsongs #heathergems

The Run4It Podcast
Winter Training, Flicking the Switch

The Run4It Podcast

Play Episode Play 24 sec Highlight Listen Later Nov 12, 2021 91:47


In the first half of this week's episode, Chris and Will discuss various approaches the Run 4 It team take to keep themselves training during winter, from sticking on a pair of Arctic Talons and calling it business as usual, to significant mileage cuts supplemented by more visits to the gym and cross training. In the second half, they're joined by Flick McQueen (50:30) - our marketing and communications manager - to talk about winter training in more detail. Flick discusses her running background and evolution, as well as her varied approach to training through the colder months, which over the past few years has seen ski touring included - a sport on the rise in Scotland with a lot of transferable benefits for trail running. To get in touch, email: thepod@run4it.com.Always seek professional advice before taking up new sports in mountainous environments. Lookout for courses at Glenmore Lodge in Aviemore by clicking here, and look out for the Backcountry Gathering at the Nevis Range here.  Mountain safety aids:Mountain Weather Information Service: https://www.mwis.org.uk/ Scottish Avalanche Information Service: http://beaware.sais.gov.uk/ OS Maps: https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Match My Workout: https://www.matchmyworkout.com/

The Wyness Shuffle
Aviemore is a Happy Place (Pump It Up)

The Wyness Shuffle

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2021 108:00


Moff, Stevie, AY & Ross pump it up to the top of the pops in recognition of the best start in ICT history.  04:47 Game-by-game, with 6 games to review: Queens toppled, Ayr fall to earth, Killie get one in the pie, Buckie buckled, Partick pumped (little pricks) & Pars Ridgered. 29:40 Danny Devine Interview: The Belfast Bonnuci sits down with Stevie to reflect on his time away from Inverness and bask in his triumphant return. 54:23 Moff speaks to Dean McKinnon, host of the 'Just One Cornetto' podcast and general authority on all things Greenock Morton, ahead of The Ton's October visit north.  01:13:36 Ross Hughes, ICT's new head of Physical Performance talks to Stevie about his role at the club.  01:25:50 TOTP: Moff's angry about the bagpipe dirge the team are running out to and the pod channels that anger constructively by offering a range of alternative suggestions. 01:35:36 Doran Doran: which songs should we be playing for players when they score? 01:41:40 Mailbag: Suv's swollen sack has been emptied so Ross takes over for one week only.  01:45:23 Competition Time: Scott Allardice announces the winner of his unsigned shirt.  Don't forget to Pump It Up!  

Mikkey's Mosh Pit
MMP #016 - Crusher Craib

Mikkey's Mosh Pit

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2021 172:32


After overcoming some technical difficulties, Crusher Craib finally gets into the Mosh Pit as we cover Fortnite, getting back to training, Chris Archer's Aviemore adventures, worst matches, characters in Wrestlezone, the greatness of retro gaming, mohawks, the fact that Crusher has never been to a gig and a lengthy discussion about movies including 80's/90's action films, the best and worst Terminators, reboots, our top 3 Arnie and Van Damme flicks and Stallone's knob.

EV News Daily - Electric Car Podcast
1186: Lucid Air Dream Edition R - First Drive | 25 August 2021

EV News Daily - Electric Car Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2021 18:13


Show #1190. If you get any value from this podcast please consider supporting my work on Patreon. Plus all Patreon supporters get their own unique ad-free podcast feed. Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Wednesday 25th August. It's Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story so you don't have to. Thank you to MYEV.com for helping make this show, they've built the first marketplace specifically for Electric Vehicles. It's a totally free marketplace that simplifies the buying and selling process, and help you learn about EVs along the way too. 2022 LUCID AIR DREAM EDITION R EXCLUSIVE FIRST DRIVE - “The 2022 Lucid Air Dream Edition R is a 933-hp electric luxury sedan that can drive more than 500 miles on a single charge. I witnessed and experienced the latter firsthand. The former? Not so much, but you'll need to keep reading. There's also an Air Dream Edition P (P stands for Performance, R means Range) that makes 1,111 horsepower and offers a range of better than 450 miles. Now get this—they cost the same price. You choose: Do you want a sleek-looking EV with nearly 100 hp more than the Tesla Model S Plaid? Or do you want the car that makes more horsepower than any Lamborghini ever made, beats the Tesla Model S Long Range at its own game by more than 100 miles, and puts the very notion of range anxiety out to pasture?” - Jonny Lieberman- Author - My 2022 Lucid Air Dream Edition R had the potential to go 475 miles, whereas Rawlinson's could have traveled 517 miles on a single charge. That's a gauntlet dropped at the feet of you know who. Also, remember range anxiety? As with the internal combustion engine, it's a thing of the past. Original Source : https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2022-lucid-air-dream-edition-r-exclusive-first-drive-review LUCID AIR DREAM EDITION: 500-MILE RATING LIKELY FOR RANGE VERSION - In Dream Edition Performance form, the Lucid Air will be able to accelerate to 60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds and make 1,111 horsepower, while the Range version does it in 2.7 seconds and makes 933 hp. Total torque for both versions is more than 738 pound-feet, and both versions will reach 168 mph—although we should note that prototypes have gone much faster. - Performance versions ride on staggered-width, specially developed Pirelli P Zero 21-inch tires, while the 500+ mile Range version rides on a 19-inch version of the same tires - It's built on a 924-volt architecture, with a 113-kwh battery pack, and will be able to regain up to 20 miles per minute at 350-kw CCS DC fast chargers (utilizing peak charge rates of over 300 kw), with unlimited Electrify America charging included for three years. - It will be also be compatible with a bi-directional home charging station to enable car-to-grid functionality, and a 19.2-kw onboard charger can regain up to 80 miles per hour on 240V AC—at 80 amps, on a 100-amp circuit, with a special Connected Home Charging system to be installed by Qmerit. Original Source : https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1133351_lucid-air-dream-edition-500-mile-rating-likely-for-range-version MUNICH IAA MOBILITY 2021: ELECTRIC CARS TAKE CENTER STAGE - From September 7 to 12, 2021, the first German auto show since the beginning of the corona pandemic will take place: the IAA Mobility. The trade fair, previously known internationally as the "Frankfurt Auto Show," is also coming to Munich for the first time. - We have newly included the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV, and it is now officially certain that the EQE will be shown. We have also added the VW ID.5 GTX and (on a speculative basis) the Polestar 3. · Highlighted Source : https://share.getliner.com/bBx7O/ · Original Source : https://insideevs.com/news/528864/munich-iaa-electric-car-debuts/ - Audi's highlight will probably be the Grand Sphere, as the brand has already officially confirmed. - The BMW i4 electric sedan is one of the confirmed exhibits at the IAA. One of the highlights of the four-door model based on the new 4 Series Gran Coupé is the astonishing range of up to 590 kilometers according to the WLTP standard. - The Dacia Spring Electric is described by Dacia as the cheapest electric car on the market, and with a base price of around 20,000 euros - Mercedes has confirmed that the new EQE will also be shown - The Swiss company Micro is represented at the IAA, and rumor has it that it is showing the production version of the Microlino 2.0 at the show. - VW has announced the ID.5 GTX for the Munich show, again only with the red and yellow camouflage film. · Original Source : https://insideevs.com/news/528864/munich-iaa-electric-car-debuts/6068864/ Jolly good! UK LAUNCHES ITS FIRST WIRELESS EV CHARGING TRIAL - Residents of Nottingham are going to witness a UK first: a wireless charging electric vehicle trial. Nine electric taxis will roam the streets of the city, named after the trial itself, WiCET (Wireless Charging of Electric Taxis). - The etaxi fleet will consist of five plug-in hybrid LEVC TX taxis and four all-electric Nissan Dynamo taxis - The WiCET taxis will be available for hail by the general public and they will collect vehicle data during the rides, including the journey distances and battery level. Original Source : https://thenextweb.com/news/jolly-good-uk-launches-first-wireless-ev-charging-trial-witec-taxi YOSEMITE EV VISITS WILL BE EASIER WITH ELECTRIFY AMERICA STATION - New EV charging stations are often knocked for being either in high-traffic urban or suburban areas, office parks, or at nondescript freeway locations, at times far from a convenience store but also far from actual vacation destinations. It's safe to say that we're still in the early years of EV station building, so most of the new stations really are aimed at suburban sprawl, urban centers, or linking up the two coasts—often producing no-go zones for electric cars if their owners want to visit a national park. - Electrify America has worked with Yosemite Westgate and Buck Meadows Lodge to build an EV charging station in Buck Meadows, California, with the goal of giving those driving to Yosemite National Park a spot to charge their EVs. The Yosemite Westgate and Buck Meadows Lodge station is located just 12 miles from this popular national park, and is not that far from other EA stations in Bishop, Oakhurst, and Bridgeport. The station features two 150 kW and two 350 kW chargers. · Original Source : https://www.autoweek.com/news/green-cars/a37384266/yosemite-ev-electrify-america-station/ ASTON MARTIN EASING INTO ELECTRIC VEHICLES - Aston Martin will join the rest of the industry in switching to  electric vehicles, but the first pure EV is not coming until 2026 - The first pure EV must wait for the next-generation sports cars in 2026. - The timing is a ways off because Moers says the current sports car lineup will get a significant facelift by 2023 and they need a bit of runway to pay for themselves before they are replaced by models on a new electric sports car platform. - The CEO is building an EV engineering team to lessen dependence on companies that supply key drivetrain components and batteries, such as Mercedes and Rimac. Moers wants to build in-house competence Original Source : https://www.motortrend.com/news/aston-martin-electric-vehicle-2026/ JAPAN DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH ELECTRIC CARS FOR ITS EV CHARGERS - Japan, which Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has pledged will become carbon neutral by 2050, is grappling with a classic ‘build it and they will come' problem. After offering subsidies to the tune of 100 billion yen ($911 million) in fiscal 2012 to build charging stations and spur electric-vehicle adoption, charging poles mushroomed. - Now, with EV penetration only at around 1%, the country has hundreds of aging charging poles that aren't being used while others (they have an average lifespan of about eight years) are being taken out of service altogether. Original Source : https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-25/japan-doesn-t-have-enough-electric-cars-for-its-ev-chargers ENTERPRISE CAR CLUB ADDS ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO FLEET - Enterprise Car Club is introducing eight new low-emission hybrid electric cars in the Highlands and Islands region of Scotland, which can be booked using the new GO-HI journey planning app. - four Hyundai IONIQ cars will be placed in Fort William (two cars), Aviemore (two cars), Ullapool, Kyle of Localsh, Scrabster Ferry Terminal, and Wick Airport. They can be booked for as little as £5.90 per hour. - Murray McAdam, Enterprise business rental sales manager for Scotland. “Local residents, business travelers, and tourists alike can now quickly switch to a rental vehicle after taking a train, ferry, bus, or plane, making their onward journey much more straightforward, especially to places that can only be accessed by car. We are actively facilitating access to electric and hybrid vehicles as part of the regular Enterprise fleet. · Original Source : https://www.autorentalnews.com/10149992/enterprise-car-club-adds-electric-vehicles-to-fleet STOREDOT FILES PATENT FOR FAST CHARGING 'BOOSTER' FUNCTION - ELECTRIVE.COM - Israeli battery developer StoreDot announces it has filed a patent for technology to help electric cars charge faster. The solution, which the company says it will make available as an open-source license, includes hardware and software enhancements that create a “booster” function. - StoreDot claims this will allow the battery to analyze charging station performance in real-time and adjust the battery to accommodate higher currents if so provided by the charge column. This, of course, requires communication between a vehicle's battery and charging system, thus making the open-source license a must for the start-up. Original Source : https://www.electrive.com/2021/08/26/storedot-files-patent-for-fast-charging-booster-function QUESTION OF THE WEEK WITH EMOBILITYNORWAY.COM It's back next week after a short break! Email me your thoughts and I'll read them out on Sunday – hello@evnewsdaily.com It would mean a lot if you could take 2mins to leave a quick review on whichever platform you download the podcast. And  if you have an Amazon Echo, download our Alexa Skill, search for EV News Daily and add it as a flash briefing. Come and say hi on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter just search EV News Daily, have a wonderful day, I'll catch you tomorrow and remember…there's no such thing as a self-charging hybrid. PREMIUM PARTNERS PHIL ROBERTS / ELECTRIC FUTURE BRAD CROSBY PORSCHE OF THE VILLAGE CINCINNATI AUDI CINCINNATI EAST VOLVO CARS CINCINNATI EAST NATIONAL CAR CHARGING ON THE US MAINLAND AND ALOHA CHARGE IN HAWAII DEREK REILLY FROM THE EV REVIEW IRELAND YOUTUBE CHANNEL RICHARD AT RSEV.CO.UK – FOR BUYING AND SELLING EVS IN THE UK EMOBILITYNORWAY.COM/

Active Outdoors
Episode Four: Bikepacking the Moray Way, including parts of the Speyside Way, Moray Coast Trail and Dava Way

Active Outdoors

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2021 0:18


Recorded en route, the team of five riders talk about the reasons behind the trip, the fall and rise of Aviemore's famous Mountain Cafe - now the Bothy Bakery in Grantown - and how to plan the best adventures from your door.

Stories Incomplete
Vietnam War Legacies - Part 3, Anh's Story

Stories Incomplete

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2021 16:29


This is the third story in this series – Anh goes from being a “Bui Doi” - an insignificant speck of dust to a “golden child” with a ticket to immigrate to America.  Once in America, she thrives - but there still is one missing piece in her life.  Does she find her biological father in time for her wedding?  Does he even want to be found?  What happens after this story ends?  Special thanks to The Freeharmonic Orchestra for the use of “Loops to Aviemore” as background music. 

Run to the Hills
Episode 37 - Martin Bell - YouTube Ultra Runner

Run to the Hills

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2021 88:00


Welcome to this weeks Run To The Hills Podcast!Each week we'll bring you interviews with runners from the front, back and middle of the pack. We'll share training advice, nutrition advice and kit reviews too. We'll talk about current running stories and stories from inspirational people who we feel you might be interested in.We catch up with Eddie and Gary as they discuss their weekly training on the UK and French trails. This week Gary talks to Martin Bell. Martin is located in the beautiful Aviemore area of Scotland. His YouTube channel (The Determined Runner) follows his journey as a runner, kit reviewer and life since his Prostate cancer diagnosis. He's very open and honest. Check out his channel and lets see if the Run to the Hills community can help get him to the elusive 1000 subscriber milestone.Check out his channel via the link below.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ7ZegCz--p_f00R7pZFsJQDon't forget to check out some great books from past guests too. Below are a couple of Amazon Affiliate links to books from Anji Andrews and Mimi Anderson.

The Run4It Podcast
Talking Trail, with Romain Borgeal

The Run4It Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2021 83:48


Chris and Will are joined by Romain Borgeal to talk all things trail shoes.  Romain is the Assistant Manager at our Dundee store and the content writer for The Run4It Journal. He is also a passionate and experienced trail runner, with completions at races including the Ring of Steall and the West Highland Way Race. Cue a lively conversation on what got them into trail running, the perils of trying to run on the hills in a pair of racing flats against their current trail shoe line-ups, and Romain's upcoming personal project: his 'Door to Aviemore' challenge - a 130-kilometre trail run from his front door, taking in the Cateran Trail and the Lairig Ghru - all with the usual above average banter regular listeners have come to expect. Will recounts a torrid recent outing on the Highland Fling route and swoons over Romain's brief modelling career...To get in touch, email: thepod@run4it.com

Stories Incomplete
Vietnam War Legacies - Part 3, Anh's Story

Stories Incomplete

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2021 16:29


This is the third story in this series – Anh goes from being a “Bui Doi” - an insignificant speck of dust to a “golden child” with a ticket to immigrate to America.  Once in America, she thrives - but there still is one missing piece in her life.  Does she find her biological father in time for her wedding?  Does he even want to be found?  What happens after this story ends?  Special thanks to The Freeharmonic Orchestra for the use of “Loops to Aviemore” as background music. 

Kidventures's Podcast
Kidventures Family Travel Podcast - Episode 22: Scotland with kids

Kidventures's Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2021 28:06


 From the gorgeous countryside of the Highlands to the fascinating Scottish islands, cities including wonderful Edinburgh, beaches galore and a whole host of family-friendly places to stay, there's so much to discover in Scotland with kids. So in this episode, the Kidventures family travel podcast hosts are joined by Scotland family travel expert Janice Hopper, who writes the Scots2Travel blog Packed with tips on how to plan your own family holiday in Scotland - and why 2021 is the perfect year to do it - there's everything from ideas for road trips around Scotland to quirky accommodation, the best beaches in Scotland with kids (including one which looks like it's in the tropics), the perfect location for a first Scotland family holiday, where to avoid the rain and how to hunt for the Loch Ness monster (plus a side helping of Scottish myth and legend).  Find out more at kidventures.co.uk or check out the other podcast episodes and subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com

Our Lives with Michelle McManus
A Park Runner, Family Bee-keeping and the Kindness of Strangers

Our Lives with Michelle McManus

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2021 27:56


Michelle hears from Jason, a man who's turned Park Run into a passion - so much so he's about to complete the full set, having taken part in every single Scottish Park Run going. And if Jason's enthusiasm doesn't get you grabbing your trainers and heading for the park this weekend, nothing will! We'll also be hearing a gorgeous wee tale from Cat and Yazzie - total strangers who were united through a simple act of kindness involving a big heart, an old pink bike and the Aviemore triathlon. Plus mother and son, Sarah and Martin, explain how they've got a shared love of bees! A hobby which has recently led to Martin becoming crowned a World Champ – Scotland's got a bee World Champion, who knew?

A Sophisticated Podcast
ASP - Ep 17. The Scotsman: Part Three ft. Ronik Kamlesh and Shreyash Sanjay

A Sophisticated Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2021 68:41


Here it is, the third and final part of our unforgettable Scotland trip. This part highlights the final moments at our lakeside beach campsite followed by our transition to the Airbnb and the two memorable days spent in the town of Aviemore. The Airbnb experience was another holiday in a holiday. It was a whole different experience compared to camping; we got to enjoy civilization! We all got to eat proper food, sleep in a warm room, bathe in fresh hot water, and two of our members released their natural pressure for the first time in over four days. I am sorry for that information, but it was a record that had to be shared. The coach trip back to London was nowhere near as exciting as the ride into Scotland, but we did all get to sit together for the bulk of the journey, which made it much more bearable. Shreyash makes his debut in the podcast, Ronik makes another appearance, and Devam is, unfortunately, unable to join due to winter exams. Take care, and please share! See you next week :) Our email: aspodcastlimited@gmail.com

Big Juicy Creative
Ep 022: [FULL LENGTH EPISODE]: Cooking through many a storm, with chef Kirsten Gilmour

Big Juicy Creative

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2020 56:02


This is a special episode in the How to Thrive Winter series because it's a full length one (rather than bitesize) for those of you missing the in-depth interviews that Big Juicy Creative usually puts out fortnightly on a Thursday. It's with the fabulous, formidable award-winning chef Kirsten Gilmour (known as KJ); a straight-talking Kiwi living in the Cairngorms, in the Scottish Highlands. She founded the Mountain Café in Aviemore, which quickly became an institution in Aviemore & Scotland, with tourists flocking from all round the globe to queue on her stairs to get a seat. In this episode she tells the fascinating story of how she got here, how her creative soul was nurtured in her childhood against the odds and why she is so resilient - because, boy, she's had, and continues to have, her obstacles to climb. If you've ever felt like falling in a heap in despair at a creative, or other, endeavour (err, ☝️), then this episode will definitely inspire you to come out fighting and determined to make a positive contribution.  References: Kirsten's website Buy the Mountain Cafe Cook Book here Recipe for winter warming Apple, Carrot, Red Lentil and Rosemary Soup Winter warming granola recipe KJ's New Venture: the Bothy Bakery For your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see: Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving LinkedIn: @suzybashford contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk  

The Silvercore Podcast
Ep.34: SAS Selection and other stories

The Silvercore Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2020 63:38


In this episode of the Silvercore Podcast, Travis Bader speaks with long time friend Jason Budd about his time serving with the British Army, the selection process for the SAS, training and deployment.    Topics discussed in this episode: Intro [00:00:00 – 00:01:41]  Getting into the British army [00:00:00 – 00:09:25] Working as a civilian in Europe [00:09:25 – 00:12:31] Enlistment & training [00:12:31 – 00:16:45]  Friends & accents [00:16:45 – 00:18:48] Sick mom & final exercise [00:18:48 – 00:21:58] Skiing for the British Army [00:21:58 – 00:25:34] SAS Selection [00:25:34 – 00:28:33] The hills, testing & beacons not working [00:28:33 – 00:36:22] Accept your own risk, selection periods & process [00:36:22 – 00:44:09] Flagged OI1 & Tour to Afghan [00:44:09 – 00:51:29] Administrate yourself, skiing Mount Hector & listening to your inner voice [00:51:29 – 01:03:02] Outro [01:03:02 – 01:03:44] Explore these Resources In this episode, we mentioned the following resources which may be beneficial to you: Silvercore [00:00:10] [00:00:21] [00:00:24] [00:00:31] [00:01:10] British Army [00:00:50] [00:01:21] [00:01:50] [00:03:03] [00:12:07] [00:15:14] [00:17:56] [00:18:01] [00:18:31] [00:22:15] [00:25:21] [00:25:28] [00:27:46] [00:41:05] [00:41:11] [00:41:46] [00:43:48] [00:53:01] [00:53:37] [01:00:18] [01:03:19] SAS [00:00:53] [00:06:54] [00:06:56] [00:07:06] [00:07:15] [00:07:23] [00:07:28] [00:14:10] [00:25:55] [00:27:14] [00:27:50] [00:27:53] [00:27:54] [00:42:18] [00:42:26] [00:43:22] [00:53:06] [00:53:49] RCMP [00:02:47] [00:06:44] Canadian Forces [00:02:52] [00:13:35] Wainwright [00:02:56] [00:03:03] [00:03:27] Petawawa [00:02:57] Shilo [00:02:57] Seaforth Highlanders of Canada [00:03:31] [00:04:00] [00:08:04] [00:15:39] Commonwealth [00:04:31] [00:04:39] [00:05:18] [00:05:34] [00:07:03] Royal Marines [00:04:44] [00:07:52] [00:50:42] Parachute Regiment [00:07:50] [00:13:30] [00:13:32] [00:13:39] [00:13:58] [00:14:16] Royal Green Jackets [00:07:53] Cameron Barracks [00:08:22] Inverness [00:08:23] [00:08:47] [00:08:48] [00:11:14] Army Foundation College [00:14:26] Edinburgh [00:14:29] [00:14:39] [00:22:58] Glencorse [00:14:38] Pentlands [00:14:40] ITC Catterick [00:15:58] [00:17:08] [00:19:55] [00:26:24] [00:30:22] [00:38:32] [00:59:42] Black Watch [00:16:51] [00:17:33] [00:21:45] [00:27:21] [00:53:45] [00:58:48] RGBW Regiment [00:16:53] Dundee [00:17:13] [00:17:21] [00:17:31] [00:17:37] [00:17:40] [00:17:44] [00:17:47] [00:17:49] Glasgow [00:18:43] Darlington [00:20:21] Heathrow [00:20:27] [00:40:11] Aviemore [00:23:47] [00:23:49]

Off The Water's Podcast
Off The Water - Episode 10- Outdoor Education Centres

Off The Water's Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2020 46:23


In Off The Water this month our hosts Nikki Stewart and Jack Mitchell gain some real insights into the value of Outdoor Education Residential Centres as they have become under serious threat during restrictions brought in to combat Covid-19.With sailing and boating being introduced to thousands each year through these centres we catch up with three voices within this sector and hear about some of their experience of the benefits these centres provide.Jane Campbell Morrison, the chair of the Scottish Adventure Activity Forum has brought together many organisations to back the #SaveYourOutdoorCentres campaign and joins Liam Watson a RYA Senior Instructor with the Scouts Association at Lochgoilhead. We are also joined by our Youth Board member Jordan McNeilage, who has been the RYA Principal at Loch Insh Watersports Centre, near Aviemore.   The opportunities available to experience the outdoors for Scotland’s young people are extremely important and the current campaign has really captivated generations of people from all walks of life who have benefits from understanding outdoor learning.Our regional development officer Jack Mitchell and Coach Education Development Manager Nikki Stewart explore the topic asking:Why are outdoors centres so important?What do they offer children that other things such as clubs and schools don’t? What is so important about the residential element of what these centres can offer?  Do you think lockdown has reminded or educated more people of the benefits of being outdoors especially with their children?How do we see outdoor education centres adapting in the future?Are there any new opportunities emerging for them to help make them sustainable and protect their future?    During recording we received news of a package of support from the Scottish Government which is warmly welcome, however we recognise that much is still to be done to maximise the exposure for what this sector does for young people and in introducing so many to our sport.Find out more about the campaign through #SaveYourOutdoorCentresFinally you can stay in touch with all the latest news from RYA Scotland via our website, www.rya.org.uk/scotland and of course, across our social media channels @ryascotland 

Appalachian Baptist Podcast
Ministry In Scotland - Hope Church Aviemore

Appalachian Baptist Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2020 24:22


Join host Brent Snyder as he interviews a Pastor from Hope Church in Aviemore, Scotland. Please continue to pray for the church as it engages a post-post Christian Culture. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/appalachian-baptist-network/message

Minneapolis Baptist Church Podcast
Great Commission Conversations Episode 1: Hope Church Aviemore

Minneapolis Baptist Church Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2020 25:00


Visit Hope Church Aviemore's new website! https://www.hopechurchaviemore.org/

Progressive House & Trance
Andy Innes B2B Kev Thompson, The Vault, Aviemore, 13.03.2020 - Support Set for Dave Pearce

Progressive House & Trance

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2020 90:11


Andy Innes B2B Kev Thompson. Recorded Live at The Vault, Aviemore, 13.03.2020 as part of Lets Trance support for Dave Pearce Trance Anthems Night. The last Friday before the first Covid-19 lockdown came into place. 1. Tom Exo, Lucid Blue - Away With You (Extended Mix) 2. Darren Porter - Inertia (Extended Mix) 3. Audrey Gallagher, Paul Denton - Beneath The Stars (Extended Mix) 4. Terra V - In Vita Sua (Original Mix) 5. N-Trance - Set You Free (Jase Thirlwall Remix) 6. Omar Sherif - Equalizer (Extended Mix) 7. Lee Coulson - Mr Chunks (Daniel Kandi Remix) 8. Conjure One, Sinead O'Connor - Tears from the Moon (Billy Gillies Extended Remix) 9. Motorcycle - As The Rush Comes (Liam Wilson Remix) 10. A & Z, Zein Hallak - Falling (Extended Mix) 11. Soulsearcher - Can't Get Enough (Ashley Bradbury Remix) 12. Christina Novelli - Beautiful Life (Craig Connelly Extended Remix) 13. Warp Brothers - Phatt Bass (Adrenaline Dept. Remix) 14. Will Atkinson - Telescope (Extended Mix) 15. Trance Classics, Amélie Mae - Turn It Around (HyperPhysics Extended Mix) 16. Key4050, Plumb - I Love You (Extended Mix) 17. Ilan Bluestone, Emma Hewitt, Stoneblue - Hypnotized (Extended Mix) #letstrance #davepearcedj #trancefamily

Progressive House & Trance
Andy Innes B2B Kev Thompson, The Vault, Aviemore, 13.03.2020 - Support Set for Dave Pearce

Progressive House & Trance

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2020 90:11


Andy Innes B2B Kev Thompson. Recorded Live at The Vault, Aviemore, 13.03.2020 as part of Lets Trance support for Dave Pearce Trance Anthems Night. The last Friday before the first Covid-19 lockdown came into place. 1. Tom Exo, Lucid Blue - Away With You (Extended Mix) 2. Darren Porter - Inertia (Extended Mix) 3. Audrey Gallagher, Paul Denton - Beneath The Stars (Extended Mix) 4. Terra V - In Vita Sua (Original Mix) 5. N-Trance - Set You Free (Jase Thirlwall Remix) 6. Omar Sherif - Equalizer (Extended Mix) 7. Lee Coulson - Mr Chunks (Daniel Kandi Remix) 8. Conjure One, Sinead O'Connor - Tears from the Moon (Billy Gillies Extended Remix) 9. Motorcycle - As The Rush Comes (Liam Wilson Remix) 10. A & Z, Zein Hallak - Falling (Extended Mix) 11. Soulsearcher - Can't Get Enough (Ashley Bradbury Remix) 12. Christina Novelli - Beautiful Life (Craig Connelly Extended Remix) 13. Warp Brothers - Phatt Bass (Adrenaline Dept. Remix) 14. Will Atkinson - Telescope (Extended Mix) 15. Trance Classics, Amélie Mae - Turn It Around (HyperPhysics Extended Mix) 16. Key4050, Plumb - I Love You (Extended Mix) 17. Ilan Bluestone, Emma Hewitt, Stoneblue - Hypnotized (Extended Mix) #letstrance #davepearcedj #trancefamily

Over Thinker - Dan Prince Podcast
EP015: Alan Stewart

Over Thinker - Dan Prince Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2020 85:00


Alan Stewart is a sled dog racer and that's just his hobby. As a man who worked as a deep sea diver, he resides in near Aviemore, in the Cairngorms in Scotland. Due to climate change it has become increasingly difficult to maintain his sled dog business during winter season, so this was his last time he opened his doors to the public.Listen to Alan tell stories of himself as well as extreme friendships he has.

Eco Worriers Club
Episode 4 - Stay-cation vs Vacation

Eco Worriers Club

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2019 45:00


Join the club and cosy up in the cabin as we discuss stay-cations vs vacations, recorded from beautiful Aviemore!

The Outdoors Station
No 497 - The Cairngorms Strikes Back Pt1

The Outdoors Station

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2019 32:19


Nine years ago, yes NINE, in 2010 I released a short 3 part series entitled Three Men In The Cairngorms which recorded an audio diary of Lee, Tony and myself as we headed into the Cairngorms for a weeks walking and wild camping.They were a very popular series of just three normal guys going for a wander and so when lee called me in summer this year asking if I wanted to join them again for another mini adventure I didn't hesitate.Once again Lee was in charge of the router and the plan was to spend the first 2 days up on the Cairngorm plateau at the Wells of Dee and then drop back down via Loch Eanaich back to Aviemore. Pick up our second rations and then catch the train to Dalwhinnie and head for Ben Alder Lodge, round to Lock Ossian and then walk into Fort William along Glen Nevis.However Storm Lorenzo had other ideas and this is part one of our adventure.

Off Key
OFF KEY - Episode 3

Off Key

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2019 49:05


The boys have their first special guest, highland legend Norman Maclean drummer with top Highland bands Scooty & The Skyhooks, Rant and BIRO. Hear the craic after the boys recent Edinburgh & Aviemore trip while some great fun with Norman, and an insight into the man that pulls together the band line up at Thunder In The Glens at the Winking Owl Open Car Park Stage, Aviemore.

Spirit&Spice
Grandad's pickles, pissing contests, illness and strength

Spirit&Spice

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2019 33:36


From her grandad's pickles to winning awards for her busy cafe in Aviemore, Kirsten Gilmour has come a long way from that little girl on the farm in New Zealand. She has shared her story and recipes in the Mountain Cafe Cookbook, but her success has been bittersweet as she and her husband, Al, have had to face the challenges of his cancer and treatment while trying to keep her passion for food and the cafe alive. Kirsten and Al talk candidly about how this has affected their lives.

Holding The Space
Stephen Barbour on helping others, pioneering, mental health, the Kings Theatre community & getting Frankie Boyle to perform at Kelty Club

Holding The Space

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2019 77:02


Holding the Space with Stephen Barbour on helping others, pioneering, mental health, creating the Kings Theatre Kirkcaldy community and getting Frankie Boyle to perform at Kelty Club.Holding the Space, the new interview series, by Lisa May Young.Apple Podcasts / Google Podcasts / iHeart Radio / Luminary / Spotify / Spreaker / YouTubeBiographyFrom beginnings as a Snowboarder. Stephen is Creator/Founder of the MV Festival, a unique festival in the UK. A charity event bringing Music, Comedy and Snowsports to Aviemore, Scotland. Producer/Presenter of K Sessions 107. Stephen is Events Manager of SPB Events and The Kings Theatre Kirkcaldy, https://www.facebook.com/StephenPidgeBarbour https://www.facebook.com/SPBEvents/https://twitter.com/pidgeman?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/pidgeman18/ https://www.facebook.com/mvfestival/ Queries, offers and donations for The Kings Theatre Kirkcaldy to;Kings Theatre KirkcaldyLive Lounge9 EsplanadeKirkcaldyKY1 1HRhttps://kingstheatrekirkcaldy.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/kingstheatrekirkcaldy/ #podcast #episodes #iam #radio #people #beyourself #spotify #applepodcasts #youtube #applepodcast #podcaster #podcasterlife #podcast #podcasting #podcastlife #podcastshow #podcastlove #podcastnetwork #podcasters #podcastaddict #podcastinglife #creativity #amwriting #authorsofinstagram #Friday #fridayfeeling #weekendvibes #monthekings #kingstheatre © 2019 Lisa May Young

Running Away_Podcast
Two cans of Red Bull and a Roasted Aubergine

Running Away_Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2019 69:42


This undulating episode leads HG and RG to Aviemore, where problems are escaped and the power of park run comes from a new location. The product review leaves a buzz and breaking two part two gets unpicked...

Scotland Outdoors
The Healing Power of Fire

Scotland Outdoors

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2019 29:22


Helen Needham joins a group of recovering addicts on a wild camping trip near Aviemore.

Scotland Outdoors
From the Our Story series of 2014, Mark visits Aviemore to discover how the area was once dubbed the St Moritz of Scotland

Scotland Outdoors

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2018 27:06


Mark visits the Aviemore once dubbed the St Moritz of Scotland

Of Mountains and Minds podcast
Cairngorms to Capital: a special charity episode

Of Mountains and Minds podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2018 72:30


Here’s a challenge for YOU: please listen to this episode this weekend, or before midday on Tuesday 4th December. A little departure today for Of Mountains and Minds. Coming at you is a Christmas charity special talking to a few fascinating people about a chunky challenge we’re all taking on this Saturday 1st December – Cairngorms to Capital. Just a few runners and cyclists from the charity I work for, Link Community Development, hope to complete a mid-winter self-powered relay from the Cairngorms National Park back to Edinburgh. The first leg will consist of a 34 ish mile run from Aviemore to Blair Atholl, along the Lairig Ghru and Glen Tilt trails, and cyclists will start at Blair Atholl and cycle 85+ miles back to Edinburgh, on the back of Storm Diana. Why? Quite apart from our love of category two kicks, the challenge is is to raise awareness and funds for our girls’ education project in rural Ethiopia, helping 44,000 girls access a secondary education for the first time and make their own choices in life. It’s part of The Christmas Challenge crowdfunder, through which donations will be doubled for one week only, from midday on 27th November to midday on 4th December. Every £ donated to our project online during the week is doubled by major donor funds we’ve got in place. So what’s in this random little episode? First, I talk to Fiona Osborne, the sister of our amazing communications maestro at Link, Lyndsey Alexander. Fiona is a medic who has spent time in Africa working with children and is generously taking on quite a bit of the cycling on Saturday. Next, the lovely Duncan McArthur; he is supporting the run section and interviews me for a change! I also chat to Link’s International Programme Director Dr Samantha Ross, fresh off a plane from Ethiopia, about her many years living and working in Africa, contracting malaria and her own cycle plans this weekend. Enjoy and if you share any episode, please make it this one before Tuesday along with the donation link: https://secure.thebiggive.org.uk/donation/to/64842/30269

Dam the River
Episode 3: Power and Progress

Dam the River

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2018 31:23


In Episode 3, we look at the expansion of the hydro-electric power network in the post-war period, as the growing country came to depend on electricity more and more. Workers moved into houses built by the government in specifically designed hydro towns while they constructed these dams. We cover the schemes on the Waikato, then head back to the South Island to look at Roxburgh, Benmore, Aviemore, and then finally the Cook Strait Cable that connected the two islands.

Tartan Running Shorts
Episode 25 - Take 2 - Niagra Marathon Win, Damian Hall & The Aviemore 10K Debate

Tartan Running Shorts

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2018 113:21


Episode 25 is so good we recorded it twice! Only a week after Chicago, Kyle's at the Niagra Falls Marathon...For The Win! Damian Hall joins us to talk ultra marathoning and we lose half our North East listeners by talking about the elephant in the room.....the Aviemore 10K!

Ramblings
Aviemore, Scotland

Ramblings

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2018 24:37


Clare joins a group of recently graduated students of Agriculture from Newcastle University who are walking and canoeing along the Speyside Way from source to sea in memory of their friend Rob who was tragically killed in their final year. Their summer wild camping trip is a way to bring the group of friends together once a year to talk and remember Rob who was such an integral part of their university life. Producer: Maggie Ayre

Experiences You Should Have
Family Friendly Scotland Steam Train Tour

Experiences You Should Have

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2018 30:37


Experiences You Should Have Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Mary Stange on Taking a Train Through the Scottish Highlands with her Family Mary Stange from Bambinos Without Borders blog shared one of her favorite experiences on Experiences You Should Have Podcast, which was seeing Scotland by train in the Scottish Highlands with her 2-year-old son and husband. This particular train trip was only 2 hours from start to finish and it was a magical experience. Scotland has always been a bucket list place for Mary, and she got to see this magical place even with a toddler! The landscape was completely magical, green, mountainous, with rivers and cliffs. Everywhere you turned, it felt like a storybook and every detail felt like it was living and breathing. It was so captivating. The spirit of Scotland was breathed in the rich landscape and this was very magical place for Mary. Scotland has always been described as majestic Scotland, and now she knows why. Traveling to Scotland with a Toddler Mary's family train trip through the Scottish highlands was about 2 hours start to finish and it included lunch! They took the Strathspey Railway for their adventure. They started in Aviemore, then went to Boat of Garten, then to Broomhill and then back to Aviemore. This Scotland steam train tour through the highlands is definitely a family-friendly trip. Mary's son was on the train as a 2-year-old and still talks about it 2 years later. He remembers the engine, watching the engineer shoveling coal into the firebox, and he remembers the experience of being on a train and climbing inside of it. I mean, a train trip is a 2-year-old's dream come true, and can also same the same for almost any age. The 2-hour steam train trip was perfect for having a toddler on board, but if Mary and her family return to Scotland, they'd like to do a longer steam train trip. Seeing Scotland by train should definitely be on your list because it takes you back to a very historic time and you can see the impact they had on the industrial revolution and you can go anywhere in Scotland and find a steam train to take you back to the romantic nature of railway travel.  Cost of a Traditional Sunday Luncheon Scotland Train Tour The cost of this particular Scottish highlands steam train lunch trip (lunch included) was 43 pounds per adult and 21.50 per child. The food on the train was very nice. They tried to put a fancy Sunday luncheon. They served tomato soup, roasted veggies, smoked salmon, potatoes, puddings, desserts, meat, coffee, and tea. They also served haggis, a Scottish dish that is composed of minced sheep and other organs. If Haggis is your thing, check out this haggis recipe that got some pretty good reviews on The Spruce Eats! If you want to see the full Sunday lunch menu for the Strathspey Railway, you can view the menu online here.  Best Time to go to Scotland: Mary and her family went in September, but it did rain a lot. The rain was more like a pacific northwest drizzle, not enough The best months to visit are actually May and June. What Types of Clothes Should You Pack for a Trip to Scotland? Raincoat Layers - you never know when the sun will come out What other Toddler / Family Friendly Things You Should Do While You're in Scotland? Definitely check out some distilleries. Turns out you can bring kids to many different distilleries, check out Mary’s blog post on Bambino's Without Borders on kid-friendly Scotland distilleries. If you have kids, you should definitely check out the playground at the Ballindalloch Castle. When you vacation with kids, many times you are sightseeing between playgrounds. They are so many hidden towns, islands, and small places in Scotland and The Isle of Skye is on Mary’s list to check out next time.  The Harry Potter Train and other Trains in Scotland Hogwarts Express - Harry Potter Train de:Benutzer:Nicolas17, Glenfinnan Viaduct, CC BY-SA 2.5 The train that Mary went on isn't the only Steam Train in Scotland.

The Outdoors Station
No 473 - TGO Challenge 2018 - Pt5

The Outdoors Station

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2018 34:52


Although we all had a good social night in Aviemore the lingering tiredness from the previous long days had taken their toll and so when Tony suggested we change our route from Ben Macdui to the lower Larig Ghru, none of us really protested. So after a large breakfast at the Cairngorm Hotel we slowly made our way along the cycle path towards the Rothiemurchus Forest and the start of the climb. Every time we leave Aviemore we suffer the same issues. We've had a large breakfast, the food parcels have been added to our packs along with random shopping and there seems to be a lethargy linked to the amount of consumption the previous evening. Plus our memory is beginning to play tricks on us all. We have walked this route togther many times and each time we assume it is just ‘an hour or so to here' when in actual fact, it is more like 2, or more hours to wherever. So much so the day strated to drag out and this combined with fine walking conditions of bright sunshine and a light cool breeze meant the destination of Derry Lodge was not going to be the early finish we promised ourselves. The Larig Ghru is a boulder field which needs to be passed with care. There's no quick and easy route. The higher you get the larger the boulders become. As the boulders get bigger and more unstable, concentration is required to cross and not fall between the cracks, or off onto another equally unstable block. At one stage Tony slipped and his pole dropped between two rocks as he fell, the pole naturally took the pressure and bent. It could easily have been his leg. He was slightly rattled but no harm done. After this simple slip we all took even more care. Continued with photos on the website

The Big Travel Podcast
24. Simon Calder; Mr Travel Expert Himself on…EVERYWHERE

The Big Travel Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2018 52:26


Travel guru, guide-book author, journalist and the man to the whom world turns for anything travel related; Simon Calder is the Man Who Pays His Way, has hitchhiked all over the world and is also the man who over 12 years ago gave podcast host, Lisa, her first official travel writing commission. So we owe him everything. As an impoverished travel podcast we can’t offer him money but we CAN bring him onto The Big Travel Podcast and share his wonderful wisdom on this travel packed episode.    We pack in so much travel, including: Being Mr Travel Some listeners’ questions – sally throwing her knickers at him ABTA superstar What he dreads to be asked His favourite place to visit The beauty of Scotland Climbing Ben Nevis   The Island of Harris The Island of Lewis Midges Not being fancy Not going to 5 Star hotels Hitching a lift with the manager of Mark Warner Taking his family to Mark Warner Feeling awkward with posh places The future of the package holiday Package holiday changes on July 1st 2018 Thomson’s, Thomas Cook and TUI Travelling with young families The Belgian Riviera Poland and the Baltic Riviera Gdansk Combining holiday and work The 2010 Icelandic ash cloud Getting home on a boat John Cleese Immingham and the far side of Grimbsy Lille, Eurostar, Dover to Brighton British Airways Paris Overcoming unexpected travel changes Not knowing how many countries he has been to Should he count? Not wanting to compare notes Hiking the Teide in Tenerife Playa Las Americas Santa Cruz, Gran Canaria, El Hierro, Gomera The Meridian How travel changes with kids How travel has changed The Instagram travel experience Love of the postcard Poste Restante Lima, Peru The remoteness of South Georgia The Falklands Ernest Shackleton living on seals Feeling out of his comfort zone when travelling Going to the Lake District with The Woodcraft Folk age 6 Climbing mountains when you’re scared of heights Not falling off Mount Kenya Being the highest person in the world in Aconcagua Mountain in Argentina The Himalayas Argentina’s economic turmoil Lisa’s trip to Argentina How visiting as a tourist is a virtuous thing versus over tourism Transferring wealth from richer countries to poorer countries Barcelona, Santorini, Thailand. Kho Phi Phi Airbnb Santiago in Chile, The Galapagos, Teaming up with Bear Grylls for the Discovery Channel The best way to see the Northern Lights – Bergen, Norway, coastal express. How travel is a lot cheaper these days The democratisation of travel Instagram, what’s app His travel highlights in a quick fire round: Crawley and the Cuban Missile Crisis, Frisking people at Gatwick Airport, Getting mugged in Costa Rica (on Christmas Day! Which is also his birthday), hanging onto the back of a dustcart in turkey, hitching into someone’s garage, getting a lift in a digger in Greece, getting a lift in the boot of a car in Germany His first job, cleaning planes for British Airways at Gatwick Island hopping in Greece, mishaps when hitchhiking. Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria in Germany by the Austrian border Tony Hall the founder of Lonely Planet Hadrian’s Wall, Aviemore, being mistaken as Nicholas Crane from Coast and also Louis Theroux The Man Who Pays his Way for the Independent Frank Barrett and becoming travel editor of the Independent Not taking free trips because he wasn’t given any! Trusting the travel industry Mumsnet and the instagram influencer argument The ethics of taking freebies The way social media and travel blogging has democratised travel writing How competition is a very good thing The importance of transparency How safe and fantastic it is now to be a traveller His last very important point that will keep us all travelling Taking a rubbish boat trip to Greenland        

Looking Sideways Action Sports Podcast
Episode 038: Jeremy Sladen - The Sideways Gospel

Looking Sideways Action Sports Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2018 81:14


Full episode info and Show Notes: www.wearelookingsideways.com For me, there is much more to the action sports world then the globe-straddling superstars we all know about. For every top pro or household name, there’s a lesser-known industry hero who’s passion and drive has contributed just as much to the culture we all love. Today’s episode with UK snowboarding pioneer Jeremy Sladen is about celebrating this integral part of the industry story. Jeremy was part of that first wave of early adopters who did so much to launch snowboarding in the UK and Europe back in the 80s. Driven by nothing more than a passion for the sport, Jeremy and his peers set up the brands, magazines, shops and associations that laid the foundation for much of the modern UK snowboarding industry. Today, as head of The Snowboard Asylum, he is one of the most respected presences in the European snowboarding industry, famed for his massive personality, sense of humour and love of snowboarding. In March 2018 I headed up to Aviemore in Scotland to sit down with Jeremy and cast an eye over his incredible, colourful career. As you might expect, we covered his entire career: how he got into snowboarding, how the UK scene developed, how he makes the decisions that characterise his role as one of the biggest retail influences in the UK, his thoughts on the future of snowboarding and much more. We also, as I’d hoped we might, addressed what for me has always been the key question: why? What has driven this character to dedicate 30 years to the passionate stewardship of the sport he loves? Was there one single spark? I’m happy to say that during our intensely enjoyably chinwag we got right into these details, and I came away with the answer I was looking for. For me this episode celebrates one of those individuals who has had as much impact on snowboard industry as anybody I can think of, and is all the better for it. Big thanks to Jeremy for coming into the show. Hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did. As usual, thanks to Scott Nixon (www.scottnixon.co.uk) for post-production help and Matt Ward (www.linguistine.com) for the theme tune.

The Kitchen Café
Bisque and Langoustines

The Kitchen Café

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2017 28:12


Bake-off star Flora Shedden, acclaimed food writer Sumayya Usmani and top chef Neil Forbes join forces in the kitchen in a programme bursting with flavour but be warned listening to this might seriously increase your appetite! This week special guest Edi Stark wants to learn how to make a shell fish bisque so Neil roasts up some prawn shells to make a classic bisque with a Scottish twist; Janice Forsyth sets Sumayya the challenge of coming up with a dish which marries Australian and Scottish ingredients and flavours so Sumayya makes succulent spicy Scottish langoustines perfect for the BBQ - yes, even in the depths of a Scottish winter! Plus Flora is off to Aviemore to compare notes on what it's like to write your first cookbook with the Kiwi chef making a name for herself in the Cairngorms, Kirsten Gilmore. Packed with fresh flavours and fresh faces, grab a fork for the delicious return of the Kitchen Café...radio has never tasted so good!

The Outdoors Station
No 393 - TGOC 2015 - Part 5

The Outdoors Station

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2015 47:00


Once again we celebrate our wedding anniversary on the TGOC in the most romantic of ways. On the trail leaving Aviemore and heading towards Bynack Stables. Call me an old romantic at heart but I just can't help myself showing a girl a good time :) It was an easy day, the weather we fine, the company was good as we joined Lee and Tony out to Glenmore Lodge where we stopped at the cafe, before heading up to the stables via the blue lagoon, as it is called locally. In the morning the forecast warned of a high risk of localised storms and lightning on the tops so we were all keen to get across Bynack Moor as soon as we could, as it involved a walk across open land, which would be quite exposed if things turned nasty. Once we made it across and down to Faindoran Lodge for a break, we continued along the Glen Avon route alongside the river. The weather was mostly pleasant and the rivers crossing much easier than 2 years ago, when everything was in spate. After walking 28km we arrived at Corndavon lodge late afternoon and found about 10 other challengers had taken up residence in the gardens of the main house. We pitched by the ruin itself and enjoyed another windy night, but relatively pleasant all the same.

The Outdoors Station
No 392 - TGOC 2015 - Part 4

The Outdoors Station

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2015 34:04


It was a very windy night, however the combination once again of fresh air, exercise and exhaustion left us having a fairly good nights sleep. Waking only once or twice when a large gust roared up the valley like a low flying jet. Robin Evans, like the many other Scarp tents users had a 'normal' night. The Scarp shelter is perfectly suited for remote wilderness camping in all weathers. Everyone who used one, and there were quite a few on the TGOC, were delighted with the performance and 'bomb proof' nature. 
Part of the day we were joined by Robin Evans as we crossed various snow fields, some of which invited temptation to stride across, until we saw a few collapsed snow bridges with deep streams underneath. We met Paul Phibben and Wayne Palmer later who were inspecting the basic and the very luxurious bothy shelters with interest and intent on staying. Rose and I continued for a few more K until we found a sweet little spot with the ideal level footprint for our tent. Day 7 started once again with promising weather and we enjoyed a terrific steady, easy going walk along side the river. Not too soggy underfoot, a cool breeze and generally blue skies. This allowed us a detour at the confluence with Allt Duine up the track to Geal Charn Beg and Mor. The track drops to the Burma Road at its crest and then it was a simple wander down into Aviemore, to book into the SYHA and to join Lee and Tony at the Cairngorm Hotel for yet more Guiness (one the TGOC 5-a-day food groups) and to listen to the fabulous local Celtic Rock band Tweed.

Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone
The farmer's tale - Tilly Smith

Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2014 5:40


Originally from Hertfordshire, Tilly married a Keeper from Cairngorm and has lived in the area since the early 80s. They run a famous reindeer herd and visitor attraction near Aviemore, and 30 miles further East a farm with rare breed pigs, sheep and wild boar. She is cynical about the purpose of the National Park – she feels it’s simply another level of bureaucracy, and she can’t identify many changes it’s produced.

Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone
Transcript -- The farmer's tale - Tilly Smith

Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2014


Transcript -- Originally from Hertfordshire, Tilly married a Keeper from Cairngorm and has lived in the area since the early 80s. They run a famous reindeer herd and visitor attraction near Aviemore, and 30 miles further East a farm with rare breed pigs, sheep and wild boar. She is cynical about the purpose of the National Park – she feels it’s simply another level of bureaucracy, and she can’t identify many changes it’s produced.

Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone

Kat Amos is a young mum of three kids, living with her husband in Aviemore. Both of them are outdoor instructors and they left Glasgow as they though the Cairngorms was an ideal place to bring up their family. Kat works part time at the local school and nursery and they own their home with shared equity. For Kat, the provision of affordable housing for young families is a problem in the National Park.

Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone
Transcript -- The mum's tale - Kat Amos

Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2014


Transcript -- Kat Amos is a young mum of three kids, living with her husband in Aviemore. Both of them are outdoor instructors and they left Glasgow as they though the Cairngorms was an ideal place to bring up their family. Kat works part time at the local school and nursery and they own their home with shared equity. For Kat, the provision of affordable housing for young families is a problem in the National Park.

Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone
The park warden's tale - Ross Watson

Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2014 4:47


Ross grew up on a farm near Aviemore and started his career as an apprentice warden on Cairngorm Mountain. He is now a Ranger at Abernethy RSPB Reserve, married with two young children and still one of the youngest Rangers in the area. Without doubt, for him the Cairngorms is the best place in the world to live – it gave him, and his children now, so many opportunities while growing up.

Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone
Transcript -- The park warden's tale - Ross Watson

Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2014


Transcript -- Ross grew up on a farm near Aviemore and started his career as an apprentice warden on Cairngorm Mountain. He is now a Ranger at Abernethy RSPB Reserve, married with two young children and still one of the youngest Rangers in the area. Without doubt, for him the Cairngorms is the best place in the world to live – it gave him, and his children now, so many opportunities while growing up.

Simply Scottish
Andrew's Ten Favorite Scottish Destinations, pt. 2

Simply Scottish

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2014 32:51


History, natural beauty, and adventure come together in Andrew's Ten Favorite Scottish Destinations. You won't find this list in any guide book! In part 2, journey with us to Stirling, home of the Wallace Monument and an amazing castle experience. Then it's on to the charm of St. Andrews and the thrill of Aviemore, gateway to Cairngorms National Park. We conclude with a trip to the tip of the British mainland, John o' Groats, and a visit to the Isle of Skye in Scotland's western isles. Plus, discover Scotland's role in shaping the Commonwealth Games, and hear some great music from Saor Patrol, Skerryvore, Emily Smith, and more!

The Outdoors Station
No 314 - Three Men In The Cairngorms Pt 3

The Outdoors Station

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2010 39:52


Derry Lodge provides us with a very still, calm and tranquil night. A truly wonderful wild camping spot, which if you catch it at the right time offers a wonderful restful night with excellent wildlife. Overcast and with the weather not looking good we wander up to the Hutchinson Memorial Hut and wait for it to clear before heading out to the ridge, however plans change and we scarper down to Loch Avon in the mist and search for the Shelter Stone. So many to choose from! The coldest and clearest water in the world pours from these high cliffs and we set up camp on the shores of the Loch for a chilly evening, however dawn brings with it a magnificent array of colours and glorious sunshine. Heading upwards to Cairn Gorm for a fantastic days walking who should we meet on top but Darren Pinne (Division Director for Gear protection and Travel Acc for Cascade Designs) who happens to be in Aviemore for a conference! But all too quickly, the trip is over and we bring this short three part series to an end.

The Outdoors Station
No 312 - Three Men In The Cairngorms Pt 1

The Outdoors Station

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2010 34:35


This is the first part of a 3 part series recorded in October 2010 where Lee Wells, and I walked a circular route from Aviemore to Blair Atholl and back during some quite mixed weather. Part one covers leaving Aviemore and heading onto the Cairngorm Plateau before dropping down and camping in Glen Feshie. The following day we cross the Minigaig in some very high winds before finally camping in Glen Bruar. Out usual kind of podcast full of general chat, descriptions, laughter and gear comments galore. Enjoy!

The Outdoors Station
No 265 - 2009 TGO Challenge Part 5

The Outdoors Station

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2009 26:26


We finally make it to the Dalwhinnie Inn for a warm welcome, great food and excellent beer. After the girls enjoy all the wicked pleasures that only a piping hot shower can bring, I interview Calum Dobie the owner, and ask him about running a business in this area and how the Inn is moving away from the established Coach Party market to cater more for the outdoors person. Andy takes a rest to get over his flu. However the wild attractions of Aviemore temp Shirley and Colin who, full steam ahead, make a bee line for a plateful of Fish and Chips closely followed by eyeful of gear in the kit shops.

Feisty Productions
The Labour Aftermath

Feisty Productions

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2008 13:58


The Labour Party conference in Aviemore was the starting point for this week's Aftermath. Truth, answering questions and a disappointing lap dance all figure in the minds of the Riddoch Questions crew.

Feisty Productions
29 Feb 2008 Nick Clegg and Tavish Scott - the Lib Dems

Feisty Productions

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2008 44:11


Tavish Scott joins Lesley in the studio at the start of the Scottish Lib Dem conference in Aviemore. Lesley starts by interviewing Nick Clegg, the temperature rises as referenda are clearly on the agenda.

Feisty Productions
The Lib Dems' Aftermath

Feisty Productions

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2008 11:37


The eve of the Scottish Lib Dems' conference in Aviemore and what better time to talk about Harris Tweed and Liberal backgrounds. Scott, Pat, Lesley and Sean make startling revelations. There are approximately 120,000 podcasts available according to Steve Jobs and this is the only place you will find the word 'Janus' defined. Another first for Feisty.

Feisty Productions
26 October 2007 Nicola Sturgeon

Feisty Productions

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2007 43:18


In this episode of Riddoch Questions, Nicola Sturgeon MSP and Deputy Leader of the SNP answers some tough questions about the current Scottish Government's performance to day. Speaking from the Aviemore at the SNP Party Conference, she does not get an easy ride.

The Outdoors Station
No 158 - 2007 TGO Challenge Part 7

The Outdoors Station

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2007 42:49


Andy starts the day by sharing the beauty of Glen Feshie, while we pack up and leave Martin to head via the Burma Road to Aviemore. We have one last brew stop before we arrive in town and hit the shops. The following day I have to say farewell to a tearful Rose and continue on my own in the hope of meeting Lee Wells and Tony Bone. Eventually we make it to Derry Lodge and look for sheltered spot away from the brewing storm.

aviemore burma road