Podcasts about Cairngorms

The fourth heatwave of the year in the UK is still making the daily farming jobs a struggle for many. But this year the dry weather and heat have also created the conditions for significant wildfires across the country. In Scotland a wildfire started 2 weeks ago in the Cairngorms National Park. It's thought to have damaged around 25 square kilometres of natural forest and hillsides, although the exact extent isn't yet known. The surface fire has diminished but it's still burning deep in the peat soil, and nearly a hundred firefighters are still deployed in the area. The Chief Executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority Grant Moir tells us that the fire took hold in an area known for its important wildlife habitats, much loved by visitors and the local community.The end of harvest can also be the start of a very worrying time for farmers, when illegal hare coursers drive over stubble fields, set off dogs to chase hares, and often bet on the outcome. South Wales Police have warned of an increase in illegal hare coursing in the Vale of Glamorgan, with local farmers being threatened and intimidated when they try to intervene.This week is BBC Farmwatch week and today we're heading to a farm in Nottinghamshire which grows wildflowers to harvest their seeds.Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Sarah Swadling

This week we discuss Kyle's DNF at the WHW race, the following week's Moray Way 100 miler, what Kyle's entered Debbie for next and details of the heartbreaking fires in the Cairngorms first hand. We also answer what the weirdest thing we've found on a run is, as well as the most random prize we've ever received is. It's a "salty" episode"!

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Cairngorms wildfire burns for third day across nearly four miles Trump alleges shocking vulnerabilities in US election security ahead of midterms Bonnie Tyler funeral plans announced as fans invited to line the streets Catfishing victim gets payout for Tinder, TikTok and Instagram profiles New photograph marks Queens 79th birthday I wouldnt marry him until he paid off his debt, now Im in charge of our money Blasts reported in Iran as US launches new wave of strikes China hits out at British Steel nationalisation Andy Burnham Five headaches for the incoming prime minister The financial winners and losers from the World Cup

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Trump alleges shocking vulnerabilities in US election security ahead of midterms I wouldnt marry him until he paid off his debt, now Im in charge of our money Bonnie Tyler funeral plans announced as fans invited to line the streets The financial winners and losers from the World Cup Andy Burnham Five headaches for the incoming prime minister Cairngorms wildfire burns for third day across nearly four miles Blasts reported in Iran as US launches new wave of strikes China hits out at British Steel nationalisation Catfishing victim gets payout for Tinder, TikTok and Instagram profiles New photograph marks Queens 79th birthday

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv New photograph marks Queens 79th birthday Bonnie Tyler funeral plans announced as fans invited to line the streets I wouldnt marry him until he paid off his debt, now Im in charge of our money China hits out at British Steel nationalisation Trump alleges shocking vulnerabilities in US election security ahead of midterms Cairngorms wildfire burns for third day across nearly four miles Andy Burnham Five headaches for the incoming prime minister The financial winners and losers from the World Cup Catfishing victim gets payout for Tinder, TikTok and Instagram profiles Blasts reported in Iran as US launches new wave of strikes

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Trump alleges shocking vulnerabilities in US election security ahead of midterms China hits out at British Steel nationalisation Blasts reported in Iran as US launches new wave of strikes Cairngorms wildfire burns for third day across nearly four miles Catfishing victim gets payout for Tinder, TikTok and Instagram profiles I wouldnt marry him until he paid off his debt, now Im in charge of our money New photograph marks Queens 79th birthday The financial winners and losers from the World Cup Bonnie Tyler funeral plans announced as fans invited to line the streets Andy Burnham Five headaches for the incoming prime minister

Mark is in Fettercairn in Aberdeenshire where a garden designed for this year's Chelsea Flower Show has made its way to the local distillery. He finds out about the inspiration behind the Angel's Share Garden which won a silver gilt medal at the show.Earlier this week a major world conference in agritourism was held in Aberdeen. The inaugural Global Agritourism Conference brought hundreds of delegates from all around the world to share data, research and their personal stories. They also went on several visits to locations across Scotland and Rachel caught up with some of them at Thorneybank farm shop near Inverurie.Mark Stevens is a model maker based in the Black Isle whose creations are made from junk and things that he finds on the roadside. Our Mark goes to visit him in his workspace to hear how he got into model making and see some of his latest creations.The village of Tomintoul in Moray, one of the highest villages in Scotland, is celebrating its 250th anniversary. To mark the occasion sculptor Helen Denerley has created three life size roe deer statues located in the middle of Tomintoul. Rachel went along to see them being installed and hear more about the project.Plantlife Scotland has carried out an emergency translocation of the rare Aspen Bristle Moss, after a fallen Aspen tree put the species' Scottish population at risk. Deep in the Abernethy Forest Reserve in the Cairngorms, Mark heads out to look for it which proves rather tricky…We hear about Cycling UK's newest multi-day bikepacking route, Gallovidean Gravel. It's the charity's first fully Scottish route and explores Dumfries and Galloway.Our Orkney colleague Evie McGowan spent a night in the UK's most northerly bothy which has recently been renovated. The Rackwick bothy on Hoy is owned by the Hoy Development Trust and Evie hears about the work that they've carried out.In this week's Scotland Outdoors podcast, Rachel is in the Trossachs with the Adaptive Riders Collective who empower people with physical disabilities to experience the freedom, joy, and connection that come from being out in nature. We hear an excerpt.

On November 22, 1971, RAF rescuers spot a young woman crawling across the Cairngorm Plateau after two nights in a relentless blizzard. With only a few words, she points them toward a group still missing somewhere in the white. What they were about to uncover would become one of the deadliest mountaineering disasters in British history. In this episode, we break down the deceptive terrain of the Cairngorms, the controversial shelter that changed decision-making on the mountain, and how a school trip of inexperienced teenagers and young leaders found themselves fighting for survival in a featureless whiteout. A story of small decisions, worsening conditions—and how close help really was. 00:00 Blizzard Rescue Begins 02:00 Meet the Cairngorms 03:16 Plateau Hazards Explained 05:13 Shelters and Controversy 09:04 The School Expedition Plan 12:01 Groups Split in Worsening Weather 13:45 Beatty Reaches the Shelter 14:10 Davidson's Navigation Gamble 17:02 Bivouac Turns Deadly 19:45 Flares in the Storm 21:21 Catherine Crawls for Help 22:59 Search Mobilizes and Helicopter Finds Her 28:33 Digging Them O= 31:18 Aftermath and Inquiry 35:12 Legacy and Final Reflection Reference List Buried: The Cairngorm Plateau Disaster — The Crux Podcast Primary Sources & Official Records Fatal Accident Inquiry into the Cairngorm Plateau Disaster. Banff Sheriff Court, February 1972. Books & Articles Watson, Adam. The Cairngorms. Scottish Mountaineering Club, 1975. (or relevant edition — Watson is cited as chief expert witness and as having written warnings about the Curran shelter prior to the disaster) Duff, John. Statement on winter bivouac on the Cairngorm Plateau. Braemar Mountain Rescue Team records. (quoted in inquiry materials) Interviews & Personal Testimony Dudgeon, Bill. Interview, c. 2011. (cited as "forty years later") Sunderland, [first name unknown]. Interview, c. 1986. (cited as "fifteen years after the disaster") Anonymous former Ainslie Park student. Written account, 2015. Institutional Sources Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland. Correspondence with the Nature Conservancy regarding the Curran shelter. 1960s. (exact date unspecified in script) RAF Leuchars. Incident records, November 22, 1971. (relating to Whirlwind helicopter deployment) Cairngorm Summit Weather Station. Wind speed record, March 20, 1986. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A dreadful Citadel looms hazily in the north, beyond the snow-capped peaks of the Expanse. Rumors speak of a dire threat to the Seers. The Mirror, Dove, Iron, and Bloody Knights trek into the Cairngorms in search of dire Omens.Mythic Bastionland is a complete roleplaying game about Knights on Quests, seeking Glory, and holding to their Oath.Seek the Myths, Honor the Seers, Protect the Realm. The game was designed and written by Chris McDowall, with art by Alec Sorensen, published by Bastionland Press. - Purchase the game ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.- Support Chris's work by subscribing to his ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠!- Art and graphics from the official book in our videos and promotional material is used with the author's express permission.The hex map of the Adamant Expanse was created using Hex Kit, developed by Cone of Negative Energy.- Purchase it ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.Explore more 3d6 Down the Line at our ⁠⁠official website⁠⁠! Access character sheets, maps, past campaigns, and lots more! Watch our ugly mugs on the ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ version of this episode!Support our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠, and enjoy awesome benefits! Purchase Feats of Exploration, an alternate XP system for old-school D&D-adjacent games! ⁠⁠Drivethru RPG⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Itch⁠⁠ Grab some ⁠⁠3d6 DTL merchandise⁠⁠!Join our friendly and lively ⁠⁠Discord server⁠⁠! Art, animation, and graphics by David Kenyon.⁠⁠Portfolio⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠Maps used in the channel banner by Dyson Logos.Intro music by Muzaproduction and kaazoom.

Episode summaryWe see Pete Cairns as rewilding royalty. Thirty years in the conservation conversation, co-founder and former CEO of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, and now host of the new podcast At the Edge. In this episode Tom and Chloe sit down with Pete to dig into the one thing every species reintroduction in the UK has in common, and it is not the species.Wildcats, sea eagles, red kites, beavers, lynx. The practical side of bringing animals back is largely solved. What is not solved is the human side. The consultation, the fear, the bureaucracy, the politics, and the deep emotional and economic stakes for the rural communities living on the front line.We talk about the 11 million domestic cats in the UK and the 100 million wild animals they kill each year. The mysterious lynx release in the Cairngorms in January 2025. Whether "beaver bombers" should be celebrated or condemned. And what Pete would do if he had a magic wand to fix the system.The post-interview chat between Tom and Chloe gets properly unpacked on the moral case for reintroductions, the sheep farmer's perspective, and whether logic or culture should lead.About the guestPete Cairns has spent thirty years working on rewilding communications and engagement, with a particular focus on the human-wildlife fault line. He co-founded SCOTLAND: The Big Picture and served as its CEO until 2025. He now works independently and hosts the podcast At the Edge, a deep dive into our relationship with wild nature and each other.Find Pete on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/petercairnsphoto Listen to At the Edge: attheedge.org.ukChapters00:00 - Welcome and what is the Wilder Podcast01:55 - Project update: the community day04:22 - Thanks to Katya and Hannah in the market garden05:09 - Pigs escaping again06:38 - Why we're talking to Pete07:10 - Pete's introduction and 30 years in the rewilding conversation10:07 - What is a wildcat, and how did Scotland nearly lose them12:22 - Why the wildcat decline went unnoticed for so long15:00 - The elephant in the room: 11 million domestic cats and 100 million wild animals18:05 - Cats are hardwired, not killing for fun 22:02 - The principles of species reintroduction, from sea eagles to today24:16 - Beavers, wolves and the feeling that reintroductions are "done to" rural communities26:00 - Lynx to Scotland vs The Missing Lynx Project: two regulatory bodies, two processes28:35 - Selling the benefits, hearing the concerns, and the sheep predation reality31:30 - "Just pay the farmer" is a dangerous narrative 32:20 - What does success even look like35:14 - The shortage of skilled navigators in conservation35:54 - The illegal lynx release in the Cairngorms, January 202538:15 - Beaver bombers and the guerrilla rewilding question40:16 - If Pete could redesign the system, what would it look like43:04 - What one listener can actually do: voice, vote, money45:04 - Is wildcat reintroduction a success48:07 - Pete's sign-off and where to find At the Edge48:42 - Tom and Chloe debrief: cats, sheep farmers, and the moral argument59:24 - The ripple effect of wild landscapes on cultureKey takeawaysSpecies reintroduction is no longer a practical problem. The science and the techniques exist. The challenge now is social, cultural and political: how do we live alongside species we have not shared the landscape with for generations.The UK is one of the only countries in Europe with no large carnivores, and one of the only countries anywhere. The question is not whether it is ecologically possible. It is whether we will.The "just pay the farmer" line misses the point. Farmers are motivated by financial considerations, but also by tradition, family history, animal welfare and a sense of place. None of those things have a price tag.Lynx to Scotland is the most comprehensive consultation a reintroduction has ever had in this country. Whether it ultimately leads to a release or not, the process itself has reset the standard.The illegal lynx release in the Cairngorms in January 2025 was, in Pete's words, "plain stupid". But it advanced the conversation. There is a sweet spot somewhere between an illicit release and a process that takes 15 years.Mediating these conversations is a specialist skill, and there is a real shortage of people who can do it well. Most conservation organisations cannot mediate their own debates because they wear a badge.Domestic cats kill an estimated 100 million wild animals in the UK every year. Not a judgement on cat ownership, but a call for informed choice.Resources and links mentionedOrganisationsSCOTLAND: The Big Picture: scotlandbigpicture.comRoyal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS): rzss.org.ukSaving Wildcats project: savingwildcats.co.ukHighland Wildlife Park: highlandwildlifepark.org.ukLynx to Scotland: lynxtoscotland.orgTrees for Life: treesforlife.org.ukThe Lifescape Project: lifescapeproject.orgNatureScot: nature.scotNatural England: gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-englandRSPB: rspb.org.ukBuglife: buglife.org.ukRewilding Britain: rewildingbritain.org.ukReferenced in the episodePete's new podcast, At the Edge: attheedge.org.ukThe Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations: nature.scot/professional-advice/safeguarding-protected-areas-and-species/translocationIberian Lynx programme (the model Saving Wildcats is based on)Come and stay with usOur off-grid cabins are open and our guests this weekend told us the same thing many listeners do when they arrive: the photos do not do it justice. If you have been following the podcast and want to experience the Grange Project in person, the cabins are bookable now.Visit grangeproject.co.uk and click "Stay with us" in the top right corner.

Bex, Eve, Joe and Kaye are uncovering newly released top secret UFO (or UAP) files from the US government, meeting an unexpected stadium mascot (is a real goose cheering on a baseball team?), and debating whether campfires should be banned after record wildfires.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we chat to Greig McBride, creator of 'Scotland Uncovered', who makes the case that rain and mist aren't obstacles to enjoying Scotland — they're part of what makes it extraordinary.Greig shares a practical one-week itinerary taking in Loch Lomond, Glencoe, the west coast, and the Cairngorms, alongside an honest conversation about the pressures of overtourism on places like Skye and the NC500 — and why quieter islands like Mull, Lewis and Harris, Orkney, and Shetland deserve far more love.He also explores small but meaningful ways to care for Scotland's nature, whether at home or travelling further afield, and encourages everyone to follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, treating the land — and the communities who depend on it — with the respect they deserve.Whether you're planning your first trip or your fiftieth, this episode is a reminder that Scotland rewards those who take the time to explore it thoughtfully.

What has shifted in rewilding over the past five years? Why do recovery of species like lynx, beavers and wolves trigger reactions that go far beyond the animals themselves? And what is the real obstacle to bringing lynx back to Scotland, the ecology, the bureaucracy, or something much harder to name? In this episode, our returning guest is Peter Cairns, co-founder and former Executive Director of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, board member of Trees for Life, public voice for the Lynx to Scotland partnership, wildlife photographer, and now host of the new podcast 'At the Edge'. Peter last appeared on the show back in 2021, and many things have shifted on the ground since then. More beavers, more red kites, more sea eagles and habitat restoration that has grown significantly. Peter argues that the conversation around land use is also maturing, even when daily progress feels like wading through treacle.Our conversation moves through the long road of the Lynx to Scotland project: years of education, consultation and community engagement sessions, all building towards a licence application that will ultimately land on a politician's desk. Peter is honest about the sticking points around livestock predation and what level of impact society is prepared to support and compensate. We get into the cultural chasm between rural and urban Scotland and why a lynx or a beaver rarely represents just an animal. For many people, these species symbolise change, loss of control over the landscape and the imposition of urban values on rural communities. We also discuss the illegal release of four lynx in the Cairngorms and Peter's measured view on what that incident says about an over-bureaucratic system and what the government would be wise to learn from it.In the second half of our conversation, Peter shares why he started 'At the Edge', a podcast designed to host the difficult conversations sitting on what he calls the human-wildlife faultline. We talk about social media as an accelerator of polarisation, the impossibility of shouting people into agreement and the Finding Common Ground initiative that is quietly reshaping how deer management is discussed in Scotland. We also get into wildlife photography and the rise of what Peter calls the 'Instagram trophy hunter', along with his concerns about ecotourism becoming too central to rewilding's economic case. Towards the end, Peter offers a thoughtful, almost stoic answer to my ‘crystal ball' question, focusing on what each of us can actually control in our own physical, community and philosophical space. It's a generous and quietly hopeful conversation, and I think you'll get a lot from it.Subscribe to Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science NewsletterSupport the Podcast and Buy Me a Coffee.Follow Tommy's Outdoors on Bluesky, Instagram or YouTube

High in the mist-shrouded Cairngorms, where the winter wind bites like a vice, lies the domain of a long-spoken, unsettling presence. For over a hundred years, the climbers of Ben Macdui have told stories of a towering figure pacing just beyond sight and of booming footsteps lost in the fog. Known as the Big Grey Man, few have seen it, several have heard it and even more sensed it, but just about none have ever agreed on what “it” actually is. SOURCES Gray, Affleck (1970) The Big Grey Man of Ben MacDhui. Impulse Books, Edinburgh, Scotland. Baker, Ernest A. (1973) The British Highlands: With Rope & Rucksack. EP Publishing Ltd, UK. Wood, Wendy (1930) Secret of Spey. Rob Grant & Son, Edinburgh, Scotland. Alexander, Henry (1926) The Ben MacDhui Giant Spectre. The Cairngorm Club Journal, Vol XI, No.64, July 1926. The Cairngorm Club, Scotland. Aberdeen Press & Journal (1925) Cairngorm Club. Aberdeen Press & Journal, Mon 30 Nov 1925, p5. Aberdeen, Scotland. Aberdeen Press & Journal (1925) Letters To Editor. Aberdeen Press & Journal, Tues 1 Dec 1925, p5. Aberdeen, Scotland. Aberdeen Press & Journal (1925) Mountain Climbers & The Ghost of Ben MacDhui. Aberdeen Press & Journal, Thurs 3 Dec 1925, p6. Aberdeen, Scotland. Aberdeen Press & Journal (1925) Dr Kellas & His Spectre. Aberdeen Press & Journal, Sat 5 Dec 1925, p4. Aberdeen, Scotland. The Scotsman (1941) The Grey Man Of Ben MacDhui. The Scotsman, Tues 14 Oct 1941, p7. Scotland. The Scotsman (1941) Mountain Spectres. The Scotsman, Mon 20 Oct 1941, p4. Scotland. The Scotsman (1941) Mountain Spectres. The Scotsman, Thurs 23 Oct 1941, p4. Scotland. ------ For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠darkhistories.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the show by visiting our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/darkhistories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://author.to/darkhistories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dark Histories merch is available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3GChjk9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with us on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or find us on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://twitter.com/darkhistories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or you can contact us directly via email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@darkhistories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or join our Discord community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/cmGcBFf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017 Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

War in the Middle East has led to price shocks in fertiliser and fuel for farmers. The situation puts a sharper focus on products already being developed to reduce reliance on imported fertiliser. We hear about two innovations: granular fertiliser produced from byproducts including incinerated chicken droppings, and a fertiliser using nutrients extracted from human urine which is being trialled in a project to grow native trees in Wales. And, we're touring some of the UK's National Parks this week. Today, efforts to conserve the iconic and charismatic Capercaillie in the Cairngorms National Park. Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Sarah Swadling

【主播的话】你或许听过“心流“的概念——在越来越快的当下，我们常常会有这样的体验：注意力被日常信息反复打断，很难获得哪怕十分钟的内心安宁。技术在发展、社会在进步，但我们的内心却常常漂浮着难以解释的空虚。有研究指出，人类最稳定、最持久的幸福体验，并不来自休息或享乐，而是一种高度专注的状态，那就是“心流”。1970年代，心理学家米哈里·契克森米哈赖对运动员、艺术家、音乐家进行了大量深度的访谈，提出了“心流”（flow）的理论。它是指一种完全专注于进行特定活动时产生的沉浸式心理体验，被认为是人所能到达的某种极佳意识状态、也是幸福感与人生意义感的重要来源。这一期节目就围绕“心流”这个话题展开，嘉宾是我们的老朋友、纪录片导演杨圆圆。去年，圆圆曾带着她的作品《女人世界》来到节目中与我们交流。在过去的一年里，她的生活经历了许多重要变化。一方面，《女人世界》开始在世界各地巡回放映——从国际电影节到美术馆，从社区放映到唐人街的老影院，她带着这部作品走进不同城市，与来自各地的观众相遇。另一方面，她的人生也经历了巨大的转折：战胜癌症、与家人一起搬到伦敦生活，同时开启新的创作与研究。《她 顺流而上》是圆圆与专业户外品牌始祖鸟合作完成的2026年高山户外女性纪录片。影片聚焦两位始祖鸟运动员——ENSA见习高山向导杨小华，16岁攀岩新星李美妮。通过冷与暖两种不同气质的影像对照，作品记录了女性在极限环境中的专注、情绪变化与自我确认。影片并不强调“征服”的叙事，它更关注一种状态：当一个人完全投入于行动时，时间仿佛被抹去，外界的干扰逐渐远去，只剩下人与当下之间的连接——那正是心流。在录制节目之前，我们和圆圆一起前往云南丽江，参加了始祖鸟的“山地课堂”，并完成了一次海拔三千多米的高山徒步。没有信号的山野，让注意力重新回到身体本身：脚下的每一步、呼吸的节奏，以及肌肉与地形之间的关系。在这样的环境里，我们对“顺流而上”有了新的理解：它未必意味着一定要抵达顶点，更像是在持续的行动中进入一种状态——忘记时间、沉浸当下，暂时放下自我评判，与自己重新达成和解。在这场对谈中，圆圆也分享了她自己的经历与思考：她如何在拍摄中捕捉两位运动员进入心流的瞬间，又如何在创作过程中理解这种状态。当镜头开启时，她常常感觉自己仿佛“消失”了，只专注于记录正在发生的真实。从山野到影像，从运动到创作，我们也试图继续追问：在一个被信息和噪音包围的时代，人们为什么越来越渴望这样的时刻——一个能够重新集中注意力、重新感知世界的瞬间。或许，“顺流而上”不仅仅是一种攀登的方向，它更像是一种路径：让人重新回到自己，也重新与世界建立连接。本期节目由专业户外品牌始祖鸟特约呈现。顺流而上，不止于山野，更在于每一次全情投入的当下。始祖鸟以专业级装备为每一次攀登保驾护航，在山野间解锁心流时刻，在前行中遇见更真实的自己，在岩壁间见证女性攀登者的赤诚与力量。想要深入了解两位女性攀登者的向上故事，解锁始祖鸟更多户外理念、品牌企划与装备焕新相关内容，尽在始祖鸟官方公众号。【本期主播】若含：小红书@若含王磬：微博@王磬【本期嘉宾】杨圆圆：纪录片导演、视觉艺术家【本期剧透】00:14 在电影《女人世界》巡演之后08:47 丽江高海拔徒步初体验12:19 运动中的“心流”： 时间感消失，与自然融为一体28:03 直面恐惧，让情绪自然流过36:40 如何产生心流？需要“跳一跳够得着”的挑战难度39:48 拍摄纪录片时的“无我”时刻：在当下成为“隐形人”46:09 两位攀岩运动员，如雪山般坚韧，如阳光般明亮01:00:15 在法国拍摄攀冰时，偶遇十年一遇冰洞01:09:44 女性视角下的户外与创作：高山运动员与导演，其实有天然的优势【相关阅读】《她 顺流而上》导演：杨圆圆专业户外运动品牌ARC'TERYX始祖鸟推出2026年高山户外女性纪录片《她 顺流而上》，以“与山同频”和“贴壁听风”两个篇章的双线叙事，记录两位始祖鸟运动员杨小华与李美妮在各自的户外征程中，“心流”带给她们的转变与成长。这种心流，不仅是运动中的状态，更是一种可被习得的生活哲学。在信息纷扰、节奏加速的当下，为当代人提供了面对生活的智慧，让我们在专注中屏蔽杂音，在行动中建立属于自己的秩序，不断“顺流而上”。《女人世界》(ChinatownChaCha)导演：杨圆圆 (Luka Yang)上映时间：2024年（中国大陆）这是一部关于海外华裔女性群体生命力的纪录片。杨圆圆将镜头对准了旧金山唐人街“紫禁城夜总会”最后一代华裔舞者——年逾九旬的余金巧（Coby Yee）及其舞团。影片跨越中美两地，通过跨代际的对话和珍贵的影像档案，展现了这些女性在舞台与生活中的优雅、独立与对艺术的执着，是一部探讨身份认同、老龄化与跨文化记忆的温情作品。《她乡舞曲》出品：在在在BOOKS出版社：中国美术学院出版社编辑：te editions《她乡舞曲》 (Dance in Herland) 是一部围绕女人世界 (ChinatownChaCha) 所延展出的出版物，由艺术家杨圆圆的电影长片及五部海外华人题材短片发展而来。不同于电影的线性叙事，这本书通过访谈、档案、虚构写作与研究文本，将散落在旧金山与古巴之间的华人舞者记忆重新编织成一张跨越时间与地域的叙事网络。在书中，唐人街夜总会的舞者、粤剧戏台的演员与离散社群的亲历者以口述历史的方式现身。她们的身体如同流动的档案，舞步、手势与目光中保存着难以言说的迁徙记忆与情感残响。从盛极一时的夜总会舞台，到连接海外华人与故土的粤剧戏班，《她乡舞曲》既追溯了一段被忽视的文化史，也呈现出离散华人如何在表演与日常之间不断"造乡"。作为对电影项目的一次延展与回望，这本书在历史与个人记忆之间搭建起新的叙事空间，使那些曾在舞台灯光下闪耀的身影，再次被看见。《心流：最优体验心理学》作者：[美] 米哈里·契克森米哈赖 (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi)出版社：中信出版社出版时间：2017年11月本书是积极心理学的奠基之作。作者通过大量案例研究发现，真正的幸福并非源自物质享受，而是源自一种被称为“心流”的心理状态——即全神贯注于当前活动、忘却时间与自我的最优体验。书中系统阐述了心流的形成条件，并指导读者如何在工作、学习、人际关系及休闲中主动创造心流，通过掌控意识来提升生活质量，实现自我的进化。《活山》（The Living Mountain）作者：[英] 娜恩·雪柏德 (Nan Shepherd)出版社：文汇出版社出版时间：2018年8月这是一部关于苏格兰凯恩戈姆山脉（Cairngorms）的沉思录，被誉为20世纪最伟大的自然文学之一。作者并未记录宏大的征服之旅，而是书写了她几十年来反复进入这座大山的细微感知。她摒弃了“登顶”的执念，而是走“入”大山，从光影、水分、岩石甚至睡眠的角度，深度探索了人与荒野的融合。文字空灵通透，充满了对自然生命力的敬畏与哲学思考。《哈姆奈特》(Hamnet)导演：赵婷 (Chloé Zhao)上映时间：2025 年影片改编自玛吉·欧法莱尔的同名畅销小说。故事背景设定在 16 世纪的英国，聚焦于文学巨匠莎士比亚的家庭生活。核心剧情围绕莎士比亚的妻子艾格尼丝（由杰西·巴克利饰演）展开，讲述了她如何在瘟疫中痛失 11 岁的儿子哈姆奈特（Hamnet），以及这段悲伤的家庭变故如何最终孕育并催生了世界上最著名的剧作之一《哈姆雷特》。《完美的日子》(Perfect Days)导演：维姆·文德斯 (Wim Wenders)上映时间：2023年（戛纳首映）/ 2024年（中国大陆）影片讲述了东京公厕清洁工平山（役所广司饰）平凡而富有诗意的日常生活。他过着规律且极简的生活：认真清洁厕所、听磁带摇滚乐、在公园拍树影、去公共澡堂洗澡。导演通过细腻的镜头捕捉平淡生活中的微光，探讨了如何在重复的劳动中寻找尊严，以及在孤独中发现纯粹的美好。男主角役所广司凭借此片荣获戛纳电影节最佳男演员奖。【本期音乐】delosound - Naturemetriko - Nature documentary【节目制作】方改则【Logo设计】刘刘（ins: imjanuary)【互动方式】小红书@不合时宜微博@不合时宜TheWeirdo商务合作可发邮件至 hibuheshiyi@126.com 或微博私信会员计划咨询可添加微信：hibuheshiyi3 或发送邮件至 hibuhehsiyi@gmail.com

Cyclist Mark Wedgwood has completed some enormous challenges, including a journey from America to Scotland. Rachel meets him in Aberdeenshire to find out more about his adventures.People across the UK are being invited to celebrate the unsung heroes in their communities as the BBC launches the 2026 Make a Difference Awards. Last year, New Start Highland Garden in Inverness won the BBC Radio Scotland Green award. Mark visits the garden with James Dunbar and Marion Cordiner.New research from Stirling University suggests that walkers are increasing the popularity of Park Run events. Rachel takes a wander with parkwalkers Lynne Zabek and Andrew Aird and Dr Andre Gilburn who explains more about his research.In this week's podcast excerpt, Mark's in Glasgow to chat to cyclist and content creator Somhairle Johnston about his new BBC Alba series 'Somhairle Spins'.Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone join survival instructor Zeki Basan on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park to observe the delicate process of harvesting birch sap.Trees for Life Heritage and Gaelic Development Officer Eilidh Sykes joins Mark and Rachel to talk about the links between the Gaelic language and the landscape.A new children's book, ‘Heather Munro's Race Against the Flames', aims to raise wildfire safety awareness. Mark meets author and Director of The Heather Trust, Katrina Candy.Rachel meets Rosie Beetschen of Cairngorms Connect who has created a soundscape of her explorations of the Cairngorms landscape.One of the UK's most experienced mountain rescue experts, David “Heavy” Whalley, has been remembered in a new book charting his life. Mark visits Strathblane to meet Bob Sharp who helped compile Heavy's story in ‘A Heavy Affair with the Mountains'.

The iconic ash tree on Glasgow's Argyle street won UK Tree of the Year last year and is now nominated for European Tree of the Year. Mark looks up at the giant ash with arborist David Treanor and discovers why the 170-year-old tree is so cherished.Fresh efforts are underway to save critically endangered fresh water pearl mussels in the Cairngorms National Park. Rachel catches up with Freshwater Restoration Manager Dr Sally Mackenzie on the River Spey to discuss the fascinating life cycle of the species and the projects aiming to save it.New research suggests that tawny owls, which normally rely on sound to hunt, are adapting to noisy urban roadsides by hunting in areas lit by streetlights. Mark meets Glasgow University PhD Researcher Giuseppe Orlando in Milngavie to find out how he studied the bird's nocturnal movements.In this week's midweek podcast excerpt, Rachel takes a wander in the Kinrara Estate near Aviemore with storyteller Sarah Hobbs to discover how women have shaped the Cairngorms.A Brush with Fungi is a compilation of new watercolours produced by artist David Mitchell. Mark joins David in Kirriemuir to explore the process behind painting the intricate detail of hundreds of species of fungi.Glasgow Film Festival will host the Scottish premiere of nature documentary, Super Nature, directed by Ed Sayers. The film was shot collaboratively across 25 different countries using Super 8 cameras, including footage from Richard Davies who filmed Atlantic Salmon in Scotland. Rachel and Mark are joined by Director Ed Sayers.Fyrish Hill, close to Alness in the Highlands, entered the wider public consciousness recently when it featured in the Traitors. Morven Livingstone meets Fiona Stephenson who was inspired to write a poem about Fyrish.

Rachel Stewart meets storyteller Sarah Hobbs to hear how women have shaped the landscape.

Rachel meets Director Robbie Synge to learn about a new film featuring young people at work and play in the landscapes of the Cairngorms. ‘Tha Sinn an Seo' (We Are Here), made throughout 2025, explores habitat restoration work of Cairngorms Connect.The National Trust for Scotland has purchased new land around the Drum Estate, near Banchory, Aberdeenshire to help expand the ancient tree population. Mark takes a wander with Gardens and Designed Landscape Manager, Chris Wardle.Scientists at Aberdeen University and the James Hutton Institute are examining whether a compound found in part of the potato plant could be used in the cosmetics industry. Near Montrose, Rachel joins Grampian Growers Project Manager Sofia Alexiou and Managing Director Kirsty Spink in a tattie shed.A stakeholder discussion on the potential reintroduction of lynx is being launched this month. Mark meets Lisa Chilton, CEO of Scotland the Big Picture, in Aviemore to find out how events across Highland and Moray will gather local views.Rachel chats to Professor Pete Iannetta from the James Hutton Institute who explains what a large part of our diet would have consisted of in days of old.Mark joins Aberdeen City Council Countryside Ranger Service and volunteers keeping an area of land on the outskirts of Aberdeen free of gorse.Rare seagrass "fairy circles" have been discovered in the Sound of Barra. Rachel and Mark are joined by Sarah Cunningham of NatureScot to discuss the seagrass doughnuts.Helen Needham meets interdisciplinary plant Researcher Em Merrin May Armstrong in Glasgow to explore Queer Ecology.Mother and daughter Mhairi and Maisie Watson volunteer as lifeboat crew for RNLI Anstruther. Mark catches up with the pair to discover what lifeboat training involves.

This week we're live from Cairngorm Mountain and joined by a myriad of guests connected by the adventures of the slopes. Snowboarder, mountain biker and climate activist Lauren MacCallum joins Mark and Rachel to talk about Cairngorm 2030, the groundbreaking programme aiming to make the Cairngorms the UK's first net-zero national park.Rachel takes to the slopes with Cairngorm ski-patrol to hear about how they keep skiers safe on the mountain. Mark catches up with Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team as they enter their busiest season and discovers how rescues have changed with advances in technology. Cairngorm Mountain CEO Mike Gifford joins Mark and Rachel to talk about the challenges of running one of Scotland's leading ski-resorts and his vision to transform Cairngorm Mountain into a thriving, year-round destination.Retired geography teacher Helen Rennie chats to Mark and Rachel about the record she set in 2019 by skiing on Scottish snow every year for 120 consecutive months.Rachel meets Director Robbie Synge to learn about a new film which features young people at work and play in the landscapes of the Cairngorms. ‘Tha Sinn an Seo' (We Are Here) was made throughout 2025 and explores how the next generation participate in the habitat restoration work of Cairngorms Connect.Montane woodland is set to return to the slopes of Cairngorm Mountain through the Coire na Ciste Montane Woodland Project, an initiative that has recently planted thousands of native trees and shrubs. Mark meets David Hetherington of the Cairngorms National Park Authority to find out more about the first high-altitude woodland restoration project of this scale on the mountain. Helen Needham takes to the slopes at Glenshee to experience a very Scottish winter's ski.

Farmer Simon Johnson offers tours and experiences with alpacas. Rachel heads to Bowbridge Alpacas in Fife and begins by taking a look at some alpaca babies sheltering from the cold.It's National Robin Day on the 21st of December. Mark meets Ian Broadbent in Aberdeenshire to chat about the songbird and its small but mighty reputation.Rachel joins Dr Andrew Hoolachan in Glasgow, the wettest city in the UK. Andrew explains why it's important to consider how we live with the rain and shares findings from his report: ‘Living with rain – planning for everyday life in Glasgow.'Mark takes the Cairngorm Mountain funicular to a windy plateau and examines snow with Mark Diggins of the Scottish Avalanche Information Service. Mark discusses the changing conditions in the Cairngorms.The Spey Viaduct near Garmouth in Moray has partially collapsed. Rachel visits the bridge with Melanie Newbould of the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust to find out why it is so important to the outdoors community.Maud Start and Sarah Wann explore the streets of Edinburgh on a festive treasure hunt.In Sweden, Out of Doors has a counterpart in Naturmorgon, an nature and ecology focused radio programme. Rachel and Mark are joined by one of the presenters, Jenny Berntson Djurvall to discuss how Naturmorgon tells Sweden's stories.Mark travels to Fife to meet Johnnie Balfour, who is reducing emissions on his farm by grazing cattle all year round and moving them regularly.Calum Maclean has been swimming the length of the River Tay, one day per month across 2025. Linda Sinclair kayaks alongside Calum for his final swim of the challenge.

In the summer, Mark met Euan Tomes, Assistant Woodlands Manager at Moray Estates, in the aftermath of a wildfire that spread through Dava Moor. Mark catches up with Euan to find out how the land has been recovering and what happened to the osprey chicks Euan helped to save.In the heart of Sanquhar in Dumfries and Galloway is an organisation called A' the Airts. Rachel meets Aileen Sim and Kate Sloan to find out how it's working to protect the craft of knitting.Mills Observatory in Dundee has reopened for this year's season and the historic dome is also celebrating its 90th anniversary. Mark meets Anna Day of Leisure and Culture Dundee to find out how the Observatory was recently saved after it risked closure.In this week's podcast excerpt, Mark and Rachel speak to delegates at the Scottish Outdoor Access Network Conference near Perth.In Aberdeenshire, craters left by a WWII decoy airfield form the basis of a successful rewilding project. Mark meets Gavin Drummond on his farm Harestone Moss to discover how he's giving parts of the land back to nature.Back in the south west, Rachel takes a trip to Wanlockhead - the highest village in Scotland. Rachel joins Jon Evans, chair of Wanlockhead Museum Trust, to explore a miner's subscription library.Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone head to the Cairngorms to meet outdoor survival expert Zeki Basan who introduces the ancient craft of using urine to extract vibrant natural dyes from lichen.In Glen Prosen, Mark takes a wander with Molecular Fungal Ecologist Dr Andy Taylor to explore the fungal species found in the area.Rachel and Mark are joined by Anna Grunden of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to talk about Sweden's approach to outdoor access and shared challenges with Scotland.

Cairngorms Pride is a new nature-led organisation set up in Cairngorms National Park with the motto: “here for the planet, queer for the planet”. Rachel chats to Dan Cottam and Kath Pierce about the social enterprise.Coinneach Rankin and Hamish Macleod are climbers and filmmakers who make the series Dàna on BBC Alba in which they capture their adventures in the outdoors. Helen Needham joins them in Lochaber to discuss their approach to adventuring, filmmaking and the Gaelic language.The first grey seal pups of the season are at Forvie National Nature Reserve in Aberdeenshire. Mark meets Reserve Manager Catriona Reid to discover how to observe the seals without disturbing them.Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone take to the Caledonian canal to speak to Robert Gordon from Inverness Rowing Club about how the club is making the sport more accessible.A mother-daughter duo are co-authoring a memoir called Sea Legs. The book follows 11-year-old competitive para swimmer Oona Dooks and her mother Eleanor Thom in their travels across the UK coast and beyond. Mark joins the pair at Montrose Basin to discover what they've learnt about caring through the lens of the natural world.Rachel meets Biosphere Dark Sky ranger Elizabeth Tindal at Crawick Multiverse in Dumfries and Galloway to find out how best to adjust our eyes to the dark and observe the stars.The Woodland Carbon Code is the UK's standard for woodland creation projects that aim to generate credible carbon credits. Mark and Rachel are joined by Pat Snowdon of Scottish Forestry to find out how to code is contributing towards Scotland's net zero targets.Mark discusses the often misunderstood magpie with author Esther Woolfson, who shared her home with a magpie for eight years.

Health secretary Wes Streeting admits the wrongful release of Hadush Kebatu's adds to the sense Britain is "broken". Plus, we celebrate the first snow of the season in the Cairngorms and hear the Prime Minister's 'Private Passions'.

This week, we're off to the Cairngorms of Scotland with anthropologist, food journalist and woman of the wilds, Ghillie Basan.After bringing the food of Turkey, Morocco, Lebanon, The Middle East, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Kenya to an international readership hungry for different flavours and food cultures, Ghillie's latest book, Food Whisky Life focuses more on her own life. It's a story of resilience, enterprise and whisky, getting on with it as a single mum in the wilds and pulling brilliant ideas out of the bag to make life work deliciously.You can buy Food, Whisky, Life from the Cooking the Books shop at Bookshop.org which supports independent bookshops. And head over to Gilly's Substack for Extra Bites of Ghillie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Macrae leads a team of Committee members into the mountainous extremities of the Cairngorms in search of the sounds of cryptozoological phenomena.Support the show

The rare Dark Bordered Beauty moth is found in only two sites in Scotland and one in England. Mark joins Dark Bordered Beauty Moth Champion Pete Moore at RSPB Insh Marshes nature reserve to find out more about attempts to reintroduce the moth to other areas in Scotland. Dark Bordered Beauty moths in Scotland are reliant on aspen suckers - shoots that sprout from the roots of an aspen tree, acting as a form of vegetative reproduction. Mark catches up with Conservation Manager Shaila Rao at Mar Lodge Estate in the Cairngorms to discover how the team are restoring aspen in the area. Rachel is in Dornoch to meet a group of women training for the traditional heavy events at the Highland Games. Mark and Rachel have a wander with David Coid and local historian Alasdair Malcolm on the coast of Prestwick, Ayrshire to explore a group of Grade-A listed houses built in the 1700s for the salt boiling industry. Phil Sime heads to a Creative Summer School with Cairngorms Connect to discover how the project helps local school children to explore art and creativity through different landscapes, habitats and species. Ben Saunders, Senior Marine Archaeologist at Wessex Archaeology, returns to the programme to update the team on exciting new information on the identity of the shipwreck found on Sanday, Orkney last year. Rachel meets Andrew Bateman who runs hiking tours in the Cairngorms with the comfort of a heated Nordic tipi at night. Andrew's highland ponies join the trek to carry the camping equipment. Mark and Rachel have a gander around Girvan as they continue to explore the Whithorn Way pilgrimage.

Join AudioFile's Alan Minskoff and Host Jo Reed as they share an audiobook for the soul. This exquisite work of nature writing celebrating Scotland's Cairngorms mountains remains a classic of ecological observation. Tilda Swinton's rendition of Nan Shepherd's poetic prose mesmerizes. Her tone is exceptionally clear, her pace adds drama, and her style of narrating is immersive. Written in the 1940s, the book remained unpublished until the 1970s. Shepherd appreciated these mountains in all seasons and lived near them for much of her life. The language sings, “Nothing is so ghostly as mist over snow.”  Read our review of the audiobook at our website Published by Simon & Schuster Audio Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile's website   Support for Behind the Mic comes from Hachette Audio and NIGHT WATCHER, by Daphne Woolsoncroft (of the Going West podcast), who read an audio-exclusive author's note before the stunning dual-narration by Will Collyer and Helen Laser. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Gaelic name for the Cairngorm Mountains of the Scottish Highlands translates to The Red Mountains.  The mountains are formed from granite and once had a rosy hue to them before time and the rough conditions battered them into a more grayish coloring. The Cairngorms have always been popular for skiing and hiking and feature high plateaus and rounded summits. In and amongst these mountains was an area once referred to by locals as the Hill of Christie. That hill was the scene of a murder mystery that took place centuries ago and the key to solving that mystery came at the hands of a ghost. Intro and Outro music: Bad Players - Licensed under a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-assignable, single-site, worldwide, royalty-free license agreement with Muse Music c/o Groove Studios. The following music was also used: Title: "Mercury Fever Dream" Artist: Tim Kulig (timkulig.com) Licensed under Creative Commons By Attribution 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0997280/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

In part two, Ben tells you about the incredible scenic Snow Roads he drove along.Read the episode transcript and test your understanding with a comprehension quiz by joining the Learn English with Ben fan club. You'll get access to transcripts and quizzes, plus other bonus content. Visit patreon.com/learnenglishwithben for more information and to join now.Patreon: patreon.com/learnenglishwithben - For transcripts, comprehension quizzes, and video tutorials, join the fan club.Instagram: instagram.com/learnenglishwithbenWebsite: learnenglishwithben.comEmail: learnenglishwithben88@gmail.com - send me an email if you're interested in classes Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

Let's go on a Highland Safari in the Cairngorms National Park and spend time exploring the Snow Roads! ‘The Birds and the Trees' is a story about a scenic road trip through the Cairngorms, Scottish "wilderness" and what's left of it...This is a newly remastered version of a Wild for Scotland classic,  but even if you have heard to this story before, it's worth listening again!The story featured newly done soundscapes, and afterwards, you'll hear brand-new tips for wildlife watching in Scotland.*** Remastering stories is supported by the members of the Wild for Scotland Social Club

Iain is joined by adventurer Elise Wortley. In the last 7 years, Elise has taken on some hugely challenging projects to highlight some of the original – and largely forgotten - female mountaineers and explorers.  What makes her ‘Woman With Altitude' project unique is that she has climbed and trekked in places such as the Himalayas, the Alps and the Cairngorms using the same equipment and clothing that was available to her female predecessors at the time. We discuss what it's like trying to summit Mt Blanc in hobnail boots, how you source a wooden-framed backpack and the challenges of hiking in woollen knickerbockers.  Elise also featured in the Channel 4 programme ‘Alone' where she spend over a month in the Canadian wilderness completely alone.  Discount Code for Intersport Ski Hire If you are heading to the snow 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 Listen to Iain's previous interviews with: ·       BBC Ski Sunday presenter Chemmy Alcott ·       GB Snowsport CEO, Vicky Gosling  ·       Former Erna Low MD Joanna Yellowlees-Bound ·       Team GB freestyle skier, Zoe Atkin Inghams are celebrating their 90th anniversary this winter (2:45) Take a look at Elise's website ‘Woman With Altitude' (3:30) Elise was inspired by Alexandra David-Neel's book ‘My Journey to Lhasa' (4:00) Nan Sheperd wrote ‘The Living Mountain' after hiking in the Cairngorms (11:30) Find out more about Iain's ski touring trip to Ben Lawers in Scotland (15:15) Find out more about Elise's Scottish adventure (15:30) Jane Inglis-Clarke founded the Ladies' Scottish Climbing Club in 1908 (17:00) Henriette d'Angeville was the first woman to climb Mont Blanc solo (17:30) Look out for Henriette on the mural in the centre of Chamonix (18:15) Elise's hobnail boots were supplied by shoe specialists Trickers (20:15) Dorothy Pilley wrote the book ‘Climbing Days' and was the co-founder of the Pinnacle Club (24:00) Elise travelled from Bastia to Monte Cinto in Corsica in February 2025 (24:30) Watch the Channel 4 series ‘Alone' (26:15) [Spoiler] Elise came second after spending 34 days in the Canadian wilderness (32:00) Elise will be returning to Chamonix in June 2025 to try and complete her recreation of Henriette d'Angeville's historic climb (33:00) Hotelplan are funding Elise's 2025 attempt on Mont Blanc (34:15) Only 2% of mountain guides are women (35:30) FEEDBACK (37:00) I enjoy all feedback about the show, I'm always interested to hear what you think, so if you enjoyed this episode, please do let me know on social @theskipodcast or by email theskipodcast@gmail.com  We've had a couple of items of feedback since the last podcast:  Emma Budget: “Fantastic podcast! My husband and I have been listening religiously since before Covid. Now that we're taking our first holidays as a young family, it's been so useful picking up tips and tricks from your episodes about skiing with kids! It's unbelievably rewarding skiing the slopes for the first time with them. Thanks for the podcast, we love it!” Ian Simpson: "Great podcast. Gives me so many travelling ideas especially by train. Any chance you could do one exploring by motorhome? Small community type resorts working together for the van people who like exploring the mountains in Europe." [Try this episode, Ian] There are now 253 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up with and 166 of those were listened to in the last week. If you've enjoyed this episode, why not to go theskipodcast.com and take a look around the tags and categories – you're bound to find something of interest.  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. You can also follow us on WhatsApp for exclusive material released ahead of the podcast. 

We celebrate Burns Day on Out of Doors on the 265th anniversary of his birth. Mark chats to Professor Fiona Stafford from University of Oxford who writes about Burns ‘the bard of nature'. They chat about his understanding of ecology and how that comes through in his poetry.Rachel hears the good news story about Goldeneye Ducks in the Cairngorms. Goldeneyes are a protected species that have suffered severe population declines, with only around 200 pairs in the UK. But recent work has seen their numbers increase. She finds out what's behind the success.In our Scotland Outdoors podcast this week Helen Needham headed up Morven, a Corbett in Aberdeenshire with artist and adventurer Morven Stewart. We hear an excerpt where they chat about where her passion from sketching came from.No Burns Day would be complete without a haggis. Rachel heads to Glenesk where every year the locals make their own for the Tarfside Rural Burns supper. Anne Littlejohn lets Rachel into her kitchen to see the process- guts and all!We get a live update from the team at Ellisland Farm. Ellisland near Dumfries was built by Robert Burns in 1788 for his young wife Jean Armour and their family and it's where he penned some of his most famous work. The team at the Robert Burns Ellisland Trust was awarded funding last year which has allowed them to make plans to secure the property's future. We hear about what they've got in store.There are ambitious plans to completely transform a former opencast mine site at St Ninians in Fife. The land was purchased by community interest company National Pride over three years ago. Mark met chair of the company, Irene Bisset, at the site to hear about their hopes to create a facility that enables visitors to enjoy being close to the natural world.And we delve into the archive to hear a piece from 2020 where Mark and Euan visited the famous Globe Inn in Dumfries, a pub frequented by Burns after his move to Ellisland in 1788.

FEC208  Hello moi luverly FECers and this, believe it or not, is Front End Chatter episode 208 in a long-running series with him, believe it or not, Martin Fitz-Gibbons, and him, believe it or not, Simon Hargreaves.   Believe it or not, you should get your bike insurance from Bennetts, Britain's best bike insurers and supporters of Front End Chatter since 1894, with massive range of savings and offers on all sorts of kit and caboodle, plus lots of cool policy add-ons like 90 days EU cover and common mods (like road legal exhausts) covered – as standard! And you also get free BikeSocial membership (which you can also buy for £60 regardless of your insurer), which gives you access to all the above offers and savings, plus VIP experiences, cheap track days; the list goes on. And don't forget to visit bikesocial.co.uk and their Youtube channel for all your biking media consumption needs.  And – last few rooms remaining on the FEC Highland Fling 2 – yes, ride Scotland's greatest hits this May with Simon and Martin, enjoying the best of the NC500, the best of the West Coast, and a romp through the Cairngorms, all while staying at the Aultguish Inn and partaking of libation in the evening. The dates for Fling 2 are arrival Thursday May 6th, departure Sunday May 10th. Visit bit.ly/fecfling2 for more info, or email anything@frontendchatter.com or Paul at MCI Tours – info@mcitours.com  And on that note, what's actually in the podcast? I'd tell you but, honestly, on this occasion it's easier to just listen! Email anything@frontendchatter.com with your thoughts and queries and stuff, and get Martin and Simon on some of the social medias: Insta:MufgaSimonhbikes BSky: @sihbikes.bsky.social @mufga.bsky.social    

HOT NEWS! The FEC Highland Fling is here!  Yes folks, come ride with Simon and Martin in Scotland in May 2025 – we've booked an entire hotel in the heart of the Highlands as a base for three days of riding the most stunning loops around the most iconic routes in the UK. It's majestic, it's mind-blowing, it's the best riding – and the best hospitality – you'll get in 2025.  The FEC Highland Fling starts with a grand ride-in on Friday 2nd May through Glen Coe up to the hotel near Garve. After an evening of greetings and meetings, we'll spend the next three days exploring the finest roads and scenery Scotland has to offer – the north coast, west coast, and across to the Cairngorms, talking in all the Highland hits along the way. And, on the final night (Monday 5th May), Martin and Simon will host a special live episode of Front End Chatter.  To register your interest in the FC Highland Fling, please send an email to anything@frontendchatter.com titled "I'm interested in the FEC Highland Fling, please send me more info." We look forward to seeing you in Scotland in May! Meanwhile.... Hello and welcome to E206 of Front End Chatter, the UK's most Christmassy (he means 'Festive' – Ed) motorcycling podcast, brought to you gift-wrapped in last week's MCN by Simon Humbug Hargreaves and Martin Ho Ho Ho Fitz-Gibbons, supported as ever by the bike insurance baubles at Bennetts, and their multimedia minions at BikeSocial.co.uk. Get your insurance with Bennetts because their industry-wide offers and discounts will pay you back big time in 2025. Become a BikeSocial Member, take advantage, get involved, come to a discounted trackday and keep your eyes on your inbox for amazing events with which you can get involved. And on this week's FEC we have: • our fave bikes of 2024 (and a few of 2025) • more KTM woes, plus does talking about it make it worse?  • the last new bike news of 2024, Ducati's down-sized V2 Multi • plus a whole heap of nattering on topics raised by you, the FECers, sent in via email to the FEC-Sac, to anything@frontendchatter.com Please keep your thoughts and ideas and musings and fantasies coming in!  Thanks for listening, and see you in Scotland in May!  Bsky @sihbikes.bsky.social @mufga.bsky.social Insta simonhbikes mufga

In Scottish lore, a mysterious figure is said to haunt the summit of Ben Macdhui, the highest peak in the Cairngorms of Scotland. Described as a towering, shadowy presence, the entity is often associated with feelings of unease, dread, or even panic among those who encounter it. Witnesses have reported hearing eerie, echoing footsteps, seeing fleeting shadows, and experiencing a sense of being followed when alone on the mountain. While some attribute the phenomenon to natural causes like atmospheric conditions or psychological effects, others believe it is a supernatural guardian of the peak. Whether legend or reality, its enigmatic presence adds an air of mystery to one of Scotland's most remote and rugged landscapes.Join Gary and GoldieAnn as they climb Within the Mists of Scotland to investigate the Am Fear Liath Mòr, also known as the Big Grey man of Ben Macdhui. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Scottish lore, a mysterious figure is said to haunt the summit of Ben Macdhui, the highest peak in the Cairngorms of Scotland. Described as a towering, shadowy presence, the entity is often associated with feelings of unease, dread, or even panic among those who encounter it. Witnesses have reported hearing eerie, echoing footsteps, seeing fleeting shadows, and experiencing a sense of being followed when alone on the mountain. While some attribute the phenomenon to natural causes like atmospheric conditions or psychological effects, others believe it is a supernatural guardian of the peak. Whether legend or reality, its enigmatic presence adds an air of mystery to one of Scotland's most remote and rugged landscapes.Join Gary and GoldieAnn as they climb Within the Mists of Scotland to investigate the Am Fear Liath Mòr, also known as the Big Grey man of Ben Macdhui. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'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 great Victorian collector of minerals Matthew Heddle mentions two places in particular for the finding of aquamarine in Scotland, one the island of Arran and the other a mountain in the Cairngorms. But locating these gems is another story.The Cairngorm mountains are a kind of fortress. There is nowhere else like them in Scotland. You enter their world from one side or another and thereafter are inside them until you withdraw once more. You become aware of other noises than the ones that dominate our days: you hear streams, the breeze lifting the pine trees, the wind in the high hills once you have climbed into them. It's an elemental place: pure and to all intents and purposes undamaged, undisturbed.Kenneth Steven explores the history of this semi-precious stone and reflects in poetry on his finds.Presenter Kenneth Steven Producer Mark RickardsA Whistledown Scotland production

The Forth Bridges Trail is a five-mile circular route which brings together various points of interest in North and South Queensferry and crosses the Forth Road Bridge. New stops were added onto the route earlier this year, so Mark took a wander along part of it to hear about the area's fascinating history.When you think of Beaver reintroduction sites you probably imagine the Cairngorms, Knapdale or rural Tayside but certainly not the heart of London. A few weeks ago, Rachel went to visit The Ealing Beaver Project where beavers are making their home right beside a retail park! Dr Sean McCormack gave her a tour and explained how they hope the beavers, who have been relocated from Scotland, might help with flooding in the area.At the end of the summer Mark visited Loch Katrine, home to the Steamship Sir Walter Scott. But the Loch is also home to other boats and Mark went to speak to one man who's been restoring his very own steamship.We're joined live by Dr Cat Barlow, project manager with the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project who tells us about their plans to expand and re-introduce the species to England and Wales following their success in Scotland.Next month, the winners of the BBC's Food and Farming Awards will be unveiled at a ceremony in Glasgow. Out of Doors and Landward have our own category – the BBC Scotland Food Hero award. Over the past few weeks Rachel has been visiting the three finalists, and this week we hear from the Cosaig Growers. Back in 2016, Kate Wieteska and Jake Butcher bought a challenging piece of land on a hill in the north west Highlands and since then they've completely transformed it in order to grow fruit and vegetables. Rachel paid them a visit while they were getting on with some scything.We hear a short Islay folktale recorded on our recent trip to the island which is home to lots of fantastic myths and stories.In this week's Scotland Outdoors podcast we feature the latest instalment of Mark's journey along the Stevenson Way which is based on the novel Kidnapped. We hear an extract where Mark hears about a real event, the Appin Murder of 1752 which is one of the most notorious of its kind in Scottish history.

An initiative has been launched in the Cairngorms National Park to save and restore one of Scotland's most important yet endangered native tree species. The new partnership between Trees for Life and the Cairngorms National Park Authority, working with Cairngorms Aspen Group, aims to map, expand, and connect aspen - an essential but now rare feature of the Caledonian forest. Aspen provides a habitat for a wide range of rare fungi, lichens, mosses, and moths - but although once common, it has now largely disappeared from Scotland's landscapes. Experts believe aspen has suffered more from deforestation than any other native tree in Scotland. The new Cairngorms Aspen Network is bringing together experts, enthusiasts, and land managers to take action to identify and then restore aspen-rich habitats, and so boost wildlife and threatened species. It will also raise awareness about the importance of aspen. A healthy, functional aspen network will help build resilience against climate change and biodiversity loss, says the Network. "The new Aspen network will offer much-needed hope for tackling nature and climate emergencies by developing a restored, better-connected, and healthier aspen network. By working together, we can improve the future of our aspen woodlands and the life they bring with them," said Niamh Byrne, Aspen Project Officer at rewilding charity Trees for Life. Aspen has been hit especially hard by deforestation and overgrazing, largely because it rarely flowers or sets seeds in Scotland, for reasons that remain unclear. This means once it is lost from an area, aspen is unlikely to return on its own. The tree's survival is threatened in the Highlands, where it now often only regenerates on rocky slopes or cliffs, out of the reach of grazing animals. Such small fragmented stands - sometimes a handful of old trees growing off the same root system - are geographically isolated and cannot provide a proper habitat for the many species that depend on them. Fragmentation of native woodlands also reduces aspen's chances of reproduction, while new growth by suckers from a parent plant is often grazed before it can flourish. Characterised by shimmering foliage in summer and leaves that turn a stunning golden yellow in the autumn, and able to grow at elevations of up to 550 metres, aspen is extremely important for many reasons. Aspen grows fast and dies young - meaning it efficiently locks away carbon. Aspen's high rate of leaf fall and production of deadwood enriches soils, which creates optimum conditions for other plants and trees. Over 60 insect species are known to feed on aspen foliage in Scotland. Young aspen shoots provide food for caterpillars of the rare dark-bordered beauty moth, while the endangered aspen hoverfly favours aspen deadwood. The tree is also highly valued by beavers. Sarah Henshall, Head of Conservation for the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: "Aspen is a priority species in Cairngorms National Park and a hugely important resource for rare and threatened wildlife. Aspen also makes a significant contribution towards healthy and resilient nature networks in the National Park." The project's first stage, being carried out by Trees for Life, is mapping the location, condition, and health of the Cairngorms National Park's existing aspen, alongside key plants and animals that depend on the tree. This mapping will help identify key sites and management priorities, including growing and planting plans for creating a thriving new network of aspen, and will create a blueprint for an effective approach to aspen conservation that could be rolled out across Scotland. As the project develops, it is hoped there will also be scope for local volunteers to get involved, including by gaining hands-on rewilding experience and receiving training for carrying out aspen surveys. Trees for Life has been working to restore aspen to the Highlands since 1991, including by growing and planting thousands of young aspen tre...

Mark Stephen meets Morag Skelton at Glenmore Lodge in the Cairngorms

We are in East Lothian with Patricia Stephen, founder of Phantassie Organic Produce. They head out to the fields during pumpkin planting and chat about the growth in organic food and farming over recent years.Friday 12th July was the launch of this year's Big Butterfly Count organised by the charity Butterfly Conservation. Mark met Apithanny Bourne, their East Scotland branch chair, at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to find out more about the count and see if they could spot the elusive Holly Blue.In this week's Scotland Outdoors podcast, Helen Needham is in rural Wales with musician Owen Shiers. Owen lives in a housing cooperative in Ceredigion which was formerly a sheep farm and is now a woodland. He explained how that process had happened and they chat about the concept of rewilding.A year ago, Mark headed out on a trip with Hans Unkles, co-owner of Scotland's first ever electric, solar-powered fishing vessel. A couple of weeks ago, Mark and Rachel caught up with Hans to hear how the first year of the boat has gone and if anyone has been inspired to follow in his footsteps.The Pine Hoverfly is one of the rarest species in Scotland. It used to thrive in Pine woodlands across the country but is now confined to just a small area of the Cairngorms. Rachel visits the Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie where the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland are working on a breeding programme. Dr Helen Taylor told her about the project which has involved releasing thousands of eggs and larvae into the Cairngorms National Park in an attempt to save the species from extinction.Farmer turned comedian Jim Smith has become pretty well known across Scotland over the last few years, especially in farming circles. He's appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, on TV and radio and now he has his own BBC Radio 4 series- Me and the Farmer. Jim chats to us live about his journey from cattle to comedy.Two years ago, journalist Paul English encountered a team of archaeologists exploring a patch of land in Govan in Glasgow. The team, from the University of Glasgow, were taking part in a research project to uncover what they could of the one remaining site of the Glasgow Garden Festival of 1988. Paul recently went back to catch up with the team and see what treasures they'd uncovered.While on the outskirts of Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago, Mark bumped into a man on a strange looking electric bike. It turned out to be Jim Gayes who is working with the charity Sustrans on mapping the off-road National Cycle Network. He explained more about how the bike system works and why the mapping is important.

We go off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne, who has just returned from an expedition in Scotland. He will detail what he got up to, and talk about the life and writing of Nan Shepherd - a mountain walker in the Cairngorms, whose memoir The Living Mountain is a classic of outdoors literature.

What have you done this week in a car?If you've only been a passenger or a pedestrian, you can live vicariously through the many activities of our hosts.From touring the Cairngorms searching for the "GR Yaris" of Scotch Whisky, to car-spotting on foot with kids through Belgravia on the way to eating some Peking Duck, you should be inspired to do more with cars this week!This and more on episode 57 of the Collecting Addicts podcast!---(00:00) Intro(00:59) This week in cars(23:32) Favourite TV sleuth(37:29) Itches that need scratching(48:27) Home servicing(1:00:43) Funny motorway signs(1:09:27) 2 car garage(1:20:15) Driving tunes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr David Hetherington is an expert on the Eurasian Lynx and the beneficial links Lynx (Lynx lynx lynx) can manifest within our complicated British ecosystems. What he doesn't know about the Lynx's rich history across Europe is not worth knowing: Hear why Hildegard von Bingham thought drinking Lynx urine was highly beneficial; when exactly(ish) Lynx were wiped from British shores leaving only one town name with any form of association to a once indigenous species, and; how the Nazis could be considered the twentieth century's first big-mammal “re-wilders”. But, most importantly, David answers the big question: does Britain have enough well connected forest habitat to safely support a large mobile forest-dependent species? Specialising in species reintroduction programmes, David managed the Cairngorms Wildcat Project and actively encouraged a positive relationship with gamekeepers to help all parties work for nature conservation without getting “sucked into the vortex of raptor politics”. He also sits on the board of Trees for Life - an award-winning charity that works to enhance the native woodland ecology of the Scottish Highlands. To that end, expect wildcats, red squirrels, pine martens, capercaillies, as well as the animal so cool they named it thrice, Lynx lynx lynx, in this immersive and informative wildlife deep dive. Why not become a "Subscription Squirrel" on our Patreon, and help support the production of this podcast? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel ventures into the sea caves at East Wemyss in Fife to hear about how coastal erosion is threatening the Pictish carvings on their walls.Last summer, the Saving Wildcats project released 19 cats in the Cairngorms as part of efforts to prevent the species becoming extinct. Mark visits the Highland Wildlife Park where the next kittens that will be released have been bred, to hear about how the project is going.We've all heard of wine tasting but have you ever thought of giving honey tasting a bash? In our latest Scotland Outdoors podcast, Rachel tries her hand at it under the tutelage of Dr Gino Jabbar, a honey sommelier.Earlier this month, dozens of people under the banner of The Cairngorms Crofters and Farmers Group gathered to voice their grievances over the recent release of beavers into the National Park. Mark met one of the organisers, Ruaridh Ormiston, to find out more about their concerns.And we're joined live by Grant Moir, Chief Executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority. We'll put the concerns of farmers to him and ask about the tricky balance involved in keeping everyone who lives, works and enjoys the park, happy.More than a million pounds is being spent upgrading one of the most popular walking routes in the North East. Rachel went for a wander along part of the Formartine and Buchan Way to hear how the money will be spent.If you watched Britain's Best Woodworker recently you may remember one of the stars Jen Humphreys. Jen has her workshop in Banff, and Rachel went along to see how she creates her stunning work.And as Thursday marked Burns Night, Mark met up with Professor Alison Lumsden from Aberdeen University to hear about the Bard's connections to the North East and whether any of his poetry was inspired by the Doric he would have heard growing up.

Mark uncovers tales from the secret howff bothy in the Cairngorms. Mark and Rachel explore the dark skies in the hills above Braemar and Rachel finds out the lengths farmers go to to decorate their tractors for a festive run through the streets of Inverurie

Welcome to Fireside Folklore, an enchanting wee episode, where Annie and Jenny take us deep into the heart of the Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands. We unearthing tales of the mystical fairy dogs that roam the majestic mountainous landscapes. Ensure your sheep are safe and secure, cuddle your four-legged companions, and hold a wee piece of metal to protect yourself from fairy frolics. Whether you're a folklore enthusiast or simply looking to experience the magic of Scotland's natural wonders, this episode promises to captivate your heart and imagination. Content warning: This episode includes a description of a person with suicidal thoughts. If you are based in Scotland and require mental health support, check resources here: www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/mental-health/mental-health-support/mental-health-services-at-nhs-24 Independently made in the Highlands, Stories of Scotland is gratefully funded through listener support on Patreon. www.patreon.com/storiesofscotland Thank you all so much for listening to Scotland's most popular history and folklore podcast.