Podcasts about Caledonian

Britain's largest rewilding landscape launches as new charity Vast Highlands initiative to boost nature, re-peopling, rural livelihoods and economic opportunities including sustainable timber, fishing, farming, wildlife tourism The UK's largest rewilding landscape, Affric Highlands, has launched as an independent charity with the aim of restoring nature across more than 200,000 hectares of the central Highlands over the next 30 years, to benefit nature, climate and people. New Affric Highlands initiative to boost nature The community-focused initiative brings together a broad partnership of landowners, local people and others to restore native woodland, peatland and riverside habitats, and boost wildlife across a linked network of landholdings stretching from Loch Ness to the west coast. It will rewild the landscape and allow nature to connect and thrive across large areas - creating social and economic benefits for communities, supporting re-peopling, and tackling the climate and nature emergencies. Affric Highlands will work with local landowners to strengthen land-based rural livelihoods and nature-based economic opportunities, making the region a hub for sustainable timber, fishing, farming, venison and wildlife tourism. This will include the creation of a network of businesses benefitting from rewilding. "Affric Highlands is a community focused vision of hope. It's hugely inspiring to be setting out as a new charity on this ambitious 30-year journey to take large-scale nature recovery to a new level," said Affric Highlands executive director Stephanie Kiel. "We want to create new opportunities and real benefits for local landowners, communities and rural economies, so nature, people and livelihoods can all thrive together." Restoring habitats will boost biodiversity and benefit wildlife including golden eagles, red squirrels, black grouse, mountain hares, salmon, trout, ospreys and otters. The initiative will potentially cover over 700 square miles stretching from Loch Ness to Kintail in the west, and encompassing Glens Cannich, Urquhart, Affric, Moriston and Shiel. The region is stunningly beautiful but largely ecologically damaged, with much land degraded following centuries of deforestation and overgrazing. The globally unique Caledonian forest has been reduced to isolated fragments. Damage to peatlands means they are emitting rather than absorbing carbon. Lochs and rivers are depleted of salmon. This damage to the natural world means the region now supports fewer people than it could - limiting people's opportunities for sustainable land-based jobs, and undermining sustainable agriculture which depends on functioning natural processes. Affric Highlands began work in September 2021, when it also became the ninth member of Rewilding Europe's network of large, iconic rewilding landscapes across Europe. This followed the initiative's first three years of work as Trees for Life's East-West Wild project, during which the charity carried out extensive preparation and local consultation. Affric Highlands has since operated as a joint venture led by Trees for Life with support and advice from Rewilding Europe. The initiative has grown so successfully that it has now been launched as an independent charity, to take forward and upscale its pioneering work. Affric Highlands' growing partnership already consists of a broad coalition of 19 landowners, covering an area of over 58,000 hectares within the vast landscape. These separate landholdings - which have all signed a memorandum of understanding - are making their own decisions on what nature recovery interventions are right for them, with the Affric Highlands team providing guidance and also support for seeking funding. Native woodlands and peatlands are being restored to boost biodiversity and absorb carbon. Riverwoods are being created by returning woodland to the banks of upland streams and rivers to provide vital shade, nutrients and shelter for Scotland's struggling Atl...

Tunes: Straight and Skillern: Paddy Whack Robert Ross: Paddy Whack Sutherland: Paddy Whack Gordon Mooney: Black Hen's Egg Alex MacKay: Black Hen's Egg John MacPherson Mulhollan: Paddy Whack, Jackson's Cassock Peacock: Paddy Whack O'Farrell: Paddy Whack, The Black Joke Hannam: Paddy Whack Steele: Green Joke Riley: While History's Muse Millar: Paddy Whack Roddy Cannon: Paddy Whack (from Millar) Ballad: Polly Oliver Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer: Sweet Peggy Oliver Goodman: The Pig Under the Pot Alexander Glen: Paddy Whack David Glen: Paddy Whack Big Thanks to Vicky for coming in with a song on five minutes notice! Check her and Jonny out here: http://www.swan-dyer.co.uk/ +X+X+ 1775: Paddy Whack From Straight and Skillern https://imslp.org/wiki/204FavouriteCountryDances(Various) +X+X+ 1780: Paddy Whack From Robert Ross's “Choice Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances” https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/104997103 +X+X+ 1780s: Paddy Whack From Sutherland Manuscript https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/archive/rja14/musicfiles/manuscripts/sutherland/suth-pp-1-40.pdf +X+X+ 1823,2025: Black Hen's Egg from Alex MacKay Arranged by Gordon Mooney +X+X+ 1822: Pipe Reel (The Black Hen's Egg) and “Buair bhi's cach na'n cadal Samhach.” “Where the rest are sound asleep” from Celtic Melodies by a Highlander https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/105012283 +X+X+ 1804: Paddy Whack from Selection of Irish and Scots tunes, consisting of airs, marches, strathspeys, country-dances, &c. by John MacPherson Mulhollan. Edinburgh https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/105813397 +X+X+ 1805: Paddy Whack from Peacock's Favorite Collection of tunes https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/archive/rja14/musicfiles/manuscripts/peacock.pdf +X+X+ 1805: Paddy Whack from O'Farrell: https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/87779942 +X+X+ 1807: Paddy Whack from Collection of Highland strathspey reels by John MacFadyen Dedicated to Miss Campbell of Shawfield https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/104408674 +X+X+ 1810: Paddy Whack From Hannam's selection of celebrated Irish melodies https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/87766071 +X+X+ 1819: Green Joke from A New and Complete Preceptor for the German Flute by Steele (Albany, New York) https://imslp.org/wiki/ANewandCompletePreceptorfortheGermanFlute_(Various) +X+X+ 1820: Paddy Whack from Riley's flute melodies, Third volume (New York) https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/ab7b93e0-f959-0139-46b9-0242ac110002#/?uuid=2b1d75b0-2ae4-013a-27f9-0242ac110003 +X+X+ 1830: Paddy Whack from Millar's Manuscript: https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/archive/rja14/musicfiles/manuscripts/millar/pages49-64.pdf +X+X+ 1830: Paddy Whack from Millar's Manuscript: https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/archive/rja14/musicfiles/manuscripts/millar/pages49-64.pdf https://lbps.net/j3site/index.php/archive-issues/68-june-1993/170-rober-millar-lowland-piper +X+X+ Polly Oliver Ballad https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/songs/pollyoliver.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160406051134/http://ballads.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/static/images/sheets/15000/11072.gif +X+X+ 1860s: The Pig Under the Pot from Goodman Manuscript Volume III P. 73 https://projectmirador.org/embed/?iiif-content=https://manuscripts.itma.ie/manifests/TCDMS3196/manifest.json +X+X+ 1870: Paddy Whack from Caledonian repository of music, for the great highland bag pipe Selected by Alexander Glen https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/105011161 +X+X+ 1911: Paddy Whack from Irish tunes for the Scottish and Irish war-pipes : compiled by William Walsh ; arranged by David Glen https://marble.nd.edu/item/001903547 https://marble.nd.edu/item/001903547 (page 8) FIN Here are some ways you can support the show: You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag You can also take a minute to leave a review of the podcast if you listen on Itunes! Tell your piping and history friends about the podcast! Checkout my Merch Store on Bagpipeswag: https://www.bagpipeswag.com/wetootwaag You can also support me by Buying my Albums on Bandcamp: https://jeremykingsbury.bandcamp.com/ You can now buy physical CDs of my albums using this Kunaki link: https://kunaki.com/msales.asp?PublisherId=166528&pp=1 You can just send me an email at wetootwaag@gmail.com letting me know what you thought of the episode! Listener mail keeps me going! Finally I have some other support options here: https://www.wetootwaag.com/support Thanks! Listen on Itunes/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wetootwaags-bagpipe-and-history-podcast/id129776677 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QxzqrSm0pu6v8y8pLsv5j?si=QLiG0L1pT1eu7B5_FDmgGA

With KC away in Osaka, the boys kick off the show with some classic Irish jokes before diving into why our Golf Partner service is a game-changer for solo travelers. As cherry blossoms bloom and the weather warms up, they take a few swings at Rory for his latest mishap at The Players. Plus, Joe shares his thoughts on the Monday playoff. And in big news for golf in Japan, LIV Golf confirms its players will tee it up at the Asian Tour event at Caledonian from May 8-11. And the guys put the spotlight on Kumamoto Golf. Today's Podcast is in association with Titleist:https://golf-in-japan.com/titleist-fitting-experienceMentioned in the podcast:https://golf-in-japan.com/courses/kumamoto

Lukas reads the Apostles, Nicene, Caledonian, and Athenasian Creeds.This is the link to the materials used in for this reading: http://www.prca.org/about/official-standards/creeds/ecumenicalX: @dixiepoliscastEmail: Dixiepolis@protonmail.com

Tá bialann úr oscailte le cúpla mí anuas ar Bhóthar Caledonian i Londain, ‘The Yellow Bittern' agus is é Hugh úinéir na bialainne.

Grab your hot chocolate (or mulled wine!) and get into the festive spirit with our Christmas special as we meet some reindeer, talk Christmas trees and explore a small but mighty wood with huge value for nature in the snowy Cairngorms National Park. We discover fascinating reindeer facts with Tilly and friends at The Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, and step into a winter wonderland at nearby Glencharnoch Wood with site manager Ross. We learn what makes a good Christmas tree, how the wood is helping to recover the old Caledonian pine forest of Scotland, why the site is so important to the community and which wildlife thrive here. You can also find out which tree can effectively clone itself, and is so tasty to insects that it developed the ability to shake them off! Don't forget to rate us and subscribe! Learn more about the Woodland Trust at woodlandtrust.org.uk Transcript You are listening to Woodland Walks, a podcast for the Woodland Trust presented by Adam Shaw. We protect and plant trees for people to enjoy, to fight climate change and to help wildlife thrive.  Adam: Well, today I'm in the Cairngorms in Scotland. In Scottish Gaelic, the area is called – I'm going to give this a go - Am Monadh Ruadh. Apologies for my pronunciation there, but we are in the midst of a mountain range in the Highlands, of Scotland obviously. Generally we're about 1,000 metres high here but the higher peaks I'm told get to about 1,300 metres odd, which is going on for, I don't know, 4,500 foot or so. So this is a very dramatic landscape. We have rocky outcrops, boulders, steep cliffs. It's home to bird species such as the dotterel, snow bunting, the curlew and red grouse, as well as mammals such as mountain hare. But the reason of course we are here this Christmas is because it is also home to Britain's only herd, I think, of reindeer. Now, the reindeer herder is Tilly. She is the expert here and I've been braving, I am braving the snow and icy winds to be introduced to her and the herd. And from there after that, we're going to take a drive to what I'm told is an amazing wooded landscape of Caledonian pine to talk all things pine, and of course, all things Christmas trees. But first of all, let's meet Tilly, who looks after the reindeer.  Adam: OK, we are recording.  Tilly: That's good. OK. I'd better not say anything naughty then.  Adam: I'll cut out any naughtiness, that's fine.  Tilly: This is a bit of a rustly bag. It's more rustly than normal but never mind.  Adam: What do the reindeer actually eat?  Tilly: Well, so. We're now up in their natural habitat and we're looking across a nice heathery hillside with sedges as well. You can just see them poking through the snow and they'll pick away at the old heather of the year and the sedges.  Adam: Right.  Tilly: But we manage the herd and we like to feed them. So what I've got in my bag is some food for them, which they love.  Adam: Right. And what's in your Santa sack of food now?   Tilly: Oh, that's a secret.   Adam: Oh, you can't tell me. Oh, God.  Tilly: No, no. I can tell you. So it's a cereal mix and there is something similar to what you would feed sheep. Bit of barley, bit of sheep mix.  Adam: That's awesome. So not mince pies and carrots? That's only reserved for Christmas Eve. That's probably not very good for them, I would have thought.  Tilly: Yeah, no, I hate to say this, but reindeer don't actually eat carrots.  Adam: Oh right okay, well, that's good to know.  Tilly: But if ever children bring carrots for them, I never turn them away because we're very good at making carrot soup and carrot cake.  Adam: Santa's helpers get the carrots.  Tilly: And I'm absolutely certain that Santa eats all the mince pies, so all good. So anyway, come on through here. We're going now into a 1000-acre enclosure. It just hooks on there, that's perfect, it goes right across. We could actually once we get close to these visitors are coming off from a hill visit this morning. So you'll be pleased to hear that I am the boss. I'm Mrs. boss man and I've been with the reindeer for 43 years. Now, their lifespan is sort of 12 to 15 years, so I've gone through many generations. I've known many lovely reindeer and there's always a favourite and you would have seen some real characters there today. And you couldn't see them in better conditions. Anyway, do get yourself down and warm yourselves up. Oh, you've done very well to bring a little one like that today.  Walker: He did pretty well until now!  Tilly: You've done extremely well. Of course they have. He's got very red, a bit like Rudolph. The thing is there's just that wind, and it's the wind that drops the temperature, that chill factor.  Adam: Yeah. So where are we going, Tilly?  Tilly: So we're heading out towards what we call Silver Mount. They're not in here all year. Different times of year, sometimes they're all free range, some of them are free ranging, some are in here.  Adam: When you speak about free range, literally they can go anywhere?  Tilly: Yes they can.  Adam: And they come back because they know where the food is?  Tilly: Yes they do. They know where the food is, they sort of know where the home is, but they do wander out onto the high ground as well, more in the summertime.   Adam: Right. And is that, I mean Scotland has different rules. There's a right to roam sort of rule here. Does that apply to reindeer? Is that the issue?  Tilly: That is a moot point.  Adam: Oh, really? We've hardly started and I've got into trouble.   Tilly: No. Well, we lease 6000 acres, right? So we lease everything out to the skyline.  Adam: So that's an extraordinary range for them.  Tilly: It is an extraordinary range, but they know no bounds. I have to say reindeer sometimes do just pop over the boundary.  Adam: And that causes problems with the neighbours?  Tilly: Well, some like it, some aren't so keen. And we herd them as well, so we can herd them home. And we herd them by calling them.  Adam: I was going to say, do you have a skidoo, or?  Tilly: No, no. Absolutely no vehicular access on the hill. It's all by Shanks's pony, everywhere.  Adam: Really. So you walk, and then you just ring a bell to herd them, or what do you do?  Tilly: And you ‘loooooow, come on now!' and they come to us.  Adam: Right. And so what was the call again?  Tilly: ‘Looow, come on now!'  Adam: Come on now, is that it? OK, very good. OK, I now move.  Tilly: Yes. But hopefully they won't all come rushing from over there.  Adam: I was going to say, yes, we've now called out the reindeer.  Tilly: We've just joined a cow and calf here, who have just come down to the gate, and you can see just for yourself, they're completely benign. They're so docile and quiet. There's no sort of kicking or pushing or anything. They're very, very gentle creatures.  Adam: And is that because they've been acclimatised because tourists come, or would that be their natural behaviour?  Tilly: It is their natural behaviour, bearing in mind that reindeer have been domesticated for thousands of years. We're not looking at a wild animal here that's got tame. We're looking at a domesticated animal.  Adam: Right.  Tilly: It's probably more used to people than some of the reindeer up in the Arctic. So we have domestication embedded in their genetics.  Adam: So what we're saying is, genetically, they're actually more docile. It's not because this particular reindeer is used to us. But originally then, if one goes back far enough, they were wilder?  Tilly: Yes so, it's a really interesting process of domestication of reindeer, which happened in the Old World, so Russia, Scandinavia, inner Mongolia, outer Mongolia. And that is reindeer and many, many reindeer in these Arctic areas, are domesticated. They're not wild.  Adam: And that started happening, do we have an idea when?  Tilly: Probably about 10,000 years ago. But if you go to the New World, to Alaska and North Canada, exactly the same animal is called a caribou. Caribou are never domesticated. The indigenous people of these areas never embraced the herding and enclosing of reindeer, which was caribou, whereas in the Old World it became very, very important to the men, the people's survival.  Adam: And then the caribou, do they have a different character?   Tilly: Yes, they're wilder. And it's a little bit difficult to show today – you see quite strong colour variation in reindeer, which you don't see in caribou, and colour variation is man's influence on selecting for colour. So you'd get very light coloured ones, you'd get white ones in reindeer, you'd get very dark ones, but in caribou they're all the same, brownie-grey colour. Yeah, they felt that the white reindeer were important in the herd for whatever reasons, Germanic reasons or whatever. Interestingly, the Sámi - and I'm not sure if there could be a white one up in the herd here at the moment - describe them as lazy reindeer, the white ones.  Adam: Why?  Tilly: Well, I didn't know why until I worked out why white reindeer are often deaf. So they sleep, they don't get up when everybody else gets up and moves, and this white reindeer doesn't realise that the herd has left them. So they're not all deaf, but certain white ones are.  Adam: Very important question, obvious but I didn't ask it to begin with because I'm a fool. Why are reindeer connected to Christmas?  Tilly: Well, that's a really good question, because actually they think it stems from a poet called Clement C Moore, who wrote a poem in America, he had Scandinavian Germanic connections, called The Night Before Christmas, where Donder, Blitzen, Cupid, Comet, fly through the air with Saint Nick in the sleigh, the little Santa.  Adam: Yeah.  Tilly: But, so that really set the scene of eight reindeer and the sleigh, and that was based on the Norwegian God Odin, who had eight legs and strode through the sky with these eight legs and eight reindeer. Then we have Rudolph, who turns up, but he doesn't turn up until the time of prohibition in America.  Adam: So Rudolph isn't in the original poem?  Tilly: Absolutely not. Rudolph is an impostor.  Adam: I didn't know that!  Tilly: He, so he, it was a marketing exercise for a department store during alcohol prohibition. And it was Rudolph with his red nose, and his red nose is because of alcohol.  Adam: Because he drank too much? So was it in favour of alcohol or was it going ‘what terrible thing happens to you when you drink'?  Tilly: I'm not terribly sure. But anyway, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was the song, so that adds to it. And then along comes Coca-Cola who used a red and white Santa to promote Coca-Cola at Christmas time. So the red and white Santa is Coca-Cola.  Adam: Right. And the red-nose reindeer is from alcohol and reindeer comes from an actual American poem, of which Rudolph wasn't part of anyway. That's all simple to understand then!  Tilly: Exactly. Perfect.  Adam: Well, we're moving up to some of the more exposed slopes. Tilly has gone ahead. I'm just going to catch up back with her, and ask how she started as one of UK's first reindeer herders. Well, certainly, one of our few reindeer experts.  Tilly: I came up to volunteer and I met the keeper who was looking after the reindeer for Dr Lindgren, who was the lady who brought them in with her husband, Mr Utsi, and he was quite good looking.   Adam: Is this a revelation you wish to make to them?  Tilly: And the reindeer were endearing, and the mountains were superb, and so I married the keeper.  Adam: Right, you did marry him! I thought you were telling me about another man other than your husband.  Tilly: So I married Alan. We married in 1983 and I've been here ever since.  Adam: And so the purpose of having reindeer here originally was what?  Tilly: Ah, good question. Mr Utsi came here and was very taken by the landscape and the environment, the habitat, because it was so similar to his own home country of north Sweden. And he begged the question where are the reindeer? Why are there not reindeer here? And it was on that notion that he and his wife, Dr Lindgren, devoted the latter half of their lives to bringing reindeer back to Scotland.  Adam: So that's interesting. So, it raises the difference of ecological or sort of natural question, of whether these are indigenous animals.  Tilly: Yes. So it's an interesting idea. Certainly, the habitat's available for them and they live in their natural environment. But when they became extinct, or not extinct, but when they weren't in Scotland, some people say as recently as 600 years ago and some people say as long as 2,000 years ago. If it's 2,000 years ago, they're described as a past native.  Adam: So OK, I didn't realise that, but is there any debate around whether they were originally - whatever originally is –  Tilly: They were definitely here.  Adam: So they are native? They're not sort of imported, they have died out and been brought back here.  Tilly: Absolutely. Yeah, yeah, they were reintroduced, but how, what that time span is, some people say sooner than later, and Mr Utsi certainly identified this as a very suitable spot for them.  Adam: Any idea why they might have died out? Do we know?  Tilly: Probably a bit of climate change and also probably hunting. Very easy animal to hunt. Are you OK with this chitter chatter going on?  Adam: Yes, it's all good, and a bit of, do you call it mooing?   Tilly: Oh no, the reindeer aren't making any noise, they're clicking.  Adam: Someone was mooing!  Tilly : I think it was the people.  Adam: I thought it was the reindeer making that noise.   Tilly: Not at all. They're very silent.   Adam: They'd have left this podcast thinking reindeer moo.  Tilly: They would have. Exactly. No, they are really, really silent animals.  Adam: There's a very large reindeer there coming down the road.  Tilly: Oh, that's OK, that's Akubra, he'll do nothing to you at all. He's an absolute genuine reindeer. He's lovely. But he listened to the clicking as they walk. You can't hear it because of your headphones.  Adam: OK, so I guess later on I'll put a microphone on a reindeer. That will be a first. One other thing I always imagined when you saw a set of antlers on a sort of grand Scottish mansion, I thought, oh well, they've killed that the reindeer. And actually, that's not true, is it? They fall off.  Tilly: They do. You're absolutely right. Having it depends how you see the antlers. If the antlers are still on a skull, that animal has been killed and there's nothing wrong with that. There is a, you know, the animals need to be controlled. But you're also right. Antlers are lost every year and regrown again, so they cast their antlers and they regrow their antlers. So in a reindeer's life, if a reindeer is 10 years old, he will have just grown his 11th set of antlers.  Adam: And the purpose of antlers is fighting? I'm a big girl, I'm a big boy, whatever.   Tilly: Yeah, mainly for fighting, a weapon. So for the big breeding males, it's for claiming harem for females, so in the breeding season. And those big breeding bulls will actually lose their antlers around about now, their antlers will fall off and then they won't regrow their antlers until next spring, right? The females, little females like this, keep those boney antlers all winter and they use them for competing for food, so they can jab another reindeer and push it off and they can get into the food as a result.   Adam: The other thing I can notice about some of them, but not the reindeer in front of us, but I think the one walking away, although this looks very bony, the other one has sort of felt on it, and what looks like blood. So what's going on there?  Tilly: Yes. So they are the velvet antlers on the Christmas reindeer that have finished growing, but they don't lose the velvet properly and there is still potentially blood in the bone, as it were.  Adam: So there's this sort of capillary underneath the felt.  Tilly: Yes, exactly, because the antler's a really interesting appendage because it grows from the tip. It doesn't grow from the base, so the blood supply has to go all the way to the tip to grow. And the velvet skin carries that blood supply.  Adam: Right. I see. So now the reindeer in front of us has no velvet so that can't grow.  Tilly: And no blood supply. Exactly. And the only way she can grow, get more antlers or bigger antlers, is to lose the whole thing and grow it again next year. Yes.  Adam: So any other serious facts we should note, to inform ourselves about reindeer?  Tilly: Oh, lots of serious facts. So they're the only deer species where the males and the females grow antlers. Every other deer species, it's only the males that grow the antlers. They are the only deer species that's been domesticated by man. All the other species of deer, we're talking about 40 different species, are all truly wild animals. They can survive in the coldest parts of the world, so in the middle of Siberia, the temperature can go down to -72 and reindeer are still living there quite happily.  Adam: It's cold today, but it's probably -2 or something.  Tilly: Exactly. Yeah, yeah. Man cannot live in the Arctic without an animal to live by, and it's reindeer that he lives by. Man would never have gone into these areas. Obviously now they're all digging up, you know, getting the oil and the gas and everything. But indigenous man can only survive in these areas if he has reindeer as his farm animal of the north, so they're really important to the indigenous people of the north.  Adam: And in that sort of role, then, you can clearly eat reindeer. Then what else does it provide us?  Tilly: Absolutely. So it provides with meat. There are indigenous people that milk them in season. They have these tremendous coats that are used for covering tents and for people's, you know, clothing. And the antlers? Not now, but the antlers would have been used as tools in the past.  Adam: And have you ever had reindeer milk?  Tilly: I have tried, yes, we have milked the odd reindeer for one reason or another. It's very rich, very rich.  Adam: You have! Rich, is that good or quite fatty? Is it drinkable?  Tilly: That's good. Yeah, it's totally drinkable. Totally nice.  Adam: Yeah, I think yaks or a drink made from yaks, which was disgusting, I found in Mongolia, but I really found it difficult. It wasn't my thing.  Tilly: But it wasn't the fermented one, was it? Because in Mongolia they're into fermented mare's milk.   Adam: That might be what I had.  Tilly: And that is revolting.   Adam: Yes, OK, that's maybe what I had. How unusual is reindeer milk then?  Tilly: Yeah. It's got a very high fat content. They produce very little milk, because if you had a great big swinging under in in freezing conditions, you'd have ice cream, you wouldn't have milk.  Adam: The other thing I noticed that we haven't talked about is their hooves which look quite large and they look, I mean just from a distance, quite mobile.  Tilly: Yes. They are very, very, very flexible animals and their feet, their hooves are very big. Of course, for snow. Walking on the snow, spreading the weight, but also great shovels for digging. So they dig. You know, if you're in two feet, three feet of snow in north Sweden, you've got to get to the food underneath and to get to it, they need to dig. So they're great diggers.  Adam: And your life now here. It's quite a change from where you grew up, I appreciate.  Tilly: Certain years, a very rural life I had then. I have an equally country-wise life now. I will go to my grave with reindeer. They are my complete nutter passion. They are the most wonderful animals to be amongst, they put a smile on your face. They live in a beautiful area. They're just, they're just lovely animals and they give me a lot of pleasure. Yeah, yeah.  Adam: Fantastic. And if people are in the Cairngorms and want to have their own trip to see the reindeer, they call the what?  Tilly: They call the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre. You could do it on the website, you can ring us up and they need to dress up. I'm sure you appreciate you, are your feet cold yet?  Adam: No, look, I stopped off and bought extra thermals on my way.  Tilly: Very good.  Adam: Well, thank you very much. It's been a real treat, thank you very much.  Tilly: Brilliant. Oh, well, thank you for coming.  Adam: Well, I'm afraid I'm having to leave the reindeer behind because we're now heading to a little lower ground to see what I'm told is an amazing forest of Caledonian pine. And to learn a bit more about the trees and their relative, the other pine, which we all know as the Christmas tree. And we're off to meet a guy who looks after the Glencharnoch Wood in Carrbridge, near the River Spey and Dulnain. And now, despite it, it's a quite a small forest, I think. But despite that, it's quite well known for being really important, really big on biodiversity. And it's home to a number of species including, but not just them, but including the red squirrel and the crested tit.  Ross: My name's Ross Watson. I'm the site manager for North Scotland for the Woodland Trust.  Adam: Brilliant. Ross, we have come on an extraordinary day. It has snowed. It looks picturesque, chocolate box, shortbread box maybe, type stuff, so fantastic. So just tell me where we are.  Ross: Well, we're in Glencharnoch wood. It's a wood that the Woodland Trust owns and it's part of a series of little woodlands on the back of Carrbridge between Carrbridge and the railway. And the Woodland Trust has had it for a number of years. It's a little site, only 36 acres, but it's a pine wood site and a really important pine wood site at that, in that it's a small part of much bigger Caledonian forests.  Adam: OK. Well, I want to talk to you about pine wood, because I think it just sort of gets dismissed – ‘oh this pine wood, not important, not interesting'. Apart from Christmas, perhaps, when suddenly it becomes really important, but I want to unpack all of that with you, but just explain to you we're going to go on a little walk. Hopefully you know where you're going. Good. All right, so just explain a bit about where we're going, give me a sense of the pattern of where we're going.  Ross: Absolutely. We're going to take a circular walk around the woodlands. The woodlands here, it's all about community. Everything we do here is around that tree. We're going to walk through a piece of land that's owned by the local authority and then go through our own land and onto privately owned land and then come back to our own land. And it really shows the connectivity of all these different habitats, all the different landowners. But really the path network is there for the community that's here and they are involved in practice as well.  Adam: So. Pine wood. Yeah, it sort of gets bunched all together, and especially the Scots pine I hear a lot about. But there are there are big, big differences and varieties are there? Tell me a bit about them.  Ross: The Scots pine we are walking through are really special species. That's the only native conifer in the UK, right? And that's why they're so special here. Really these Scots pine provide their own habitat all of their own. They're incredibly threatened. As a habitat in Scotland, we've got just a number of Caledonian pine inventory sites. We've got ancient woodlands, designated sites.  Adam: Sorry, just to stop you - Caledonian pine, Scots pine, interchangeable words?  Ross: Yeah, good point. The Great Wood of Caledon was the reference of the name of the forest that was here, the old, the original boreal forest that gradually reduced in size. Partly through climate change as the country became cooler and wetter, but also through human intervention through felling, fires, grazing, all that kind of thing. So now we tend to talk about Scots pine and Cally pine which can be fairly interchangeable, but the Cally pine tends to be the bigger, grander kind of granny pines, these really lovely old things you see in some of the landscapes.  Adam: But that's sort of just the way people use the word. Technically, they're the same thing, but we refer to the Caledonian pine as the big grand ones, and it comes from… so I just want to make sure I understood what you said. The word Caledonian pine then comes from a Caledonian, a forest called Caledonia?   Ross: Yeah, the Great Wood of Caledon.   Adam: Isn't that a brilliant name? So mystical and it sort of talks of Tolkien and other worlds. Wow, wow. OK. So we have the great Scots pine, the Caledonian pine. If people have a general thing in their mind about pine trees, what is special about Caledonian pine? How that distinguishes from pines in other parts of the world.  Ross: Well, Scots pine, as we're walking through this woodland, just now as you look up the trunks of the trees, as you look up the bark tends to go from a kind of grey-brown to a real kind of russety red, like a red squirrel colour. And that's a lot of the red squirrel camouflage comes from that, that rusty colour. So they're skittering around these treetops and they can be jumping around and they're nice and camouflaged because of that colour. So is that redness that you really see? But what we can see in here, a lot of these trees are very even age, it has been quite heavily thinned in the past, but then you come across a tree like this that's got a very deep crown. So you see there's live branches more than halfway down that tree, whereas there's a lot of these other trees -  Adam: Yes, I was going to say it's weird that they've got no foliage until very high.  Ross: Yeah, so this tree here, and foresters may call this a wolf tree, a tree that has occupied a space and it's just sat there and doesn't allow anything around it.   Adam: It's called a wolf tree?  Ross: Some people would refer to it as a wolf tree. What we would refer to that is it's a deep crown tree, not very imaginatively named, but a deep crown tree is really important here because of capercaillie. Now, capercaillie, you imagine a capercaillie's a big bird, a turkey-sized bird, almost waist height, a male capercaillie. And in the winter it will walk out across these branches and it will nibble away at some of the needles, and it will sit there and it will rely on that during deep snow for shelter, security, food. So without these deep crown trees, there isn't anywhere for them to go. So if you imagine a plantation, a very dense pine that are much denser than this and they don't have the chance for any deep crown trees. Then the opportunity for capercaillie here is much reduced.  Adam: Right. So there's sort of, I mean, look the elephant in the room. Well, it's Christmas around the corner. People have Christmas trees. Sort of most people know anything about pine, it's because they have it in their house at Christmas. That's not a Scots pine.  Ross: No, your traditional Christmas tree is a Nordmann fir. A fir tree tends to hold onto needles a little longer than a pine tree. And if you look after the pine, it will retain its needles, but quite often the pine trees will grow slightly too quickly, so it'll be a bit bare as a Christmas tree, whereas a fir tree is kind of hairy enough to be a good Christmas tree.  Adam: Right. And do we have, do we have them planted in the UK as well? I mean just for commercial cropping?  Ross: Yes, as a Christmas tree.  Adam: Right. So the other thing, look, we're in a really lovely forest at the moment. We're the only ones here. But Scotland, the iconic pictures of Scotland, are bare, bare mountains, aren't they? They're not wooded, and yet I've always read that that's not how it used to be. It used to be a wooded part of the country. Why did it lose so much of its woodland?  Ross: Well, it's looking back to, what, centuries ago as the climate became cooler and wetter, the tree line reduced in height. But more recently in the 1800s the Cultural Revolution created huge periods of felling where they needed this timber for industrialization. Trees from the woodlands near here were cut down, they were floated down to the river Spey and then out to Spey Bay and the Moray coast. They were used for underground water piping for ship's masts. Because these trees are, as you can feel today it's a cold place to be, they've grown very slowly. So because they're nice and straight as we can see, they are, the rings are very close together, so they're very sturdy. They're an ideal timber source. But then we start to look at deer numbers increasing and sheep numbers increasing. The more mouths on the hill meant that once you cut these trees down, it was much harder for the trees to come away again. And really, that's the landscape we're in now really. And when we're talking about those very large, deep crowned trees on open hillsides, these kind of granny pines are so picturesque, and really a lot of these trees, there was no timber value in them because they were already so crooked and they were left, and this is almost a remnant that's showcasing the old forest that once was standing there.  Adam: A lot of times, site managers, they're trying to keep things steady in a way, I suppose. Just trying to maintain what's going, keep that going, that's hard enough. Is that the job here or do you have bigger plans? Are there, you know, times are changing?  Ross: Well, this is one of eight woodlands I look after across the north of Scotland. Whenever we're doing anything, no matter what the scale of it, it's not just how do we keep the site going and kind of steady. It's about when we are doing work, how do we add value to that to make it better for the people that are living here? And how do we use that to continue to showcase these sites as the shop window for the Woodland Trust?  Adam: And is the idea here to try and remove the non-Scots pine, so you'd have a pure Scots pine forest?  Ross: Well, the Woodland Trust works on a on a threat basis really. So any tree is better than no tree, right? But if you have got a lot of spruce regeneration that's threatening this ancient wood then we need to begin to remove that. And that's been the case here.  Adam: Sorry I'm pausing because there's a lovely spaniel who I can see wants me to throw a stick, but I won't throw the stick. Very cool dog. There we are. Sorry, we were saying yes, so any tree is better than no tree. But are the other trees a threat then or not?  Ross: Well, the Norway spruce here has been seeding regeneration into the woodland areas and over the last few years we've cleared a lot of that and in some of these nice young spruce, we've been able to provide to the community for Christmas trees, which has been really handy. But all of that is gone now and we're left with this core of, of mature Norway spruce, that a number of them have started to snap so are becoming a safety issue for members of the public using footpaths next to it. But also there's an opportunity there where before that timber dies, we can extract it and it can be useful for the community.  Adam: And you'd replace it with Scots pines.  Ross: No, we're going to replace it predominantly with hazel and aspen. Because one of the slight concerns in having a single species stand, like we have here, where it's all Scots pine, is that there's only one species for the likes of red squirrels or the crossbills. And on a day like today we might hear crossbows coming over. There's only one species here for them, whereas if we're planting hazel, which is under-represented species here, that provides a different food for red squirrels in a different part of the woodland. And aspen is one of the most biodiverse species that we would have in this part of the world. And there are very, very few aspen.  Adam: When you say it's the most biodiverse species, you mean it attracts biodiversity?  Ross: Absolutely yes. In terms of the lower plant assemblage that's on there specifically and insects. And aspen, their Latin name is Populus tremula and the tremula comes from the oval shape on the leaf. Just in the slightest breeze, it's adapted that to try and shake off the insect burden because the leaves are so palatable for insects.  Adam: So the shape of the leaf in wind -  Ross: The shape of this stock of the leaf is oval.  Adam: And that helps shift any insects.   Ross: Yeah, yeah.   Adam: It's interesting because aspen, in my ignorance, I associate with aspen in America, but it's a native UK tree.  Ross: It is, yeah. And it will be one of the first colonisers after the Ice Age. That's, an aspen will have, the seed will have blown down as the ice is receding. But some of the aspen that are here now will be some of the oldest trees that exist in the UK and aspen generally now grows rhizomatously, so you'll see the roots through the forest and all of the suckers will pop out. And the aspen that we can see in the woodland today, they could have been here for hundreds, maybe thousands of years, and they've just, as the clone has marched through the landscape, it's just it's moved and colonised these different areas. They're fascinating trees. So when you look at some of the images in North America, you might see entire hillsides of aspen and that could all be the same tree essentially, they're amazing organisms.  Adam: That's amazing. So it's sort of cloning really.   Ross: Yeah, absolutely.  Adam: That's amazing. And also I can see right on the Scots pine behind you, beautiful lichen, which is just a real sign of the air quality here, isn't it? I mean, it doesn't grow and it's just often further south. We do see lichen, obviously, but often I see a bit. This is everywhere. It's a real sign this is good land.  Ross: Absolutely, yeah.  Adam: Good land, good air. Wonderful. Well, I'm going to take another shot of our colleague down below. Hello. Wearing a lovely red hat, almost looks like Santa. And then we'll move on. So we're going uphill a bit, you might just hear the snow crunching under my boots. So this is amazing. A wolf peeking out from the woods, which adds to the fairy tale quality of all of this forest walk. This is not a real wolf. This is carved in wood. It looks really beautiful and it's covered in snow at the moment, which maybe is why I didn't spot it at first. So what's the story here?  Ross: Well, the story here is that Carrbridge hosts the Scottish chainsaw carving competition every year at the end of August, and there are chainsaw artists coming from all over the world to compete here to do some incredibly elaborate carvings. They do benches and three-to-four-metre statues and it's absolutely incredible.   Adam: This is very delicate that I'm surprised this would be done with a chainsaw.  Ross: Yeah, it's a very specialist skill as you can see, and people have to be very artistic. You have to be very good with the saw, but also the bar of the saw is a specialist carving tool. But then they also can use all sorts of other implements to try and refine the artwork itself. And this is just one part of that much larger chainsaw carving trail that's in Carrbridge that really commemorates this annual event.  Adam: Amazing. Well, we'll leave the wolf. It's got even a little dark nose. Amazing. A little dog, a real dog this time. Well, yes, just to prove it. We've just seen some reindeer. Obviously they're a type of deer. Are they as much of a problem as the normal red deer that we know about? So what's your view on them?  Ross: Well, red deer, the numbers are extremely high in some places and in the Cairngorms, they're generally much better managed. But in other places where there just isn't that, that integration or the objectives are yet to be aligned with protected areas, the numbers in those places need to come down, but recognising that there are different objectives, there are different landowners who want to do different things with land. So in recognising and respecting those objectives, but generally, ideal numbers need to come down and they need to come down a lot in order for trees and woodland to recover.  Adam: But that's deer in general, just because it's Christmas, I just have reindeer on the mind. You don't see many reindeer here. Or any reindeer here?  Ross: No, you see them up in the Cairngorms, right?   Adam: Right. Another pitstop. I see some lichen with some snow on it. I should turn them into Christmas cards. I won't, but that's what I should do. So if there was a sort of a final thought you wanted people to take away about this forest or about Caledonian pines you're trying to protect and grow here, what might that be?  Ross: Well, for this woodland, and as I say, it's only 36 acres in size, it's a fairly small wood. But it's not to discount that, and we talk about the hundreds of ants nests, the crossbills, the crested tits, it's woodlands like this can punch way above their weight. But also woodlands like this connected together provide a much larger, integrated robust habitat. And it's just thinking along these lines that this, this woodland, although it has the A9 on one side, it's got roads on two other sides, it's got a forest adventure park there and to the other side, it feels like a woodland that could be squeezed, but it can also feel like a woodland that is a part of this much larger landscape and contributing to that. And I suppose in part it depends on how you view that, yeah. But the woodland is connected to its woodlands round about, so it's definitely playing its part and part of that recovery of the old Caledonian pine forest of Scotland, as small as it is.  Adam: It's been a real treat for you to guide us through it on such a special snowy Christmas-y day. So thank you very much indeed.   Ross: No problem.   Adam: Well, it's been a fantastic day. Which leaves me just say from the land of reindeer and Caledonian pine, can I wish you a very happy, peaceful and joyous Christmas and New Year? And I do hope that wherever you are, you are able to share the joy of this season and that you'll join us in the New Year for lots more podcasts and tree adventures. Until then, from all of us in the Woodland Trust podcast team, to all of you, can we wish you a happy Christmas and a great New Year and of course, happy wanderings.  Thank you for listening to the Woodland Trust Woodland Walks. Join us next month when Adam will be taking another walk in the company of Woodland Trust staff, partners and volunteers. And don't forget to subscribe to the series on iTunes or wherever you are listening. And do give us a review and a rating. If you want to find out more about our woods and those that are close to you, check out the Woodland Trust website. Just head to the visiting woods pages. Thank you. 

The Caledonian orogeny is one of the most recent extinct mountain-building events. It took place in several phases during the three-way collision of continental blocks called Laurentia, Baltica, and Avalonia during the early stages of the assembly of the supercontinent Pangea. In the process, Himalayan-scale mountains were formed. While these mountains have been worn down today, we still see plenty of evidence for their existence in locations straddling the Atlantic and the Norwegian Sea. In the podcast, Rob Strachan describes the tectonic movements that led to the orogen and explains how we can reconstruct the sequence of events that occurred and what we can learn about today's mountain-forming processes by studying the exhumed rocks of ancient orogens. Strachan has studied the rocks of the Caledonian orogen for over 40 years, focusing on unraveling the history of the orogen in what is Scotland today.  He is Emeritus Professor of Geology at the University of Portsmouth.

The insurance company Royal London entered the Irish market in 2011 when it took over Caledonian life but it's been around for more than 150 years. It now sells life insurance products and is one of the fastest growing insurers in the market. But how does it grow in a much smaller market and how does it compete with the bigger boys such as Irish life? Noel Freeley is the chief executive of Royal London Ireland and joined Joe this morning in studio.

What better way to usher in St Andrew's Day than with cosmopolitan Glaswegians, Low Level Monk!Here at MLPP we've been instantly hooked on their melodies and pumped up by their mid-life angst and we hope that you'll like 'em too!We discuss cover bands, tribute bands, long back syndrome, day drinking over night drinking, the current crop of Caledonian punk bands and much more besides.Tom has a gig report featuring former guests, Niall has the Scottish weather update and we once again attempt to unpack the upcoming nuclear holocaust. Happy St Andrew's Day, everybody.Music this week is courtesy of: The Troops, Discharge, Blitz, The Real McKenzies and Propagandhi.

Pierre Näsman träffar oceanseglaren Tomas "Tompa" Kjell för en recap. Vi pratar om nya båten, ändrade planer, Nordsjön, ofrivilligt badande, The Caledonian canal samt att hitta besättning. Är du intresserad av att segla med som besättning så går det fint att höra av sig till Tompa här. Tompas Garcia54 kan du se här, när jag besöker honom på marinan.

This week, John Dorney joins us in northern Scotland to investigate the disappearance of the Ninth Legion — only to discover that there are things here even more terrible than the Roman army, things that can only be fought with trust and empathy and music. It's The Eaters of Light. Notes and links Crash (2004) starts with a voiceover by Don Cheadle, laying out the terms of the metaphorical link between car crashes and human interactions generally. It's not a very popular movie, not only because of its superficial approach to issues of race, but also because it won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Picture instead of Brokeback Mountain. Richard mentions American YA fiction writer Scott Westerfield, particularly the Uglies series with its teenage protagonist. He also mentions William Golding's 1954 novel Lord of the Flies, where a group of schoolchildren stranded without adults on a deserted island, quickly revert to savagery. Brian Vernel was born in 1990, so he was 26 or 27 when he played Lucius in this episode, and 32 when he played far-right extremist Curly in the first season of Slow Horses in 2022. Kar's speech about the depredations of the Roman Army is taken from the Agricola by Tacitus, a short biography of his father-in-law, chronicling, among other things his campaigns in northern Britain. Tacitus depicts the Caledonian leader Calgacus making the speech just before the Battle of Mount Graupius, in which his forces were defeated by the Romans. You can read the speech in translation here. This week's monster is based on very common depictions found in Pictish carvings of an animal called the Pictish Beast. Some depictions are found among the carvings seen in this episode. Tania Bell is a companion to the Eighth Doctor, first appearing in Big Finish's Stranded in 2020 — the first transgender companion to appear in Doctor Who. She is played by Rebecca Root. John has written five stories for Tania: her second story Wild Animals, as well as The Long Way Round, What Just Happened?, Best Year Ever and Flatpack (in which she meets Christopher Ecclston's Ninth Doctor). John writes for Michelle Gomez as Missy in Divorced, Beheaded, Regenerated and in Too Many Masters. Follow us Nathan is on Bluesky at @nathanbottomley.com and Brendan is at @retrobrendo.bsky.social; Richard is on X as @RichardLStone. The Flight Through Entirety theme was arranged by Cameron Lam. You can follow Flight Through Entirety on Mastodon and Bluesky, as well as on X and Facebook. Our website is at flightthroughentirety.com. Please consider rating or reviewing us on Apple Podcasts, or we'll unleash the scary puppy the next time you come over for a coffee. And more You can find links to all of the podcasts we're involved in on our podcasts page. But here's a summary of where we're up to right now. 500 Year Diary is our latest new Doctor Who podcast, going back through the history of the show and examining new themes and ideas. Its first season came out early this year, under the title New Beginnings. Check it out. It will be back for a second season early in 2025. The Second Great and Bountiful Human Empire has broadcast our hot takes on every new episode of Doctor Who since November last year, and it will be back again in 2025 for Season 2. In the most recent episode of Maximum Power, Pete and Si interviewed two of the people involved in the creation of the new Blakes 7 Series 1 blu-ray box set — filmmakers Chris Chapman and Chris Thompson. We'll be back to cover Series D next month. And finally there's our Star Trek commentary podcast, Untitled Star Trek Project, featuring Nathan and friend-of-the-podcast Joe Ford. This week, we marvelled at a clever and enjoyable episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in which a new Emissary turns up and Miles welcomes Keiko back to the station — Accession.

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...

In this special episode Nati takes you to Lochmaddy in North Uist to discover some fragments of the fascinating history of Caledonian MacBrayne which goes all the way back to 1851. Back in the studio Coinneach and Nati have a special guest. We hear from; Mary Morrison (Port Manager at Lochmaddy) John MacDonald (Owner of the exhibition artefacts and calmac employee and enthusiast) Norman MacLeod (Operations Manager at Taigh Chearsabhagh and Curator of the exhibition) Iain Quinn (Volunteers on the world's last remaining sea-faring paddle-steamer, The Waverley) Thank you for listening to the Caledonian MacBrayne podcast. You can find out more about Scotland's west coast destinations and all topics discussed in this episode at calmac.co.uk/podcast

A recent report showed that almost a quarter of all ancient pinewoods are at risk of disappearing altogether. Earlier this week, Mark attended Scotland's Pinewood Conference in Fort William to find out what's being done to preserve these woodlandsIt's prime cider making time. Rachel visits Digby Lamotte at his cider making business in Perth to follow the process of producing this increasingly popular drinkIn the late 1700s, Dr James Mounsey, a physician, is said to have smuggled out several pounds of rhubarb seeds - worth more than gold - out of Russia to his home of Edinburgh, where he was soon honoured with the Freedom of the City. Author Barclay Price has written about James Mounsey and others in his new book Honoured by EdinburghThe North Coast 500,a hugely popular tourist route in the North of Scotland, attracts thousands of visitors each year. David Richardson of the NC 500 joins the programme to talk about the new NC500 pledge - an initiative created to encourage visitors to experience the route responsibly and respectfullyKiri Stone is the person behind woodswoman workshops in Fife. Rachel went along to one of the outdoors workshopsTracey Howe has just embarked on 5000 mile walk round the UK coastline. Following the death of her wife of nearly 40 years, Tracey found herself depressed and unable to leave the house but owning a dog forced her to get outside. Linda Sinclair met Tracey on one her final training walks

Scotland, known for its rugged landscapes, misty lochs and ancient castles, also boasts a rich diversity of tree species that contribute to its unique and picturesque scenery. From the iconic Caledonian pine forests to the delicate rowans scattered across the highlands, Scotland's trees are an integral part of its natural heritage, besides playing a crucial role in the country's ecology. But what are these trees and what are they called? Read this article here: wordforest.org/2024/08/26/exploring-scotlands-diverse-tree-species-a-glimpse-into-the-countrys-arboreal-riches/ Donate to our fight against the climate crisis here: ⁠wordforest.org/donate/

In today's episode, a private construction project by a well-connected Greek Cypriot architect has sparked protests after appropriating a waterfall on Kryos Potamos, a Troodos river known for the Caledonian and Millomeri falls. Meanwhile, the government has urged the Electricity Authority to implement immediate measures to reduce the risk of fires caused by faulty equipment or power cables. Elsewhere, since April, the British bases have issued €8,700 in fines for the illegal use of hunting dogs in game reserve areas, emphasising a strict zero-tolerance policy. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

Welcome to the Wyness Shuffle. The ICTFC fan podcast, the podcast with fireworks! On this pod: the physical departure of now ex ICT CEO Scot Gardiner, the long sought after and awaited return of former ICT Chairman Alan Savage, has Ketan Makwana been phygitally fudged, CEO Charlie Christie!, the views of the Supporter's Trust, some stuff about some football games, plus 30 years-worth of ICT references packed into 2 hours and 13 minutes of wild conjecture and mild distraction. Let's shuffle! LINE-UP 01.00: Boom! Fireworks and hellos. 02.00 The Headlines. Moff runs through a summary of events since the last podcast. Scot Gardiner is gone, Ketan Makwana has sailed away, and Alan Savage is the King! The boys provide their initial reactions and for the first time in many many months there is joy on this podcast! 13.09: Alan Savage! The one-time Chairman during one of our most successful spells has returned to the club, booted out Scot Gardiner, got rid of 77Ventures and provided some much needed sanity at Caledonian Stadium. The panellists discuss his return.  21.05: Talk2Me. The Supporter's Trust. Moff speak to George Moodie from the ICT Supporter's Trust. George outlines the great relationship between the Trust and Alan Savage and how he sees events going over the next few months.  51.30: Scot Gardiner. His five year term as ICT CEO is over, reported by the Scottish Sun to have ‘come to and end minutes after Alan Savage rejoined the club. We go through the most recent aspects of his reign.  1.04.18: Ketan Makwana and Seventy7 Ventures. Only last month we were all getting phygital, he was all over the papers and social media, he had a meeting with the manager, and now he's sailing away into the Dubai sunshine. Join us for some fun-sense.  1.11.25: Talk2Me: Charlie Christie. 314 games and 34 goals for ICTFC from 94/95 – 03/04. Managed the team from January 2006 until August 2007. Played for Caledonian. Played for Thistle. As a player won the Challenge Cup, won the Third Division, won the First Division. And now ICTFC CEO. Stevie spoke to Charlie Christie. 1.38.45: Game by Game. All in all this season that's 1 win in 7 games. We analyse the league action to date with the games v Dumbarton, Annan, and Montrose.  1.53.33: League Lookahead. It's a very tough round of fixtures coming up, albeit against teams you would think an ICT side would be beating. We judge our chances versus Kelty, Queen of the South, and Alloa. 2.06.00: Whatyousayinmun? A view from the terraces from ICT fans Beth Kemp, Lynn Macdonald, Mike Macrae and Hamish Maclennan. 2.10.37: Final thoughts on the myriad of Caley Thistle stuff and maybe a phygital quote to finish. There's it.   

Elvis McGonagall is a stand-up poet, comedian and broadcaster. Two series of his sitcom “Elvis McGonagall Takes A Look On The Bright Side” have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 where he appears regularly as well as popping up occasionally on the television. Elvis is the 2006 World Poetry Slam Champion, the compere of The Blue Suede Sporran Club and performs at literary and music festivals, comedy and cabaret clubs, pubs and dodgy dives up and down the country and abroad, including appearances at: Edinburgh Fringe and Glastonbury Festival where he was poet-in-residence in 2007. Elvis also gigs with his band The Resurrectors “an unholy marriage of radical stand-up poetry and Caledonian punkabilly rock ‘n roll”. In 2015 Elvis made the “Hot 100” - The List magazine's annual run-down of Scotland's “hottest cultural contributors”. A collection of his poems from 2003 to 2017 entitled “Viva Loch Lomond!” was published in 2017 and a second volume entitled “Complete & Utter Cult!” was published in December 2020. Elvis McGonagall is guest number 417 on My Time Capsule and chats to Michael Fenton Stevens about the five things he'd like to put in a time capsule; four he'd like to preserve and one he'd like to bury and never have to think about again .Get tickets for Elvis McGonagall's Edinburgh show here - https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/elvis-mcgonagall-gin-catatonic .Follow Elvis McGonagall Twitter: @ElvisMcGonagall .Follow My Time Capsule on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook: @MyTCpod .Follow Michael Fenton Stevens on Twitter: @fentonstevens & Instagram @mikefentonstevens .Produced and edited by John Fenton-Stevens for Cast Off Productions .Music by Pass The Peas Music .Artwork by matthewboxall.com .This podcast is proud to be associated with the charity Viva! Providing theatrical opportunities for hundreds of young people. Get bonus episodes and ad-free listening by becoming a team member with Acast+! Your support will help us to keep making My Time Capsule. Join our team now! https://plus.acast.com/s/mytimecapsule. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First rewilding job creation statistics for Scotland come as Rewilding Nation calls grow Rewilding has boosted job numbers at sites across Scotland by more than 400% while tackling the nature and climate emergencies, new research by Rewilding Britain shows. An analysis of 13 major rewilding projects covering almost 60,000 hectares between them has revealed a 412% increase in jobs since rewilding began. The varied sample includes sites owned or managed by charities, communities, private landowners, and public bodies. Rewilding also bringing employment opportunities too The first findings of their kind for Scotland come as calls grow for the Scottish Government to declare Scotland the world's first Rewilding Nation and commit to nature recovery across 30% of land and sea. "These remarkable job creation figures show how rewilding can turbocharge social and economic benefits for people, while offering hope for reversing biodiversity loss and tackling climate breakdown," said Kevin Cumming, Rewilding Britain's Rewilding Director and Deputy Convenor of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance. "This is yet another powerful illustration of why the Scottish Government should declare Scotland a Rewilding Nation. The choice and the opportunity for the country is huge - for jobs and local economies, and for better health, food production, re-peopling, and access to fresh water and clean air." Full-time equivalent jobs across the rewilding sites have increased five-fold from 24 before rewilding began to 123 now. The variety of jobs has boomed too, and includes nature-based hospitality and tourism, estate management, ecology, environmental monitoring, rewilding interventions, recreation, and education. Benefits for people's health and wellbeing, and opportunities for gaining valuable skills and experience, have also surged thanks to combined volunteer numbers at the sites increasing from zero to 435. The sites began rewilding at different times, and are all over 100 hectares in size. Together they cover a total of 59,496 hectares, of which 43,233 hectares are rewilding. They are all members of the Rewilding Britain-managed Rewilding Network, which brings together and supports projects across Britain. The largest recorded rise in jobs is at Trees for Life's 4,000-hectare Dundreggan estate near Loch Ness. Since the rewilding charity's purchase of the former deer stalking estate in 2008, jobs have soared from one to 36, while volunteer numbers have risen from zero to 100. At Dundreggan, Trees for Life is restoring the Caledonian forest and its wildlife. Last year, the charity opened the world's first Rewilding Centre on the estate in the Highlands, to showcase how rewilding can give people inspiring experiences, create jobs and benefit rural communities. At the community-owned Tarras Valley Nature Reserve in Dumfries and Galloway, jobs have already risen from one to six. The 4,250-hectare nature restoration project on Langholm Moor was created after the town of Langholm raised £6m to buy the former grouse moor between 2020-2022. The pioneering buyout led to the creation of the vast new reserve to support community regeneration, address climate breakdown, and restore nature. Emerging opportunities include conservation grazing, regenerative farming, restoration of peatlands and native woodlands, and eco-tourism. Rewilding Britain will continue to add new job creation data from a growing number of rewilding sites as it becomes available. Despite growing praise for its rewilding progress, Scotland is one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth. Intensive agriculture and climate breakdown are having the biggest impacts on habitats and wildlife, with other threats including non-native forestry, pollution, and introduced species, research shows. The Scottish Rewilding Alliance's Rewilding Nation Charter at www.rewild.scot/charter, calling on the Scottish Government to declare Scotland a rewilding nation, was launched this spring and has already bee...

Operating airplanes is a TOUGH business! Complicated machines, delicate financing structures, ever changing asset values, and other complexities that can tank even the best run operations. This is why it's impossible to democratize business aviation.   Because owning a business jet company is sexy, it is easy to become overly emotional and focus on what makes you look good. But, it is a numbers business and operators who don't stay disciplined will often find themselves in a lot of trouble. The secret according to AirX's founder, John Matthews? Take let data drive your decisions.   How do you set a charter business up for success?   What are some of the mistakes jet operators are making? In this episode, John talks about the journey the company has taken, from their fascinating beginnings, to picking routes and building a very unique fleet and what it takes to survive and thrive in a tough business.   I became extremely analytical when I started to lose money, and that's how we started making money. -John Matthews       Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode    -Why AirX stopped flying to America The routes you fly are critical to your success in the charter business. What are the differences between the American and European marketplaces?    -The only way to survive and thrive The asset market is going to soften and we've seen a sharp rise in the charter jet global inventory. What approach does AirX take to expanding their fleet? What are some of the creative aircraft they've assembled?   -Data-driven decisions only In an industry like charters, it's really easy to make decisions based on emotion. Why is it critical to be analytical instead?     Guest Bio   John Matthews is the Chairman of AirX. Beginning at the age of 17, John Matthews managed the operations of a 20-plane flying school. At the age of 18, He started a twin piston engine aircraft charter business for the executive charter market. John also earned a contract with Caledonian Airways to manage 13 Tri-Stars and two DC10s around the world, providing all technical ground support and flying critical spare parts to Caledonian in AOG circumstances. By the age of 19, John had advanced his career by starting his own operation with 10-seater twin engine aircraft. Healix, the UK's largest repatriation company, also hired him to fly medical relief flights. AirX was founded because a family-run business purchased the wrong assets during the boom. John took over operations, and within months of his leadership, the company was brought back from the brink of bankruptcy, building a new tier in Malta as the company's new HQ, which began in 2010 since then the annual turnover increased from €8 million to €150 million, with zero EBITDA to €25 million and cash generation of roughly €8 million in 2023, a record year. AirX has grown its clientele to include over 250 notable international celebrities, the majority of whom are return customers, including royal families, politicians, government flights, music tours, sports teams, and mission flights. For more information, go to https://www.airx.aero/.  Learn More About Your Host:   Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well-known aircraft OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.    Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes, AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.

The Caledonian Orchestra of Nova Scotia has been active in the province since 1993. The group rehearses and performs traditional sounds of 'Old Scotland' in different communities across the province. Mainstreet's Alex Guye went to one of their rehearsals last month, to hear what the group is all about and why its members, including 90-year-old conductor Nelson Ferguson, are still so passionate about it.

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Kevin and Kieran speak to Caledonian Braves chairman Chris Ewing about their campaign to sell a 25% stake in the club to fans around the world. Follow Kevin on X - @kevinhunterday Follow Kieran on X - @KieranMaguire Follow Producer Guy on X - @guykilty Follow The Price of Football on X - @pof_pod Send in a question: questions@priceoffootball.com Support The Price of Football on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/priceoffootball Check out the Price of Football merchandise store: https://the-price-of-football.backstreetmerch.com/ Visit the website: https://priceoffootball.com/ The Price of Football is a Dap Dip production: https://dapdip.co.uk/ contact@dapdip.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new project from Trees for Life and Woodland Trust Scotland aims to discover Scotland's 'lost' native pinewoods - home to wild Scots pines with an ancestry that can be traced back to the end of the last ice age - so they can be saved and restored before it's too late. What are Scotland's 'lost' native pinewoods? Caledonian pinewoods are globally unique and support rare wildlife including red squirrels, capercaillie and crossbills. Yet less than 2% of the Caledonian forest, which once covered much of the Highlands, survives. Just 84 individual Caledonian pinewoods are now officially recognised, having been last documented more than a quarter of a century ago. But Woodland Trust Scotland and Trees for Life have become aware of other lost wild pinewoods, and from historical documents and anecdotal reports, more are thought to exist. The charities have teamed up to identify and save these forgotten pinewoods through the Wild Pine Project, beginning with the western Highlands, where Scots pines form part of Scotland's rare temperate rainforest. Wild pinewoods have declined over the centuries, and today their recovery is often hindered by overgrazing by herbivores. "Lost pinewoods are at particular risk because they are unrecognised and undocumented. We want to find them, assess their condition, and revive them before they are lost forever," said Jane Sayers, Wild Pine Project Officer. "Finding these pinewoods requires a lot of detective work. They are often small and remote, hidden in ravines safe from deer. Pines, or their remains, are often found scattered among birchwood too." The Wild Pine Project is identifying lost pine sites by tracing their history through the centuries using historical evidence, including maps which date as far back as the 1500s. Once potential sites are found, historical, ecological and landscape evidence will help establish whether they are wild or planted, and their health and resilience will be assessed. The charities will then work for the recognition and recovery of the discovered wild pinewoods, including by presenting findings to landowners and managers. The unique status of Caledonian pinewood was first documented by HM Steven and A Carlisle in their 1959 book, The Native Pinewoods of Scotland, which included 35 sites. In the 1990s, the then Forestry Commission Scotland compiled a register, which became the Caledonian Pinewood Inventory. Last updated in 1998, the Inventory recognises 84 sites. Last year, a major Trees for Life study into the health of 72 of these known pinewoods concluded many are on a 'knife-edge' - with high deer numbers, non-native conifers, lack of long-term management, and climate breakdown representing major threats to their survival. The rewilding charity is calling on the Scottish Government to help tackle the nature and climate emergencies through landscape-scale action to save the woodlands, including through targeted funding for restoration and major reductions in deer numbers. The need for urgent upscaling of political and public action to save the Caledonian pinewoods was spotlighted by a parliamentary debate held in the Scottish Parliament on 24 January, held to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Scots pine becoming Scotland's national tree. This followed a motion put forward by Ariane Burgess MSP. The new Wild Pine Project is funded by Woodland Trust Scotland, thanks to support from players of People's Postcode Lottery, and by Trees for Life, thanks to support from the TreadRight Foundation. For more details, visit treesforlife.org.uk. See more breaking stories here.

La última hora de Capital Intereconomía la dedicamos a "Con I de Inmobiliario" donde nos acompañan Mikel Echavarren, CEO de Colliers España; Juan Fernández Aceytuno, Consejero independiente; Carolina Roca , Presidente de Asprima; Carmen Panadero, Presidente de WIRES; y Enrique López Granados, CEO de Caledonian para hablar del futuro del sector inmobiliario.

JINGS! They said it couldn't be done! Well, they said it *shouldn't* be done, and they turned out to be right. Yes, it's another edition of The Peggy Mount Hogmanay Hour, and drunken sassenachs Velvet, Blackout and Bognops have stormed the passport control booth at Hadrian's Wall on a haphazard hunt north of the border for some Caledonian culture... Unfortunately that all sold out a week before Christmas, and all that's left in the gift shop is BBC One's near legendary end-of year-debacle: Live Into '85. Laird Tom O'Connor joins with Marquess Maggie Moone and Marquee Moira Anderson to host a rousing night of comedy, dancing, music and fun! Or again, that's what Tom had signed off for until discovering it had sold out etc. More guests appear entirely at their own risk. As at least one of them found out. Were the BBC cutting broadcast costs by pulling the plug on this while Big Ben was still chiming? Were Big Tom's Pipe Band cutting parking costs by keeping the minibus engine running outside? And what were the management of the Gleneagles Hotel hoping to achieve by combining their all-you-can-drink bar with the crèche? Push Play to have the answers revealed and branded into your eardrums forever... The Peggy Mount Calamity Hour is a free podcast from iPorle Media, which holds production copyright. Opinions and recollections expressed are not to be taken as fact. The title and credit music is by Doctor Velvet. Audio segments from television programmes are presented for review and informational purposes only under fair use, and no ownership of these is claimed or implied by this show. Email enquiries to peggymountpod@gmail.com    

For our final episode of 2023 we are getting a bit festive and are speaking to Ollie Mackay at Rothiemurchus Estate. Rothiemurchus is a special and beautiful place in the Highlands of Scotland, at the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. Ollie is the Head Ranger on the estate and we chat about all the estate's natural capital assets and his role. We learn about the range of activities and habitats the estate hosts including livestock, farming, beavers and tourism, alongside the pressures and opportunities this creates. Rothiemurchus is the custodian of one of the finest remnants of the Caledonian forest, a natural woodland dominated by Scots Pine that is managed sustainably for nature conservation, recreation, woodland grazing and timber production. Management of the forest has created an opportunity for environmentally friendly Christmas trees, with profits going back in to the upkeep of paths and projects on the estate. Host Rachel Smillie, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, Editor Ross Mackenzie. Related FAS resources:   FAS Sounds | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory ServiceBiodiversity | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Rewilding | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Living Alongside Beavers | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot) Other Related Resources: Home - Cairngorms National Park AuthorityWelcome to Rothiemurchus — RothiemurchusRothiemurchus Scots Pine Christmas Trees — Rothiemurchus

Remote woodland - home to Scotland's oldest wild pine - saved as part of rewilding initiative A remote ancient woodland - home to Scotland's oldest wild Scots pine, which is at least 565-years-old - has been saved from being lost forever and given a chance of regeneration thanks to Trees for Life, as part of the charity's vast Affric Highlands rewilding initiative. Rewilding to help Scotland's oldest wild Scots pine The pinewood remnant of some 57 pines, all several centuries old and scattered through Glen Loyne in the northwest Highlands, was at risk from overgrazing by excessive numbers of deer - a key threat to surviving Caledonian pinewoods that prevents them from naturally regenerating. The oldest pine has been dated to at least 1458 by St Andrews Tree-Ring Laboratory, and is believed to be even older. The ancestry of such pines stretches back to the last ice age. In cooperation with the landowner, whose love of the pinewoods made the project possible, Trees for Life has created a new deer-proof 'exclosure' of fencing to protect the woodland, including the most ancient pines, and to allow young seedlings to grow without being eaten. "Glen Loyne's wild pines and other Caledonian pinewoods are globally unique, and a special part of Scotland's character and culture. Saving and restoring them offers a major opportunity for tackling the nature and climate crises," said James Rainey, senior ecologist at Trees for Life. Trees for Life surveyed the site as part of its four-year Caledonian Pinewood Recovery Project, one of the most comprehensive surveys of the health of Scotland's pinewoods. The team found that some of the oldest pines were outside an area of fencing which had been erected in the 1990s to protect the trees from grazing pressure. Deer had also breached the fenced area. Trees for Life has now erected 1.5 kilometres of new fencing, and has connected up, extended and repaired existing sections, with the heavy-duty materials having to be transported into the remote glen by helicopter. The pinewood will now be able to naturally regenerate for the first time in decades. "Fencing is only a temporary fix, but for now it's a vital way of giving these precious pinewoods a fighting chance of recovery until effective landscape-scale deer management can be properly established," said James Rainey. Historically part of the royal hunting grounds of Cluanie, the Glen Loyne woodlands would once have been home to capercaillie, wildcat, and lynx. Ordnance Survey maps from 1874 show a more extensive woodland in the glen, but by the 1990s there were only 85 ancient pines left - a number that has since been reduced further to just 57. The nature recovery project has been funded by the family of Harry Steven, who with Jock Carlise wrote The Native Pinewoods of Scotland, published in 1959. This pioneering book recognised the special status of the pinewoods, and documented 35 wild pine populations that had managed to survive centuries of deforestation. In the 1990s, the work of Steven and Carlisle led to the then Forestry Commission Scotland compiling Scotland's official Caledonian Pinewood Inventory, which today recognises 84 sites. Glen Loyne, on East Glen Quoich estate, lies within Affric Highlands - the UK's largest rewilding landscape. Led by Trees for Life and Rewilding Europe, this 30-year community-focused initiative will restore woodland, peatland and riverside habitats over half a million acres from Loch Ness to the west coast, supporting re-peopling and nature-based economic opportunities. The Caledonian forest once covered much of the Highlands, but today less than 2% survives. The pinewoods are one of Scotland's richest habitats, and offer refuge to declining wildlife such as red squirrels, capercaillie and crossbills. Trees for Life is dedicated to rewilding the Highlands, including by restoring the Caledonian forest. See treesforlife.org.uk. See more breaking stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ir...

Have you ever wanted to own a professional soccer team? Our guest, Chris Ewing of Caledonian Braves FC, joins the show to explain how you can buy into his club!  We're super excited for our incredibly unique interview with Chris Ewing, chairman of Caledonian Braves FC in Motherwell, Scotland, to discuss his new club! Founded only in 2019, CBFC is the newest team in Scotland and is also the only fan-owned club in the entire country. We ask Chris about the challenges of running the team and find out how we can get involved as owners ourselves. Christian and Alexis also analyze the USMNT's 4-0 win over Ghana, break down the latest news surrounding the Italian betting scandal, and comment on Al Hilal's unhinged graphic about Neymar's injury. Would you want to own part of Caledonian Braves? Let us know what you think in the reviews!  Want to learn more about Chris Ewing and Caledonian Braves FC ? Head to https://wefunder.com/cbfc for information on how to get involved! Exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/SoccerCooligans This is where we put everything we shouldn't say

Have you ever wanted to own a professional soccer team? Our guest, Chris Ewing of Caledonian Braves FC, joins the show to explain how you can buy into his club!  We're super excited for our incredibly unique interview with Chris Ewing, chairman of Caledonian Braves FC in Motherwell, Scotland, to discuss his new club! Founded only in 2019, CBFC is the newest team in Scotland and is also the only fan-owned club in the entire country. We ask Chris about the challenges of running the team and find out how we can get involved as owners ourselves. Christian and Alexis also analyze the USMNT's 4-0 win over Ghana, break down the latest news surrounding the Italian betting scandal, and comment on Al Hilal's unhinged graphic about Neymar's injury. Would you want to own part of Caledonian Braves? Let us know what you think in the reviews!  Want to learn more about Chris Ewing and Caledonian Braves FC ? Head to https://wefunder.com/cbfc for information on how to get involved! Exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/SoccerCooligans This is where we put everything we shouldn't say

“Affric Highlands is an area of landscape between Loch Ness and the west coast of Scotland, looking over to the Isle of Skye. It's about 500,000 acres so it's like a small country.”Scotland's fabled highlands are not what we think they are. Once upon a time the great Caledonian forests stretched from coast to coast, famed for its wildness and size. It teemed with wildlife and large animals like wolves, bears and lynx. Now, so much of what was once there has gone.In this episode Ben Goldsmith is joined by Steve Micklewright from Trees for Life. They, and organisations like them, are working to reinstate wild forest in the Highlands and build a new economy around wildlife and nature tourism.Ben Goldsmith is a rewilding enthusiast and activist based in the UK. In this podcast he is joined by people behind some of the most exciting and ambitious rewilding projects around the world.Every year we hear stories about wildlife being destroyed. However, there are rays of hope as across the globe people are working to give nature a hand to recover and rejuvenate.This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.

Federico e Isabel hablan con Enrique López Granados, dueño y creador de Caledonian, constructora orientada al sector inmobiliario premium.

How to get New Caledonians talking to each other; the incompatibility of being gay and a football player in France, and the naval officer who turned his world travels into fiction. In the face of political deadlock over the status of the French overseas territory of New Caledonia, pro-independence and loyalist parties are struggling to even talk to one another. Caledonian journalist and writer Jenny Briffa has spent a good part of her life trying to get conversations going between the archipelago's different ethnic communities, and recently wrote a triptych of plays around the three independence referendums held in 2018, 2020 and 2021. She talks about the territory's colonial legacy, its shared cultures, and how she sees herself as a white Caledonian, born of French parents. (Listen @0')Football remains a very macho sport in France, and failure to fit the straight, virile mould can lead to harassment, insults or worse. Ouissem Belgacem quit his career as a rising football star aged 20 when he realised he could never be an openly gay player. He finally came out publicly in his book Adieu ma honte (Farewell to my shame) in 2021, which inspired a recently released documentary series. While he's no longer in the football world, he hopes to become a role model – something he never had – for today's players. He talks about needing to wear a 'heterosexual mask' as a player, and how little that has changed since he left the sport 15 years ago. (Listen @19'38'')Acclaimed writer Pierre Loti, who died on 10 June 1923, had a long career as a naval officer. He's in a long line of French public figures to have tried their hand at writing fiction, though with far less success. (Listen @15'25'')Episode mixed by Cecile Pompeani.Spotlight on France is a podcast from Radio France International. Find us on rfienglish.com, Apple podcasts (link here), Spotify (link here), Google podcasts (link here), or your favourite podcast app (pod.link/1573769878).

How to get New Caledonians talking to each other; the incompatibility of being gay and a football player in France, and the naval officer who turned his world travels into fiction. In the face of political deadlock over the status of the French overseas territory of New Caledonia, pro-independence and loyalist parties are struggling to even talk to one another. Caledonian journalist and writer Jenny Briffa has spent a good part of her life trying to get conversations going between the archipelago's different ethnic communities, and recently wrote a triptych of plays around the three independence referendums held in 2018, 2020 and 2021. She talks about the territory's colonial legacy, its shared cultures, and how she sees herself as a white Caledonian, born of French parents. (Listen @0')Football remains a very macho sport in France, and failure to fit the straight, virile mould can lead to harassment, insults or worse. Ouissem Belgacem quit his career as a rising football star aged 20 when he realised he could never be an openly gay player. He finally came out publicly in his book Adieu ma honte (Farewell to my shame) in 2021, which inspired a recently released documentary series. While he's no longer in the football world, he hopes to become a role model – something he never had – for today's players. He talks about needing to wear a 'heterosexual mask' as a player, and how little that has changed since he left the sport 15 years ago. (Listen @19'38'')Acclaimed writer Pierre Loti, who died on 10 June 1923, had a long career as a naval officer. He's in a long line of French public figures to have tried their hand at writing fiction, though with far less success. (Listen @15'25'')Episode mixed by Cecile Pompeani.Spotlight on France is a podcast from Radio France International. Find us on rfienglish.com, Apple podcasts (link here), Spotify (link here), Google podcasts (link here), or your favourite podcast app (pod.link/1573769878).

Join Annie and Jenny in their short in-between epsiodes, Fireside Folklore: a celebration of Scottish traditional storytelling. Annie brings to life the classic legend of the Great Forests of Badenoch, narrating the tale of a Norwegian King whose envy of the Caledonian Forest led him to unleash a terrifying beast upon Scotland. Meanwhile, Jenny dives into the enthralling adventure of Mionchag and Murchag, presenting the Gaelic version to the well-known Tweedledee and Tweedledum sibling rivalry.In this fascinating exploration of Scotland's rich history and captivating folklore, you'll be transported to the verdant expanses of the Caledonian Forest and the lush landscapes of Badenoch. If you're intrigued by Scottish heritage, planning a Scottish travel adventure, or simply a fan of legendary tales, this podcast episode will serve as your audio guide to the heart of Scotland's mystical folklore and historical tales. Tune in to our spellbinding tales, perfect for those seeking an immersive cultural experience in Scotland. 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.

In episode 144, we celebrate World Ocean Day, answer a listener question about HAL's ms Prinsendam, share news from Virgin Voyages, Holland America Line, Captain Cook Cruises Fiji, Norwegian Cruise Line, Viking, Celebrity Cruises, PLUS a Fact or Fiction for both Baz and Chris.Caledonian Sky. Captain Cook FijiSupport the showListen, Like, Subscribe & Review on your favourite podcast directory.Share the podcast with someone you think will enjoy the showBuy Me A Coffee – This podcast is only possible thanks to our supporters, simply buying a coffee keeps us on air. It is just like shouting your mate a coffee, and we consider our listeners close mates. https://bit.ly/2T2FYGX  Sustainable Fashion – choose a TBCP design or design your own… all using organic cotton, green energy and zero plastic https://bit.ly/32G7RdhFollow Chris and his latest videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChrisFrameOfficialCruise NewsWorld Ocean DayVirgin Voyages have released their New Impact Report underlining their commitment to sea change. Did you knowVirgin Voyages partnered with three sustainable marine fuel providers to advance cleaner energy solutionsAll four ships in our fleet will have shore power installed by 202565% of our Shore Things tours are under contract with operators that meet standards for sustainable tourism$5M of in-kind donations were awarded to non-profit organizations in 202225% of the retail brands sold on-board Virgin Voyages in 2022 had a commitment to social & environmental responsibility, including safe cosmetics and B Corps92% of Crew feel connected to our purpose and believe their job contributes to delivering An Epic Sea Change for AllVirgin Voyages introduces new season of Taster VoyagesStarting in early 2024, Resilient Lady will be headed to some of the most awe-inspiring destinations across Australia with brand-new 3 to 6-night voyages.Whether you've been daydreaming of a thrilling mini escapade, yearning for a rejuvenating long weekend getaway, or seeking the ultimate back-to-back voyages to design an extraordinary extended stay, this is your chance to make it happen (and be one of the very first Sailors to do it in quite an epic style).1Feb24 – 6nts – Melbourne • Sydney • Hobart • Melbourne7Feb24 – 4nt – Melbourne • Sydney11Feb24 – 4nt – Sydney • Hobart • Sydney15Feb24 – 4nt – Sydney • Burnie • Sydney19Feb24 – 3nt – Sydney • Burnie • Melbourne22Feb24 – 5nt – Melbourne • Burnie • Hobart • Melbourne27Feb24 – 4nt – Melbourne • Hobart • MelbourneHolland America Line Expands ‘Alaska Up Close'Added to every Alaska cruise, guests will find new localized cuisine, cocktails featuring authentic glacier ice, an Alaska-themed brunch, Huna native presentation and wildlife experts to help guests spot the abundance of indigenous animals from the ship's deck. The program continues to deliver workshops and lectures, EXC Talks exploring the stories of real Alaskans and dining events featuring the culinary traditions of the region.A New Way to Experience GlaciersFour new cocktails feature authentic Alaska glacier ice harvested by state permit among floating glacier bergs in Prince William Sound and prepared to the highest standard under Alaskan authority. Holland America Line is the only cruise line serving glacier ice, giving guests the unique experience of safely tasting real glacier ice from the waters of Alaska. The cocktails with the glacier ice include:Juneau Gin & Tonic” features Juneauper Gin that's produced in Juneau, Alaska.“Alaska's Blue Ice” has De Kuyper Blue Curaçao, X Rum, pineapple juice. Velvet Falernum and Dry Vermouth.Blue Iceberg: Juneauper Gin, apricot brandy, Blue Curaçao and lime juice.Black & Blue: a choice of Jonnie Walker Black or Jack Daniels Black Label served over glacier ice.Holland America Line also is serving new hot cocktails during scenic cruising in Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm and Hubbard Glacier:Glacier Bay Coffee: Baileys Irish Cream and Malibu Coconut Rum.Alaska Railroad Coffee: Jameson Irish Whiskey, Kahlua and Cream.Gold Rush Coffee: Grand Marnier, Coffee and Hot Chocolate.Northern Lights: Crème de Cacao, Kahlua and Brandy.Alaska Brunch Highlights Local FlavoursOffered once per cruise, all dishes on the new Alaska Brunch menu in the Dining Room have been created with the influence of fresh, local Alaskan and Pacific Northwest ingredients. The selections range from sweet to savory and include Alaskan Blueberry Pancakes, Salmon & Potato Chowder, Wild Forest Mushroom and Tarragon Crepes, Kodiak Steak and Egg Skillet, Crab and Hot Smoked Salmon Cakes, Biscuits with Gravy and Alaskan Reindeer Sausage, and Home Smoked Gulf of Alaska Cod Benny.A Taste of Alaska in Lido MarketDuring Alaska cruises, the casual Lido Market features special dishes and theme nights. Guests can enjoy a Salmon Bake dinner and Seafood Boil pop-up dinner on all cruises, and a Gold Rush dinner on 14-plus day cruisesSustainable SeafoodIn 2022, Holland America Line was awarded Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) certification — making it the first cruise line to achieve this distinguished credential by serving only fresh, certified sustainable and traceable wild Alaska seafood. On any Alaska cruise, the line serves more than 2,000 pounds of Alaska Salmon, 1,000 pounds of Alaska cod, 800 pounds of Alaska halibut, 500 pounds of Alaska rockfish and more.All menus highlight “Taste Alaska” by calling out region-specific dishes and fresh fish options.EXC Talks and Presentations Bring Alaska to LifeHolland America Line's EXC Talks continue to bring each destination to life with captivating storytelling and expert commentary. On Alaska cruises, guests can attend “Ancestral Memories,” “Breaking the Ice Ceiling,” “Pacific Giants,” “The Iditarod” and “We Are Alaska” to learn more about local culture and customs.New to the EXC programming, Holland America Line is bringing on a Huna Native Interpreter in traditional dress during the stay at Juneau to introduce guests to the history of the Tlingit people with “Native Voices: Stories of the Tlingit People.”Wildlife Experts and Park RangersA new wildlife expert on board helps guests witness the majestic animals found in Alaska. Guests can be on the lookout for humpback whales, orcas, bald eagles, moose, sea otters, caribou, black and grizzly bears, Dall's porpoise and more. The daily program highlights designated times to meet the wildlife expert on deck to go in search of the animals in their natural environment.Holland America Line also is introducing a Wildlife Spotting Guide that points out the native animals found along the cruise route and includes a map with the best places to spot each species. Between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., all wildlife sightings will be announced so guests may go on deck and enjoy viewing.During Glacier Bay scenic cruising, Holland America Line continues to bring on a Glacier Bay National Park Ranger for the day to engage with guests and talk about Alaska's most famous national park.All cruises on Westerdam roundtrip from Seattle feature a presentation by The Alaska Raptor Center at Sitka. Hosted by the wildlife expert, one of the center's Avian Care Specialists comes aboard with a raptor (eagle, hawk, owl, etc.) to share insights about Alaska's majestic birds in the World Stage.On Deck for A Cause: Alaska's ParksFor the 2023 Alaska season, Holland America Line is donating proceeds from the “On Deck for a Cause” event aboard ships in the region to Alaska Geographic, the nonprofit education partner of Alaska's parks, forests, refuges and conservation lands. Called “On Deck for a Cause: Alaska's Parks,” guests on all Alaska cruises are invited to donate $25 to participate in a noncompetitive 5k fundraising walk aboard every sailing.Captain Cook Cruises Fiji Announces a New EraCaptain Cook Cruises Fiji is proud to announce a new era of small ship luxury expedition cruising in Fiji. MS Caledonian Sky will replace MV Reef Endeavour and embark on a raft of new high-end cruise experiences not yet seen in Fiji.MS Caledonian Sky will start exploring Fiji from November 11, 2023, and will sail from Nadi. MS Caledonian Sky will elevate the cruising experience currently available in Fiji and further develop Reef Endeavour's pioneering itineraries as well as offering refined onboard accommodation and hospitality. In addition, the company has revealed a unique new product offering by expanding her itineraries even further into the most remote and beautiful parts of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.The MS Caledonian Sky is tailormade for the adventurous traveller. The ship offers spacious boutique comfort whilst also being small and maneuverable, taking guests to corners of the Pacific not accessible by larger ships. Captain Cook Cruises Fiji will continue to deliver an intimate cruising experience with a capacity of just 114 passengers across 57 spacious ocean view suites. Guests can enjoy the luxury of their own private balconies, elegant suites, alfresco dining, and an expansive sky deck.Norwegian Cruise Line Expands Immersive Offerings AshoreNorwegian Cruise Line (NCL), has unveiled six new immersive shore excursion categories to help guests uncover more of each destination they visit, including Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.  The new categories include: Beyond Blueprints: A bespoke selection of 15 tours that uncover the design secrets and stories of some of Europe's most iconic architectural landmarks, including those in Barcelona, Lisbon, Belfast, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Oslo and Helsinki. Examples include:  La Villa Mediterranée and MUCEM in Marseille, FranceVictoria Square and Titanic Belfast in Belfast, Northern IrelandRiverside Museum and Glasgow Science Museum in Glasgow (Greenock), ScotlandGourmet Tours: Designed for the foodie-driven traveller, this suite of experiences takes guests behind the scenes to uncover the secrets behind local cuisine of some of Europe's most iconic culinary destinations.  Guests will taste their way from port-to-port with cooking classes led by a local artisan, authentic dining experiences at a family-owned homestead and more. Examples of shore excursions that offer a true taste of travel include: Castello Di Siza & Sicilian Luncheon in Palermo (Sicily), ItalyFolkloric-Gastronomical Experience in Olympia (Katakolon), GreeceSeasonal Gastro-cultural Experience in Barcelona, SpainGo Local: Guest will uncover the everyday rhythms and customs of life in destinations as diverse as Europe, Asia, South America and South Africa. These tours are designed to offer authentic cultural experiences that connect guests to locals in a meaningful and memorable way, while showcasing how the locals live, work, eat and play:A Day at the Farm in Kusadasi, TurkeyLisbon Soul in Lisbon, PortugalExplore Florence Like a Local in Florence/Pisa (Livorno), ItalyLet's Take a Selfie: Already proving very popular, these excursions deliver the ultimate destination photos in worldwide locations. A knowledgeable guide will share the perfect angles and most picturesque spots to capture unforgettable moments:  Santorini, Greek IslesSt Thomas, US Virgin IslandsCartagena De Indias, ColombiaSmall Group Tours: With no more than 16 guests per group, these tours provide a more intimate experience of some of the most popular NCL excursions available in idyllic destinations like Italy, Greece and Spain. Small Group Tours are available to book by calling NCL. Examples include:  Captivating Malaga in SpainHighlights of Cagliari in Sardinia, ItalyBest of Corfu, Greek IslesViking Saturn Was Named in the New York Harbor at Manhattan Cruise TerminalViking today (6Jun23) named its newest ocean ship, the Viking Saturn®, with a celebration in New York City. As part of the event, the ship's ceremonial godmother, Ann Ziff, the esteemed philanthropist and Chairman of the Metropolitan Opera, a longtime Viking cultural partner, offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for the ship—a maritime tradition that dates back thousands of years. The ship will now continue her inaugural season, sailing two new Viking voyages: Iconic Iceland, Greenland & Canada, between New York City and Reykjavik, and Iceland & Norway's Arctic Explorer, between Reykjavik and BergenAnn Ziff, Godmother of the Viking Saturn – A dedicated philanthropist focused on the arts, education, culture and environmental conservation, Ann Ziff is Chairman of the Metropolitan Opera and serves on several boards, including the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Sing for Hope, the World Science Festival and the Los Angeles Opera. Passionate about bringing culture and arts into the lives of children in need, she co-founded Smile Train and was a board member at Maloto, an organization that provides education and housing for abused and abandoned girls in Malawi. Ms. Ziff also has an eponymous fine jewelry brand, Tamsen Z, where she designs and creates one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by her love of culture, art and music as well as her travels as a loyal Viking guest.The Viking Saturn is the newest ship in Viking's award-winning ocean fleet of identical sister ships, which also includes the Viking Star®, the Viking Sea®, the Viking Sky®, the Viking Orion®, the Viking Jupiter®, the Viking Venus®, the Viking Mars®, and the Viking Neptune®. Classified by Cruise Critic as “small ships,” Viking's ocean vessels have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, with 465 staterooms that can host 930 guests; the ships feature all veranda staterooms, Scandinavian design, light-filled public spaces and abundant al fresco dining options.Countdown to Celebrity Edge arriving in Australia. Celebrity Cruises' signature ship, Celebrity Edge®, will offer an array of 6- to 13-night itineraries from early December 2023 through to April 2024, designed to immerse guests in the spoils of the stunning coastlines of Australia and New Zealand, along with the tropical South Pacific.Celebrity Edge is a ground-breaking ship that pushes the boundaries of ship design and sets a new standard for unparalleled holiday experiences. With its breadth of accommodations delivering expanded staterooms, innovative features, and stunning suites, Celebrity Edge promises to captivate discerning global travellers like never before.Infinite Veranda® – A Revolutionary Accommodation ExperienceCelebrity Edge presents a ground-breaking concept with the revolutionary Infinite Veranda staterooms. These innovative staterooms erase the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living, taking guests to the water's edge. By simply pressing a button, guests can transform their staterooms into open-air spaces, embracing the sea breeze and stunning views. The design also enhances comfort, providing 23% more square footage and 10% larger bathrooms than previous classes of ships.AquaClass® – Your Escape at SeaCelebrity's world-class accommodations include spa-inspired AquaClass staterooms offering a fully immersive, next-level wellbeing experience. Elements are thoughtfully infused throughout, from the Infinite Veranda stateroom design offering a closer connection to the ocean to bedding offerings including Cashmere™ mattresses and pillow menus.AquaClass guests can enjoy clean cuisine, including new healthy options, at the exclusive restaurant, Blu. Plus, enjoy access to the SEA Thermal Suite, a Spa Concierge, a complimentary fitness pass, preferential rates on AquaClass spa packages, daily in-room bottled water service, healthy room-service menu options, and a yoga mat for use on board. Celebrity has thought of everything so that guests can focus on nourishing their mind, body, and spirit.On the Edge Series it's the little details make a world of difference, and now the meticulously thought-out Concierge Class staterooms are even better. Featuring new services, amenities, and exclusive events, step inside and discover a space that is so much more than a room—it's an experience. As a Concierge Class guest, a team of dedicated professionals will take care of all holiday needs, so all guests need to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the view.The Retreat® – An exclusive experience for Suite guestsAt the heart of Celebrity Edge lies The Retreat, a haven that redefines exclusivity. The Retreat features a private restaurant, lounge and sundeck for our suite guests. Luminae, the exclusive restaurant for guests of The Retreat, provides exquisite culinary delights to be savoured. The Retreat Lounge offers a sophisticated and stylish ambiance, complemented by around-the-clock personal butler service. Guests can also unwind at The Retreat Sundeck, featuring a private pool and breathtaking views.Celebrity Edge introduces exclusive suite categories that offer unparalleled accommodations at sea. The Iconic Suites, situated above the ship's bridge, offer awe-inspiring panoramic views from their 2,600 sq. ft., two-bedroom, two-bathroom layout. The Sky Suites, Penthouse Suites, Celebrity Suites, and Royal Suites provide lavish accommodations and access to The Retreat. Another highlight is two-storey Edge Villas, featuring split-level designs, private plunge pools, and direct access to The Retreat Sundeck.Celebrity Edge is sailing Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific from December 2023 through to April 2024. Homeporting from Sydney and Auckland, Celebrity Edge offers guests the chance to sail close to home on an award-winning resort at sea, choosing from 12 sailing options.and more... Join the show:If you have a cruise tip, burning question or want to record a cruise review get in touch with us via the website https://thebigcruisepodcast.com/join-the-show/ Co-hosts: Chris Frame: https://bit.ly/3a4aBCg   Chris's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChrisFrameOfficialListen & Subscribe: Amazon Podcasts: https://amzn.to/3w40cDcApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2XvD7tF Audible: https://adbl.co/3nDvuNgCastbox: https://bit.ly/2xkGBEI Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/2RuY04u I heart Radio:  https://ihr.fm/3mVIEUASpotify: https://spoti.fi/3caCwl8 Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2JWE8Tz Pocket casts: https://bit.ly/2JY4J2M Tune in: https://bit.ly/2V0Jrrs Podcast Addict: https://bit.ly/2BF6LnE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 43 of the UK Travel Planning Podcast, Tracy and Doug Collins, Founders of UK Travel Planning, cover the top 15 questions they get asked about travelling by train in the UK.  In this episode, you will learnHow do I get from Heathrow airport by train to Kings Cross railway station?How much time do I need to allow from landing at Heathrow airport to booking a train from Kings Cross to Edinburgh?How soon in advance do I need to buy train tickets?What is the difference between the Advance and Anytime train tickets?What websites are best to buy train tickets on?Are train tickets refundable?Do I have to have a seat reservation or can I just turn up for a train? Can you reserve specific seats on a train?Do train tickets sell out? Is a Britrail or the Global Eurail train pass worth it and how do I reserve seats if I have a pass?What are split train tickets?What are the National Railcards? What age does a child fare become an adult fare?How much luggage can I take on board a train?Do you have any recommended UK Rail itineraries Do you have any information about the Eurostar service and the Caledonian sleeper?For further information and the full show notes for this episode visit UKTravelPlanning.com/episode-43>> Visit our shop for guides and resources to help plan your trip including our popular UK Train Travel ebook.Support the show

Kevin and Kieran speak to Chris Ewing, the owner of Caledonian Braves, who play in the fifth tier of Scottish football. the Scottish Lowland League. Follow Kevin on Twitter - @kevinhunterday Follow Kieran on Twitter - @KieranMaguire Follow The Price of Football on Twitter - @pof_pod Support The Price of Football on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/priceoffootball Check out the Price of Football merchandise store: https://the-price-of-football.backstreetmerch.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg is joined by Richard Syrett, host of The Richard Syrett Show, weekdays from 4-6 PM on Newstalk Sauga960.They have a fascinating discussion that covers a wide range of topics such as masculinity, homeschooling, American politics, beating the system, and much more.Greg also welcomes on Dave Wolff, owner of The Caledonian, a Scotch and Whiskey bar in downtown Toronto. They talk all things scotch - how many different types of scotch are there? What are some of the most expensive bottles? How do you choose scotch for different occasions?All of this, plus much more, on this week's edition of The Greg Carrasco Show.

The MTD gang is *alive and kicking*!  Join us as we *head on* out north of Hadrian's Wall, into the land of Nessie and haggis, Kidnapped and Trainspotting.*Say what you want*, but we love us some Caledonian tunes here at The Mixtape Diaries.  *In a big country* like Scotland, you're gonna find tons of options, and we struggled to keep to our per-person limit of three songs.Also, *take me out* for *garlands*.  (Hey, cut us some slack: not every song title works in this context.) Here in Part 1 we talk through Mark and Bob's selections.  Look out for Cocteau Twins, Simple Minds, the Jesus & Mary Chain, Big Country, Franz Ferdinand, and Texas.As always, find the Playlist on Spotify + Apple Music and your Extras on Twitter.   And if you like what you hear, please share, rate and review us!Credits: Intro/ Outro — the Februarys, "Does Your Father Know"/ "... In a Letter." 

*This is part 2 of Ian Rankin's episode. Though you are free to listen in whichever order you so desire we really do recommend listening to part 1 first or things might be slightly confusing*"Something is afoot at The Moon Under Water. Landlord John has returned to an absolute crime scene: Robin is nowhere to be seen, all the pint glasses have been chipped, the beer mats have been thrown across the floor, and worst of all... every single packet of pickled onion crisps has been stolen!"Fear not listener, for that was all a piece of fiction; The Moon Under Water is totally fine. You're probably thinking "That's the worst piece of fiction I've ever read" and yes, you may be right. But thankfully someone is about to arrive in the Correct Realm who could teach us a thing or two about fiction. He's one of the most celebrated authors to ever grace these lands, and it's someone that we've wanted to visit The Moon Under Water for some time now. He's possibly the greatest Pubsman of all time, it's none other than Sir Ian Rankin! Ian is the man behind Detective Inspector Rebus, and his books have gone on to be worldwide bestsellers for the last 30 years. And one thing that any fan of Rebus will know is that he gets to visit some incredible pubs, with almost all of them being inspired by pubs that Ian has frequented himself. As a resident of Edinburgh Ian is surrounded by some of the greatest pubs on Earth, and like Landlord John and Robin he sees them as sacred places. We are so excited for him to join us, and we can't wait to hear what his dream pub will be like. Want to hear an extended version of this episode (featuring a Patreon-only choice), gain access to our bonus podcast ‘Behind The Cellar Door' and support the upkeep of the pub? If so, head to moonunderpod.com and sign up to our Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Something is afoot at The Moon Under Water. Landlord John has returned to an absolute crime scene: Robin is nowhere to be seen, all the pint glasses have been chipped, the beer mats have been thrown across the floor, and worst of all... every single packet of pickled onion crisps has been stolen!"Fear not listener, for that was all a piece of fiction; The Moon Under Water is totally fine. You're probably thinking "That's the worst piece of fiction I've ever read" and yes, you may be right. But thankfully someone is about to arrive in the Correct Realm who could teach us a thing or two about fiction. He's one of the most celebrated authors to ever grace these lands, and it's someone that we've wanted to visit The Moon Under Water for some time now. He's possibly the greatest Pubsman of all time, it's none other than Sir Ian Rankin! Ian is the man behind Detective Inspector Rebus, and his books have gone on to be worldwide bestsellers for the last 30 years. And one thing that any fan of Rebus will know is that he gets to visit some incredible pubs, with almost all of them being inspired by pubs that Ian has frequented himself. As a resident of Edinburgh Ian is surrounded by some of the greatest pubs on Earth, and like Landlord John and Robin he sees them as sacred places. We are so excited for him to join us, and we can't wait to hear what his dream pub will be like. Want to hear an extended version of this episode (featuring a Patreon-only choice), gain access to our bonus podcast ‘Behind The Cellar Door' and support the upkeep of the pub? If so, head to moonunderpod.com and sign up to our Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The islands of New Caledonia are famous for their geckos. Recent research has revealed the evolutionary past of these sticky lizards, and it all began shortly after the islands themselves emerged from the Pacific Ocean.  Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Skipwith PL, Bauer AM, Jackman TR, Sadlier RA. 2016. Old but not ancient: coalescent species tree of New Caledonian geckos reveals recent post‐inundation diversification. Journal of Biogeography 43:1266–1276. DOI: 10.1111/jbi.12719. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Griffing, A. H., Sanger, T. J., Epperlein, L., Bauer, A. M., Cobos, A., Higham, T. E., ... & Gamble, T. 2021. And thereby hangs a tail: morphology, developmental patterns and biomechanics of the adhesive tails of crested geckos (Correlophus ciliatus). Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 288(1953), 20210650. Other Links/Mentions: Kimbrough L. 2022.Tiny new tree frog species found in rewilded Costa Rican nature reserve: https://news.mongabay.com/2022/09/tiny-new-tree-frog-species-found-in-rewilded-costa-rican-nature-reserve/  Crested gecko chirping audio on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFOGsS2TPuI  Independent article about house gecko on board ship: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/china-asian-maidstone-kent-b2007108.html  Editing and Music: Podcast edited by Emmy – https://www.fiverr.com/emmyk10  Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com

Paul has been caught up in the emotional moment as Her Majesty The Queen was laid to rest, while Rob's been having a few emotional moments of his own touring round the country. Featuring The Queue, a feline fatality, highs and lows in Worcester, a crazy Caledonian conflagration, parkrun report, a Tonkinson/path interface and some impressive PBs.Some little noises towards the end here - don't worry, there's nothing wrong with your headphones. Thanks to everyone as ever for sharing your runs with us, supporting us through the Acast Supporter button, and just listening to all our adventures. We love you.Rob's book Running Tracks is available here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444, and you can get Paul's award-winning 26.2 Miles to Happiness here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/runningcommentary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The latest episode of the podcast which asks; are the Wurzels going to float in an eternal hellscape of bodily waste and toenails for singing about turning bulls gay?This episode would have been perfect for the other month while Shakin' Jubilee was occurring – but no matter, Pop-Crazed Youngsters, because we're going right back to the apogee of the Silby Joobs, which no-one ever said in 1977 because people weren't as rubbish as they are today. Flags! Bunting! Street parties! Massive patriotic Yorkshire puddings! Blatant chart-rigging! Your hosts are a) giving thousand-yard stares over some sausage rolls and praying that their father isn't going to run off with a Characterful Dad in a dress and some balloons up their shirt, b) communing with nature with a Jubilee coin in their grubby paw and c) watching some Caledonian ultra-violence outside a pub and pretending to be asleep under a Union Jack listening to their Dad banging on about Elvis again, but they all unite on Thursday evening to witness a Tony Blackburn – who has just invented Fathers 4 Justice – introduce a decidedly mixed bag of Pop treats. Musicwise, it's a veritable trifle of Pop, layered with West Midlands Safari Park Hi-Life, Ormskirk Americana, Southampton Funk, and a thick, satisfying custard of Black American Pop. Frankie Miller pulls a mic stand about. The Pips warm up for a night at the rollerdisco. The Stranglers piss about and stomp on someone's fingers. Demis Roussos lies to us about an island. Neil Innes drags TOTP into 1982. Legs & Co have to make something up on the spot. Bob Marley celebrates Jubilee week by telling us that Britain is rammel and we should clear out as soon as possible. The Wurzels bring us another unflinching examination of rural life. And we get ‘treated' to Little Rabbit Arse. But there's an elephant in bondage trousers in the room, isn't there?Neil Kulkarni and Taylor Parkes join Al Needham for a gargantuan street party of critical analysis, with tangents ahoy – including a trawl through the Nationwide Jubilee Fair, 35 hours of Triangle, Demis Roussos' £30,000 bed, Retirement Pop, the dark link between the Wurzels and the Radio 1 Roadshow, and cycling tips from Simon Bates' massive floating head. If you're a fan of the Monarchy, best skip the first hour – and yes, swearing a –plenty…Video Playlist | Subscribe | Facebook | Twitter | The Chart Music Wiki | Patreon*** Get your tickets for our live show HERE *** Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

The third Grand Tour of the year is also our third opportunity to take listeners on a journey through one of Europe's powerhouse nations not only in bike-racing but also wine-making. As in previous years and ahead of this year's Giro and Tour, we tasked Greg Andrews of Dvine Cellars with plotting our oenological odyssey – in this case with the help of Dvine's Spanish expert in residence, their Canaries-born and raised Caledonian, Angus McNab. In this episode of The Cycling Podcast, we take a break from our daily Vuelta coverage to taste the wines and hear Greg and Angus justify and in some cases defend their choices. The selection itself can be ordered from Dvine Cellars.  The six wines are as follows, in the order that they ‘appear' on the Vuelta route: - Bat Gara, Uno Txakoli, Basque Country - Bodegas Tobía, Reserva, Rioja (2014 Gran Reserva also available) - Raúl Pérez, 'Ultreia Saint Jacques', Mencía, Bierzo - Telmo Rodriguez, Al-Muvedre Tinto, Monastrell, Alicante - Callejuela, Hacienda de Dona Francisca, Palomino de Flor, Sanlúcar de Barrameda - Bodegas Bernabeleva, Camino de Navaherreros Blanco, Madrid The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens and Science in Sport. The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

Paul is in Canada - and Rob finds himself in Scotland - so polymath, friend-of-the-show and Edinburgh Festival legend Mark Watson stands in (well, runs in) for Paul in a special Caledonian edition. Featuring,all the classic stuff: banter, gig reports, interactions with passers by, parenting, wordplay, and talk of running events completed and yet to come. Thank you Mark.PAUL TONKINSON WILL RETURN.Thank you for sharing your runs with us, supporting us through the Acast Supporter button and sponsoring Rob for Parkinson's UK; you're wonderful - namaste.Rob's book Running Tracks is available here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444, and you can get Paul's award-winning 26.2 Miles to Happiness here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/26-2-miles-to-happiness/paul-tonkinson/9781472975270Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/runningcommentary. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Tech's Message:Laserdisc: What would have happened if it'd won the format war?https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13367398 https://www.wired.co.uk/article/episode-24 Broadband ISP BT Sees UK Network Traffic Peak at 28Tbps https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2022/07/broadband-isp-bt-sees-uk-network-traffic-peak-at-28tbps.html Cargo bike sales soar as UK petrol prices surgehttps://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jul/08/cargo-bike-sales-soar-as-uk-petrol-prices-surge Vodafone and Virgin Media O2 Put 4G and 5G on London Underground https://www.pocket-lint.com/phones/news/vodafone/161783-vodafone-and-virgin-media-o2-customers-next-to-gain-london-tube-mobile-coverage Jessop's photo frame - thanks, Shaun! https://twitter.com/Shaunjenks/status/1543935056665878529/photo/1 The extended version available via Patreon subscription also includes:What happened after Amazon told Nate the ice cream he'd bought and eaten might contain pesticides?Become a supporter to unlock bonus content and listen live — join our Patreon.Full show notes, subscription options and more available at https://www.uktechshow.com. TECH'S MESSAGE IS: Hosts: Nate Lanxon, Ian MorrisProduction and Editing: Nate LanxonVoiceover Artist: Marta SvetekMusic: Audio Network & Pond5Certain Artwork Elements Designed By: macrovector / FreepikPublisher (Free Version): AcastCopyright © Nate LanxonAds (on free version) are not endorsements, nor controlled by Tech's Message. Read Nate's ad policy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week we sit down with the author of Gravel Rides Scotland, Ed Shoote to learn about the history of gravel cycling in Scotland and why it should be on top of your list of gravel travel destinations. Gravel Ride Scotland Book Episode sponsor: Athletic Greens Support the Podcast Join The Ridership  Automated Transcription, please excuse the typos: Gravel Rides Scotland [00:00:00] Craig Dalton: Hello, and welcome to the gravel ride podcast, where we go deep on the sport of gravel cycling through in-depth interviews with product designers, event organizers and athletes. Who are pioneering the sport I'm your host, Craig Dalton, a lifelong cyclist who discovered gravel cycling back in 2016 and made all the mistakes you don't need to make. I approach each episode as a beginner down, unlock all the knowledge you need to become a great gravel cyclist. This week on the podcast. We welcome ed chute. He's the author of gravel ride Scotland. Many of you frequent listeners of the podcast will know I'm a big fan of the idea of gravel travel. So when this book came across my desk, I was super excited to dig in. I hadn't thought much about riding in Scotland and after seeing some of the pictures and reading some of the descriptions of these rides, it's definitely on my list of places to go. We dig in a little bit about the history of gravel roads in Scotland, how ed came to the sport of gravel cycling and what inspired him to write this great resource guide for all of us, I'll put a link to the book in the show notes. Everybody knows how to find it. And I hope you enjoy the conversation with ed. Before we jump in i need to thank this week sponsor our friends at athletic greens. Athletic greens is literally a product that I take every day. I discovered athletic greens many years ago, as I was recovering from my treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. I was looking for something that had the vitamins, minerals and probiotics that I needed to kind of just give me baseline support. After I was through that difficult period of my life. I realized that this was sort of a baseline thing I needed for all my athletic endeavors as well. With one scoop of athletic greens, you're absorbing 75 high quality vitamins minerals, whole food source, superfoods. Probiotics and APTA gins. To help you start your day, right? It's a special blend of ingredients to support your gut health. Your nervous system, your immune system, your energy, your recovery, your focus and aging. All the things. I went out on a wet ride with my friend, Jason. On Sunday of this week, we got caught out there on our gravel bikes and relate to a little bit of a punishing day. From a weather perspective. I was pretty drained and I actually, when that happens to me, I come back and I take a second. Cup full of athletic greens, just figuring I'm going to just top it off. When my energy is depleted, it's something that I mixed with ice and shakeups. So it's pretty simple. It's something I travel with in little packets. It's pretty easy to get into a routine. And for me, I've just always felt comfortable that again, I'm covering my nutritional basis . I encourage you to check it out, to see if it's something that might fit for you to make it easy. Athletic greens is going to give you a free one year supply of immune supporting vitamin D and five free travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is that the athletic greens.com/the gravel ride. Again, that's athletic greens.com/the gravel ride. To take ownership of your health and pick up the ultimate daily nutritional insurance. Would that business from our friends out of the way, let's jump right into my interview with ed. Hey ed, welcome to the show. [00:03:28] Ed Shoote: Alright, thanks for having me on, [00:03:30] Craig Dalton: Cheers. Where are you located today? [00:03:31] Ed Shoote: So I'm just south of Edinburgh in Scotland. So a little town called peoples it's a. [00:03:37] Craig Dalton: for the listener. This is all gonna come together. Why it's important that he's in Scotland and what we're going to be talking about today. As I mentioned in the intro. We always like to start off ed, just by getting a. little bit about your background and maybe how you discovered cycling and when off-road cycling became a passion of yours. [00:03:55] Ed Shoote: Yeah. So, for those you who know accents I've not got a Scottish accent. So actually I grew up in the Southeast of England in this. Which is pretty flat. So I didn't really get into kind of mountain biking. Off-road riding hugely until I was probably about 17 or 18. I just grew up riding road bikes and time trials and then realized that was quite good base, I guess, to do a mountain bike. And so I started doing cross country racing in the late nineties, early two thousands, I guess. And then just got the puck for off-road riding. So, so as all good cyclists. University of college based on where the best biking was. And that's kind of what, w what took off for me, I guess my mountain biking kind of passion. [00:04:32] Craig Dalton: where you staying in the UK for university. [00:04:35] Ed Shoote: Yeah. So I just went to the north of England. It tackled York which is great. Yes. Great spot to stop actually visiting. Cause it's got loads of history, but it's also surrounded by Hills. Really nice mountain biking terrain as well. Yeah, the course was, is a small consideration, but yet it was just the perfect spot for the analyst to select in ready. [00:04:52] Craig Dalton: And the UK obviously has got such a rich history of cycling across all disciplines, including mountain biking. [00:04:59] Ed Shoote: yeah. Yeah. You kind of get pockets, I guess, of real passion for road riding and mountain bike and where I am now in Scotland is it's huge amounts of biking. We have a lot of injury world series. Now bike is based here and. Right. Is coming up through the youth ranks as well. So it's a real buzz here and I guess yeah, like Edinburgh just north has got a really good road scene. So yeah, it's always a pocket of psych dinner, some chronic scenes wherever you are in the country, which is, yeah, it's great. It's great to see [00:05:25] Craig Dalton: And at university, were you studying? Writing as a discipline. [00:05:30] Ed Shoote: No, I studied mountain biking indirectly, actually. So. It's all fenced together. No, I was doing kind of a pied economics, which was focusing on environmental issues and mountain biking kind of fit it into that food forestry management. So it's again boring probably, but yeah, so I actually ended up doing a dissertation on mountain biking and the impact of mountain biking, which is, yeah, this is great. It was great. [00:05:52] Craig Dalton: Yeah, Amazing. And then from, I understand you spent some time abroad at some point after that. [00:05:58] Ed Shoote: Yeah, so that, that was kind of the last time I lived in England thought. Yeah, pretty much. That's how I sit in England actually thinking about it. Yeah, so I left from university, went traveling and then I got to work in DC to Canada. So I went to Southeast Asia then worked in British Columbia and Canada in mountain biking in the summer. One of the ski resorts south of bike park in the summer, which is really cool. So I've got a lot of writing out there. You actually loved it and stayed out there for a bit and then just got kind of a ski bug as well. So we ended up doing ski seasons in New Zealand and then in Europe as well. So I got that. And then, yeah, the passion for cycling, I guess, came back again when I moved back to Scotland from France. And yeah, that's kind of where I really got stuck into cycling. Yeah. [00:06:38] Craig Dalton: And at what point did gravel cycling, intersect with your passion for cycling? [00:06:43] Ed Shoote: I'd always been into mountain biking. And I think what kind of took me that next kind of level of backwards towards kind of gravel riding for mountain biking was contouring and long distance riding. So I got into doing these massive trips. So I had this amazing job, which was eight months of the year, so four months off. So I spent those four months basically doing big tours. So I cycled to estimate. [00:07:02] Craig Dalton: No. [00:07:03] Ed Shoote: It's a three consecutive years. I think it was in a row across Europe. And then in the second year I carried on writing and I was just trying to do that more and more on gravel probable right, routes and gravel tracks. So I could get away from the roads really and get into some more remote places. And it just seemed a great way to explore it. And that was kind of at the same point that manufacturers were getting into this idea of gravel bikes as a thing, and an adventure bikes. And I worked with a UK bike manufacturer. Support them developing one of these kind of gravel adventure bikes as they were at the time. And it just went hand in hand and as I got that bike, it then got me more and more doing these tours pretty much all on gravel roads, gravel tracks in central Asia. A lot of the time as well. I did have about four trips to central Asia. I'm getting kind of stuck into gravel, riding Kurdistan and and places like that. So that's yeah, that's where I got the gravel. But from. [00:07:50] Craig Dalton: Wow. What would that type of touring terrain were you, what type of setup where you creating on your bike? You said you worked with a manufacturer. What was your dream setup for the type of riding that you were doing at that point? [00:08:01] Ed Shoote: well, just before I did that, I was in Canada and I saw the tour divide races and they would just don't use bike back bags and they send a saddle packs and BARR bags which now we see everywhere, but at the time were really caught my eye and I was like, wow that's a solution to kind of the tour. And I'm doing. Ditching the pantyhose, which always break the racks come loose. They wobble, they bounce us. You know, I was looking for something else and I approached 'em to come up with after dura in the UK. I would just kind of design in these bags. One of the first ones was only over here to be doing it. And yeah just seeing the solution to what I was doing. And it means you have to reduce your kid. Cause you've got a saddlebag framed bag and a ball bag. I'm trying to get into some pretty remote places. And as we know now, it can be done about at the time. Head-scratching how you could get your kit. This is almost 10 years ago now Peggy that your get into the small bags and I was kind of looking at different tents and all the sounds that we now take for granted a bit to get it in there. And yeah, it just works so well. And I think that's why it's taken off so much in the kind of 10 years since really. [00:08:58] Craig Dalton: Yeah, a hundred percent. We've had the team at Afra on the podcast before. And. the evolution of bags from when we were kids in terms of pen, years down to what is now on the bikes today is just incredible. The bikes can be so rideable and so much fun with that, with those bags on versus once you put a pannier on back in the day, the bike felt like a different type of beast, and maybe it was good for riding in a straight line, but if you wanted to go off road with it, it became a little bit less. [00:09:28] Ed Shoote: Yeah. I remember the first tour, big tour we did was north to south of New Zealand, which is always good place to start touring as well as a really good country to do. And then I, that cell from Oakland and the bike was so back heavy with the panniers. I couldn't get the front wheel down. It was just wheeling almost down the street. And I was just scratching my head, how I'm going to get this bike around New Zealand. So just that kind of everyone does, I guess when they do the first tour, they have way too much stuff and it was all packed house. Yeah. And that was quite a long time ago. So yeah, each trip you kind of evolved, I guess, in your learning and equipment and set up as well. [00:09:59] Craig Dalton: Yeah, absolutely. And obviously like the equipment with the dyspraxia and the wider tires has really just made the overall experience so much better. [00:10:09] Ed Shoote: yeah, for me, I'm pretty tall. So I'm six or four. So I, I know when there's a headwind as well. It's fair to say. So given the drop bars on the gravel bike, Huge difference for me to get that kind of tuck in. And then you kind of tucking in behind the bar bag and the Saddleback everything's in line and yeah, it's one of those central Asian trips. We've had ridiculous headwinds and it feels like with pioneers of the first trips we did, it kind of felt like it was literally pushing it backwards. You weren't making progress. So having these drop bars, these bags and me kind of like getting in an arrow, tuck in, cut in the middle of nowhere, it was such a better way. [00:10:42] Craig Dalton: right. Right. And when did you ultimately end up settling in Scotland? [00:10:48] Ed Shoote: Yeah, so I did a quite few of these trips. Like I said, I was working, it was actually out France in the end. When the UK was part of the EU and we could work in France easily get into that. And then I moved back to Scotland to get a job in another job, actually. No, I think that to Scotland. Get a bit homesick, I guess I've been in the UK. So we came back and set up where I am now in the tables in the south of Scotland, because it's like, it's really good here. Yeah just stuff that we needed to kind of change and to come back. And my wife was looking for a different job as well, to be honest. So, so we got here in the, yeah. And then we've just kind of loved Scotland and the writing we can do here. [00:11:23] Craig Dalton: And were you starting to see the rise of, in terms of the number of gravel, cyclists in Scotland? [00:11:30] Ed Shoote: Yeah, I think so. I'm trying to think of when we moved back in about 20, 20, 15. And I could go out and I wouldn't see a soul on these riots and I ended up, I was quite sick coming back, so I trained for kind of 24 hour racing and stuff like that. So I was doing a lot of miles and I would rarely see anyone. And it was a novelty to see type. And definitely over the next kind of five years, I've gone from feeling like I'm the only one doing this, to see entire tracks to meet you too, you know, meeting people now. And everyone's on gravel bikes pretty much on these as well. And yeah, it's just been great to see. And the the opportunities I guess, has gotten as well. Like I had a year where I did a different link from my door pretty much every day, same trails, possibly, but in different variations with different variations of them. And I just kind of. Change, I guess in like variation, I don't like riding the same route. And I think having that here is what's attracted me. And obviously that's attracting loads of writers as well to come and come at school. This is tracks that weren't really being used. I guess. [00:12:27] Craig Dalton: Yeah. From looking at your book, grab a ride, Scotland. The terrain just looks amazing. There's a lot of great photography in there. What inspired you to write this book? And why is it important to you? [00:12:43] Ed Shoote: I like to have some great story about it. I just don't say no to stuff generally when someone asks me to do it and I said yeah, why not? I'll write a book on gravel riding. I know a lot of good routes. So, so I went for an yeah, that's kind of where I am now, but it didn't take much because I've been doing so much writing. It kind of came naturally as to where I thought it should be. And the plan behind it form quite quickly. I really wanted destinations within Scotland for gravel line. So there's one here where I am, because there's so much gravel writing and there's about six or seven in the book based around these kinds of hubs of where I think there's a really good cost as a gravel rights. And that came together quite quickly. And I was really kind of passionate about this idea of centers of gravel writing centers of excellence. You could call it kind of a gravel riding and getting these routes around those. And yeah, I was really keen to covet that kind of mix between a guide traditional guide, but you put in your pocket and a coffee table kind of inspiration. Based cause I already want to get someone with photography, which is something I've kind of done over the trips for the last 10 years or so kind of worked up top skills through all those kind of adventures. Yeah. It just, it really nicely together and yeah, it's just got more and more excited about it. I guess as a side thing. [00:13:44] Craig Dalton: So as you started to sort of divide up the country or those geographic areas that, that the chapters are in effectively, are those oriented around like where the terrain is or those areas of Scotland that everybody talks about? [00:13:57] Ed Shoote: Yeah it's an interesting one because gravel riding doesn't necessarily fit with where the hot spots soar as a Mar in Scotland. So the west coast and the islands are really beautiful and stunning. Yeah. Partly the weather and the climate and the Rocky landscape there, you often find that the gravel tracks are really quite rough and hard work. The tracks often go one way. So they go to a beach or they go to a farm or a hilltops econ linked together. So actually some of the natural destinations has gotten don't work for gravel to the south where I am now works really well because we've got an abundance of forests, more land or drove roads where the cattle used to be. Driven into markets 200 years ago. It's just some really good historical roots as well. And that's kind of, yeah, I guess, reflected across Scotland. So, they're not your traditional kind of places to go. It's gone, but there's still amazing places. They've got castles. They've got locks, they've got mountains, but they're not the kind of hotspots that you might come over if you're doing like a must do tour of Scotland. So I think there's, yeah, it's nice for people coming over to get, to see a little bit more and as cheesy going real Scotland, you know, a little bit away from. Get out your car and take a photo of this announcing that everyone does in Scotland. So, yeah, [00:15:05] Craig Dalton: I mean, I think that was gravel, cyclists. That's something we all appreciate. Just even in our own backyard, just being able to see things that the majority of people aren't ever visiting, just because of the range in which we get with these bikes, if you've got a good sense of address. One of the things I, one of the things I liked about the book was there was a couple of pages on sort of the history of gravel in Scotland, not the sport of gravel cycling, but just gravel in general. And as a, as an American, I just thought it was really interesting to read about how these roads. Arrived in Scotland and what they were for originally. Do you want to spend a couple of minutes just talking about briefly that the history, because I think it's a novel from a us perspective anyway. [00:15:49] Ed Shoote: Yeah, I really enjoyed putting that in and I think yeah, I, yeah, it's inspired people because each Scrabble track has a story behind the hair and I guess they all do, but here in particular, they can be kind of categorized into these time periods. And we go back to the Roman theories when the Romans invaded the U S. They built these classic Roman roads, which are all in straight lines and some of those kind of cross into Scotland. And that's where the history of gravel starts in this book. So we're talking about the surface, as you say, rich. So, so these were kind of gravel, early gravel, Roman gravel roads and the legacy of those still exist today. So some of the routes will follow. Dear street is one of the famous Roman roads as straight up north. So that's kind of where we kind of start with the history of it. The next key kind of development, I guess, is what I touched on before is these drove roads, which is it's mind boggling really it's where they took the cattle from the Highlands or from the fells to the market. But we're not talking say a 10, 10 mile trip. We're talking the length of the country, which I know in the U S is probably not massive, but they drove them down to London from Scotland, which is, I dunno, 5, 6, 700 miles. They were walking with cattle to sell them at the market and they'd walk. And they did that on these routes across the Highlands, essentially all the way. And these became established trading routes. They got better surfaced and a lot of them still exists. A lot of them are tarmacked into two main routes road routes, but a lot of them existed these gravel roads. So, Grover tracks. So yeah, I think there's quite a few points out in the book. The next kind of stage is Scotland's history. It's where. The English. I'm trying to choose my words carefully here as an English, but when the English basically came up and impose their rule, let's say to joint by the union to Scotland became part of the United Kingdom. And to do that, there was the kind of uprisings against it from the Scots and the English bill, quite a lot of military roads to kind of question this in the 17 hundreds. And a lot of those were built a very good standard and starting bridges across rivers and. Widespread on the maps and they are generally the backbone, a lot of the big gravel routes that, that we now ride in Scotland. Again, a lot of them up on Altamont roads, but a lot of them still exist in pretty similar form to what they were like two, 300 years ago. And you can kind of imagine these kinds of lesions of soldiers muscling through the myths and the folk from ruined Fort to ruin castle it's quite evocative. It's yeah, it's an interesting time in Scottish history, really. And gravel was at the heart of it. The next thing really is the big estates we have here. So we call them a states that kind of landed Gentry in the upper class. What huge swaves of Scotland to go basically hunting and shooting as a, as recreation, and to do that. They defiling clearances. They basically pushed out all the Scots and the love of the locals who lived there. And a lot of them then immigrated up to north America and lost their homes and livelihood. Chapter and Scottish history. And from that, a lot of tracks were lost because the houses in the villages went, but actually the new estates put in a lot of tracks. And we're seeing that again, more recently coming up to two kind of modern day, they're putting a lot of land rovers tracks with Jeep tracks to, to access the states for shooting still. And that's controversial in some courses, but for gravel riding, it just opens up miles and miles of these. We have the right to access and Scotland, which is another key factor. So we have an open access code, which allows us to respond to the access pretty much any track we see so long as it's not conflicting, kind of with the land use or kind of industry that's operating on its own. So that basically means we can go anywhere. So all these tracks exist and we can put them and ride them, which is really good. So yeah. [00:19:13] Craig Dalton: I saw that. I saw that legal note in the book and found that fascinating again as a north American. And I remember also experiencing this in New Zealand. It's just, it makes so much sense if there's land and you're using it responsibly, you're welcome to enjoy it. And there's no impediments across the board. [00:19:29] Ed Shoote: Yeah, it's one of the reasons I moved to Scotland because in England, you don't have that in England. We have it in Scotland. And yeah it's responsible access. So it's thinking about kind of your actions and. Taking note of what countryside is being useful, but yeah it's amazing. Yeah, I, couldn't not live somewhere where we can do that. I think you just take it for granted. [00:19:48] Craig Dalton: Yeah. When you think about inviting people to Scotland to ride, what type of equipment do you think is best? Does it, you know, in the U S I think it varies so dramatically. Like you can, you know, you can be in Florida, riding dirt roads and be on a glorified road bike versus, you know, here in Marin county, I want big tires and frankly, I'm a fan of suspension on gravel bikes. [00:20:09] Ed Shoote: I think generally expect a little bit rougher than what I think you're used to over there. Cause I think our kind of dream gravel is probably more your standard gravel where it's smooth and Nazi bumpy. It's generally a bit more Rocky, a bit coarser. And in the book I grade it from one to five, one being kind of your smooth gravel grinding kind of race tracks that you've got to think of as there's loads of long races. Whereas we could generally sit in the middle where we have a ton of Clayton, slightly coarser, gravel, which is rougher on the upper body. So putting in some kind of suspension, isn't a bad idea. It's not essential, but they're getting those tires up to at least. If I didn't have to in the book 42 millimeters as a minimum on a six 50 or 700 seat setup, but I generally run nearer 47 to 50 millimeter tire, to be honest. Just to give that a bit more. And comfort. I don't have suspension on my bike, but unimodal people are kind of putting the stems and the forks on as well. Just to give them a little bit more give on some of the rougher stuff, but yeah, that's probably the key that [00:21:06] Craig Dalton: Yeah. And on, on the roots, are you what type of climbing do you experience in Scotland? [00:21:11] Ed Shoote: It's all relative. It's quite steep Hills can be quite, I'm quite sure. And they can go on as well. So it gets the highest kind of point is around 700 and the meters, I think of off the top of my head in the book. So that's probably about, it could be up to five or 600 meter climb. In Longo, it's pretty unusual to do that sized climate generally around 300 meters at time. But actually it can be pretty relentless because you're going up and down throughout the rights of the, yeah, the usually over a thousand. Climbing her route for a kind of the average would say and some of them are too like couple of thousand as well. So yeah, quite a lot of climbing. And I think the gear ratios are recommended as well as is had something below a one-to-one ratio. Just to give you a bit of help of the Hills as well, because they are quite steep in places. [00:21:55] Craig Dalton: as you were designing routes, did you spend a year traveling through Scotland and riding every road you. [00:22:02] Ed Shoote: yeah. When it was a COVID kind of project. So, as well, so we went into lockdown. I could kind of get out on my own often easier. So I was doing a lot of on my own and writing big routes, Lincoln, as many as I could together. And then you have a weekend where nothing works and you've tried all these new routes and they're just not quite up to scratch. Or you have a weekend where you get three out of it and think, well, these three are brilliant individual routes. And I kind of combined a few of them into which I think is a beauty of the book as well, actually is you can combine them into bypass and routes quite easily. So the clusters of routes across. It's pretty obvious. And it does give tips on how he's blinking together. And I actually researched quite a lot by linking them into my backpack and bike bags on, and that's spent I spent a long weekend riding them all together to kind of get a feel for them. And again, we Scott any can wild camp, you know, you're free to wild. Come on that route wherever you find a nice spot as well, which [00:22:48] Craig Dalton: We discovering sort of tidbits of GPX files and different things online to give you a hint that this area of Scotland might be right for your exploration. [00:22:58] Ed Shoote: I've really tried not to. And I, it's funny because I get accused sometimes on online. I noticed when I read some of the kind of review comments and things oh, he's stolen my route and I'm really, I really didn't stay here. It's just a coincidence because I tried really hard to kind of look at the base maps from scratch and not look at routes. So I did something different. Yeah. As a result of that. Yeah. It's obviously overlap with stuff that's already out there, but it's quite a lot of different twists and things as well, because I tried to do it from scratch, but I had a lot of time during lockdown as well. So I did a lot of Mac. [00:23:31] Craig Dalton: Right. And you touched on this before. It wasn't that you wanted to methodically go through the entire country of Scotland and throw your bike on every mile or kilometer. You were really just focusing on what are the best areas to ride and what are going to be the best experiences for riders coming to Scotland. [00:23:50] Ed Shoote: Yeah, I think I wouldn't call it the very best 28 routes in older Scotland because these people would be one in the far north, but that isn't. I just don't think that you'd get a guidebook when adopted all over the country. You never going to ride more, actually view, stay for a weekend, a long weekend, or even a week in some places you write all of those routes. So you'll get somewhere else and you write all of those routes and you'll actually write all the routes in the book probably quite easily. And if you're dotting them all over, you won't. So, so yeah, it was a deliberate kind of focus not to explore every hidden corner of Scotland, but focus on where I thought the best stuff was going to be for people coming to. [00:24:22] Craig Dalton: Yeah. And in your mind, you know, what is a great Scottish root? What are some come to the few of the check marks you would love to see if you were bringing someone on their only ride they're going to do in Scott? [00:24:32] Ed Shoote: Good question. I the one that seems to be going down pretty well so far is something called that the calendar monster loop, which is a 128 kilometers, and it's got a bit of everything. It's got steep climbs. It's got really remote tracks that go past coffees. It's a kind of. Overnight shelters, roll cottages. So taking some of that kind of heritage comes down to some of the big locks in the middle of the country. And then you get some great views on the bigger mountains and Mon as we call them, which are generally above a thousand meters in height. So yeah, it takes in a bit of everything and 128 kilometers is it's I think it's the longest day route in the book. So yeah, it's a challenge. It's rough. It's long. It's. So, yeah, that's gone down, it has a bit of everything. So it's gone down really well. I think yeah I just really enjoyed some of the hidden gems where I didn't expect there to be such good writing and such history and things along the way. So there's other routes where you've got castles. I never knew existed done. There may. There's a, there's an amazing atmospheric castle that I never knew was there and it's just in the malls and the track is perfect to it. So, so yeah, there's also hidden gems in there, but I think, yeah, having a little bit of everything in there is great. [00:25:35] Craig Dalton: Yeah. Yeah. As a north American, I think coming over there, anytime you kind of come across a dilapidated castle or an overnight rock structure, or even those stone bridges, you mentioned in the history of the development of gravel, I think it was just, for me, it would be super novel to just be riding those pop past those types of bits of history. [00:25:56] Ed Shoote: Yeah. Yeah. And now we take that for granted, I guess. Oh, there's a cost of just never there yet. 15 hundreds, monastery just opposite my house, where the monks used to live in like 500 years ago. And it's just like, oh yeah, it's just where the kids play. It's quite, it's got Cooley [00:26:11] Craig Dalton: offline. We were talking about how Scotland is home to some dramatic weather. What's the best time of year. If you're recommending someone from the outside to come over to Scotland, what's the best time of year to do some Scottish. [00:26:21] Ed Shoote: Wait. Kind of in it, to be honest, I think may into June is usually good weather. It's long days, long, long daylight hours you know, can be riding in the north till midnight, almost. Which is great. The midges haven't come out, which is a key consideration. So they're not mosquitoes. This is a smaller, it's just a nuisance really, rather than anything, but they do come out in force in the summer. So this time of year is quieter for that. Yeah, the daylight, the warmth, the sunshine, I guess it's usually pretty reliable. The mid July time is I was gonna say monsoon season, but it's not quite it's just where to generally in July and August in Scotland. So, yeah. And you've got the majors. You can get a little bit oppressive, like a little bit of plumbing. We don't get heat, I should say as well compared to what you guys get, but you know, it can be kind of close and niches and things. So it's not quite as nice as it's fresh in the spring time. This spring. [00:27:07] Craig Dalton: Yeah. Yeah. And I realize this next question may be akin to choosing your favorite. But if you had to point to three or four routes in the book that you really believe are our must do's. If you're visiting Scotland, what would they be? And give us a little bit of the geography of where in the country, relatively though they would sit. [00:27:28] Ed Shoote: so the Northeast, the Eric or the Ken national park is definitely a must visit for gravel writers because it's. Absolutely stunning. It's got a lot of native Caledonian pine forest. And in between it there's this court sand like white yellowy kind of tracks that glimmer in the sunshine as you go across. And it's actually beautiful. And it goes past the Royal families, Highlander state at Balmoral, which is pristine and like the tracks on that state of pristine as well. And you can ride right on those tracks and you might bump into kind of the Royal land Rover as you go past sometimes. It's just beautiful. And the work they've done to preserve the find forest service. There's lots of wildlife as well. So the kangaroo has got about three routes up there and I think they're all up to practice to be honest. It's definitely up there. I'm trying to think where else there's too many options. It's [00:28:12] Craig Dalton: Because you've got 28 routes. Was it in the book? [00:28:15] Ed Shoote: yeah, I'm trying to think. I'm trying to pick another, I'm biased to where I am in the south. It's off the kind of normal track was people had north, but here we've got this kind of really quiet, empty, relatively isolated kind of feeling in the Hills down here, which is just south of Edinburgh. And there's a couple of routes here, which take you through some kind of really nice that it's simply less steep and kind of more rolling, but equally beautiful and like quite a lot of, like I say, castles and heritage along the way as well. So just a few routes here. I would definitely cause it's quite easy to get to as well. If you're flying into Edinburgh it's quite quick. It's 20 miles, 20 miles away. So it's not far at all. So [00:28:52] Craig Dalton: Yeah, that sounds good to say, if you're coming to Scotland, chances are, you're going to want to visit Edinburgh if you hadn't already, because it's such an amazing city. So to be able to pop out and do a little riding there, and what would you take a train to get up to the sort of the north, if you had your bike? [00:29:06] Ed Shoote: Yeah. W coming here to the south, our buses, that kind of scheduled buses, which. Run pretty ready to take bikes. So they have spike spaces within the bus. You're not going to on the back, you just roll them in the bus and then take your bikes down, which is really cool. But yeah, north to the Highlands. Yeah. Trains are your best bet. You have a word of warning, usually at the Brooklyn, minivans just warn, but we're getting better and better. We're getting more dedicated bike characters come in and Scotland, which is really cool to see. So after 20 spaces, the character going to dedicate to just by. So that's, yeah, it's getting easier and easier, but yeah, the trains are in a good way. [00:29:38] Craig Dalton: Yeah, exciting. What's next for you? Do you have any more writing projects ahead of you or any frankly, any adventures on the bike that you're able to go off on and [00:29:47] Ed Shoote: Well, I'm enjoying talking about bikes cause I've actually had quite a nasty injury in my shoulder. So I've been off the bike for two months now kind of a year, a fractured collarbone and AC joint dislocation. So yeah, it's it's got a, quite a lot of metalwork in there which is trying to heal. I'm planning a lot of things and the book has gone down really well. I'm really pleased with how it's gone down. So the publishers are saying, what do you want to do next? So I'm thinking of different things to do around a different version probably of gravel rights as well. And yeah, probably later in the year of like packing trips somewhere, probably in Europe, probably to, towards this Lele somewhere six is kind of on the horizon. So, [00:30:22] Craig Dalton: Do you think your next gravel book would be about? I continue to be about the, you know, the UK or would you, I know you've been all over the world. [00:30:30] Ed Shoote: well, the publisher's telling me that my central Asian travels are too niche, but I might self publish a book come out anyway. Cause I think it's quite cool that I just love that area of the world. So, so I think there's one there. In terms of what did Scotland, I think there's probably a longer section, longer routes would be cool to do so bypassing routes that aren't currently. Official ones. I think that's what I've kind of got in mind to start working on them, starting to plot a few ideas around that as well. So I think from a book point of view, that's going to be next, but I'm keen to get on an adventure and I've missed, as I said, the best time of year in Scotland as well, seeing it's in talking about bikes and write about bikes, which is I'm keen to gallery. [00:31:07] Craig Dalton: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. Well, thank you so much for joining us. Thank you for putting the effort into putting this book out there. As I mentioned offline, I'm a big fan of the idea of gravel travel and without guide books like this, that help just give you a starting point for what regions you should look at and give you a little bit of information. It's just hard to get off the dime. So hopefully this is going to bring a lot more riders to Scotland to enjoy the beautiful country there. [00:31:32] Ed Shoote: Yeah. Thanks. Thanks telling me you want it. It's great to talk to you about that Scotland and grow a lot in general. So, yeah. Thanks. [00:31:37] Craig Dalton: Yeah. So that's going to do it for this week's edition of the gravel rod podcast. Big, thanks to ed chute for talking to us about gravel riding in Scotland. I'm super intrigued. But what he had to say. Big, thanks to our friends at athletic greens for supporting the show. Remember, visit athletic greens.com/the gravel ride. To get a free one year supply of vitamin D and five free travel packs. If you're interested in connecting with me, I encourage you to join the ridership. It's our free global cycling community. That's www.theridership.com. And if you're able to support the show financially, please visit buy me a coffee. Dot com slash the gravel ride. Until next time here's to finding some dirt under your wheels

Old breweries compact time and preserve it. The hands of old brewers are evident in every dent and scuff. Their habits are preserved in the movements of the brewers they trained. When I stepped into Caledonian's brewhouse, wort steaming and foaming in weird bespoke coppers, it might have well been 1869.