Outside In Podcast: Recent Episodes
John D Burns
From the Highlands of Scotland, climbers, hikers and nature lovers talk about their experiences in the wild
t take place on adventurous roads in the remote Highlands, it takes place in our urban jungles. As a cyclist myself, I know just how challenging it can be to cycle to the local shops. (I recently fell off my bike in the Co-Op car park. It was my fault.) I thought it would be good to talk to people who are trying to make these short journeys many of us make, safer and easier.In this podcast I travel to Norwich to talk to Peter Silburn about the Norwich Cycling Campaign. Peter is chair of the Norwich Cycling Campaign, a small voluntary group which campaigns for more and better cycling infrastructure in Norwich and the surrounding area, to enable more people to choose cycling as a means of getting about.Peter SilburnAny sort of campaigning is equal parts intensely frustrating and deeply rewarding, and it can take a long time before your efforts bear fruit. One way to keep motivated on the long haul is to celebrate small wins.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSqauucqkoA“We’re campaigning for a high-quality network of cycle routes across the Norwich region, but that’s no reason not to celebrate getting a dropped kerb installed or some vegetation cut back on a cycle path.”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQdM_2cYHCIPeter believes passionately in the role that the humble bicycle can play in building a better society. The benefits are many and varied: better for your health, reduced air and noise pollution, reduced traffic congestion, fewer deaths and injuries on our roads and reduced cost of transport in a cost of living crisis to name a few............................................................................................................................................................................................John D. Burns is an award winning outdoor author. Read more of his work by clicking the book cover below.
As you gaze across the landscape of the Highlands you will see vast areas of magnificent hills and lochs that stir the imagination, but look closer at that scenery and a different picture emerges. What the tourist sees from their car windscreen, or the hillwalker admires from the summit of a mountain, is not a wilderness where nature rules, it is a scarred, desolate land, stripped of its forests and wildlife where nature clings to the edges of the landscape by its fingertips.You can play your part in showing just how important rewilding is by signing the Rewilding Nation CharterIn this podcast, John D. Burns talks to Steve Micklewright Past - Convenor of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance and Chief Executive of Trees for Life about the organisations that are working together across for a wilder Scotland. Steve Mickelwright“Climate breakdown and nature loss mean we face an unprecedented threat to our way of life and our children’s future. But it’s not too late. Scotland can lead the way as a Rewilding Nation to benefit nature, climate and people,” said Steve. Scotland is ranked 212 out of 240 countries and territories for the state of its nature, and 11% of its species face extinction. Intensive agriculture and climate breakdown are having the biggest impacts on biodiversity, according to the authoritative State of Nature 2023 report, with other threats including non-native forestry, pollution, and introduced species.This is undermining access to food, fresh water and clean air. It is hampering efforts to lock away carbon, and harming people’s health and wellbeing, says the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, a coalition of more than 20 organisations.Beaver Release, Glen Affric 24th October 2025Photo: Paul Campbell.But growing numbers of communities, charities, farmers and landowners are taking action to turn Scotland’s nature crisis around – helping society cope with climate breakdown’s floods, wildlife die-offs, droughts and crop failures, while creating jobs and economic opportunities.The Scottish Rewilding Alliance calculates 2.1% of Scotland’s land is now rewilding, with more than 150 projects covering at least 160,000 hectares, from community woodlands to landscape-scale partnerships. This includes members of Rewilding Britain’s UK-wide Rewilding Network, and the Scotland-wide Northwoods Rewilding Network, led by SCOTLAND: The Big Picture.Rewilding 30% of Scotland can be achieved by restoring wild habitats including peatlands, native woodlands, wetlands, rivers and seas, with no loss of productive farmland. Rewilding goes hand-in-hand with nature-led farming, fishing and forestry, the Alliance says.Produced by SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, the Why Not Scotland? film explores the Scottish landscape through the eyes of Flo Blackbourn, a young Scot from Glasgow, who sets out on a personal journey to find inspiring examples of major nature recovery around Europe.https://youtu.be/FFypWj1bjPk?si=G_iDTwWx6nM_od-cOne of the great success stories of rewilding has been the reintroduction of the beaver into Scotland.A family of five beavers and a beaver pair have been released at two sites on Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin in the Glen Affric National Nature Reserve in the northwest Highlands. The beavers were relocated under licence from agricultural land in Tayside to an area where their natural behaviours are expected to positively benefit the landscape and biodiversity. Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), which manages the 17,604-hectare NNR, has been working in partnership with Trees for Life on the initiative since 2022, supported by Beaver Trust. The project has included three phases of extensive consultations with local communities and land managers.FLS North Region Manager, Alex Mcleod, said: “Beavers being translocated to Glen Affric is the culmination of a long, exacting and thorough process for FLS and Trees for Life. Fully engaging with the local Affric communities,
Specialist ‘hand build’ footpath contractors from Cairngorm Wilderness Contracts have spent nearly 800 days working on site, often in incredibly challenging conditions, to create a robust footpath that will provide sustainable access for years to come. They have been supported by volunteers from OATS who have assisted with the path works on a number of occasions throughout the project.Credit James RoddieMountaineering ScotlandMountaineering Scotland is the membership and representative organisation for hill walkers, climbers and ski tourers in Scotland, with a membership of around 16,000 individual and club members and 130 affiliated clubs. We aim to inspire and encourage people to enjoy the benefits of walking, climbing and ski touring and provide guidance and skills training to mountain users to promote safety, self-reliance and responsible access in Scotland’s mountains and climbing venues.Outdoor Access Trust for ScotlandThe Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS) is a ground-breaking environmental charity. We promote sustainable access – developing, building and fixing upland and lowland paths, path networks, habitats and trailhead facilities, in popular, remote, and fragile places. We do this to support outdoors enthusiasts, land managers and local communities, and promote the health and wellbeing benefits of path use. We are at the forefront of developing partnerships to finance conservation projects, collaborating with others to make Scotland’s outdoor access network fit for the future, and bringing people together to learn how to make places that matter better for all.
s music HEREHis solo music project is Sulidae, and his album first album Kitchen Sink Dharma was released in August 2022 to critical acclaim. The album was chosen as the featured album of the week on BBC Radio Scotland. His second album …an invincible summer received similar acclaim and success. He is currently recording his third album which will be released later this year.He released his first book Lots of Things in January 2023 which is a collection of poetry, prose and photographs and his second book of poetry Child in the Growing Old. Was released by Seahorse Publication in 2025.His poetry has been widely published in Scottish literary publications such as Dreich, S.C.A.P, Stanza and in Sweetycat Press (USA). He is a member of the Glasgow City of Poets and his poem The Swift In The Passing was commended at the Paisley Book festival in 2024.John will be appearing live in his one man show Bothy Tales on the 20th of June at Kincraig Community hall.Click HERE to book your tickets or follow the QR Code.
recollections of his life amongst the mountains in his recently published book, Essays from the Edge.Yvon ChoinardHalf DomeFrost, Robbins, Chuck Pratt and Yvon Chouinard on top of the North America Wall. Adventure sports Journal
s biggest walks. Martyn HoweHowe also discovers that long-distance backpacking – a simple life, liberated from consumerism by carryingjust a few important possessions, and free from online addiction – gives him time to reflect and processmany issues, often through the lens of public art or through observing the juxtaposition between industryand nature. The Coast is Our Compass explores England’s relationship to its coastline and its importance toour identity: the sea-cliffs, estuaries, saltmarshes and beaches hold uncountable memories and heritagethat shape our inner world.Forth BridgeOur coast offer some dramatic contrasts between industrial and urban settings to remote and wild places.Why do we walk? Why do we like to be beside the sea? And what happens when you infuse thesequestions into a journey around the coast of England – a pilgrimage in search of art, culture, communityand glorious natural wealth along the world’s longest managed coastal path? Extending well beyond theconfines of a walking memoir, The Coast is our Compass addresses all this and more.Art is an important part of the exploration of our coastline and illustrates our intimate connection with the border of our land.After 40 years as a multinational technology executive, MartynHowe (trailplanner.co.uk) rediscovered his passion for walkingoutdoors, completing all of Britain’s 19 National Trails in 2016 –covering 3,000 miles over 153 days through some of the world’s mostwonderful and diverse landscapes. Howe’s 2021 book Tales from theBig Trails tells this story. Upon finishing the final trail, at Cromer inNorfolk, he learned of an audacious plan to build a new 2,700-mileNational Trail around the coast of England – a trail now known as theKing Charles III England Coast Path. In Howe’s mind, there was noquestion that this new route needed to be walked. Howe shares theseexperiences in his second book, The Coast is Our Compass, whichventures deeper into how it feels to undertake a coastal pilgrimage, andhow it helped him learn more about himself and the challenges theworld faces.
Sound editor Derek WilliamsOne of the things that we often forget when we travel through wilderness areas is the sound of the wild. We often talk about stunning views and the rugged cliffs that we see and perhaps the visual impact of wild places often makes us forget the soundscapes we walk through. In his book, The Edge of Silence, Neil Ansell, explores this world of sound by identifying the iconic sounds of the birds and animals that populate our wild Highlands.This moving book charts Neil’s mission to hear rare and elusive creatures that he had not previously encountered. This journey takes him from the mountaintops and islands of the Scottish Highlands to the marshes of England and the hills of Wales. Many of these species are in grave danger of extinction, so the future Neil faces, devoid of their distinctive calls, is one we all must fight to prevent.Neil AnsellLOCATIONS AND AND ANIMALS:Great northern diver (Nether Lochaber, Scottish Highlands), Ptarmigan (Ardgour, Scottish Highlands), Little Grebe (Ardgour, Scottish Highlands), Bittern (Morecambe Bay, Lancashire), Natterjack toad (The Wirral), Red-throated diver (Ardgour, Scottish Highlands), Corncrake (Coll), Snipe (Coll), Black grouse (North Wales), Greenshank (Ardgour, Scottish Highlands), Puffin (Canna and Sanday), Storm petrel (Mousa, Shetland), Whimbrel (Shetland), Red kite (Perthshire), Otter (Sunart, Scottish Highlands), Manx shearwater (Rum)Great Northern Diver
After Australia I touched down in Singapore to ride through the fierce heat and humidity of Southeast Asia in April, through Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam to Hanoi. I lost one clothing size in the process, drinking up to 12l of water to survive the heat. From there my brother joined me for three weeks cycling across Northern Iran, the highlight of my trip, sampling the outstanding hospitality of the Iranian people, and riding up to the highest pass of the journey at 3150m. Crossing Turkey the rest of the trip took me through the Balkans and back to my family in Germany, and from here the long way to Scotland.https://youtu.be/VuxbjeJDMnAClick Here to book my Bothy Tales performance at FWMF
s book will inspire its readers with his thirst for life. He is someone who said thank you and made an enormous contribution in doing so.Thank you Paul.If you would like to support the incredible work of mountain rescue please click here
John D. Burns talks to ultra runner Jen Scotney about the solace she found in running and how she has coped with the health challenges she has faced that have left her without the sport she loved. Running Through the Dark is a deeply personal book which faces the challenges of bereavement, chronic fatigue and facing up to losing a life long passion. Jen Scotney boasts an impressive record as an ultrarunner with podium finishes in the 108-mile Montane Winter Spine Challenger South and the 190-mile Northern Traverse. She is host of the Resilience Rising Podcast, a coach, writer, Mountain Leader and yoga teacher, which have followed her career as a human rights lawyer. Jen ScotneyShe has appeared in magazine features for Runner’s World, Trail Running and Women’s Running. She has been a guest host on the Wild Ginger Running YouTube channel, and a guest on the Tough Girl Podcast. She crewed for John Kelly’s successful Pennine Way fastest known time as well as for his Wainwrights Round in the Lake District. She grew up in the Peak District and now lives in the Scottish mountains with her husband Marcus and Sherlock the beagle. She is a trainee member of Killin Mountain Rescue Team. Running Through the Dark is her first book.
Everyone who explores the outdoors has a special relationship with their clothing. A cagoule can keep you safe in a storm, a duvet jacket might keep you warm through a freezing night, or a pair of gloves may save your hands from the numbing cold.In their new book, Mountain Style, Henry Iddon And Max Leonard are taking a look back over the years to the birth of outdoor equipment. in this podcast I'll be chatting to them about how the birth of specialist mountain clothing in the UK charts not only the growth of the outdoor industry but also a socail history of rising social mobility.When George Mallory made his fateful attempt on Everest in 1922 he was wearing was a high-tech windproof gabardine material, cut as a traditional Norfolk jacket style. Hi partner Sandy Irvine had fitted new-fangled zippers on to his clothing, to help with doing it up at altitude but that was all the specialist equipment the pair had. Until the 1950s most hill goers wore adapted street clothes and were wet and uncomfortable in all but the most benign mountain weather.Then things began to change.In Mountain Style, Max and Henry chart the rise of the out door industry and the growth of clothing designed for use in the outdoors as climbing and hillwalking boomed in the UK, creating a demand for functional, rugged clothing that could cope with the mountain environment.Henry Iddon Max LeonardFor my generation of outdoor folk most of our kit came from Army Surplus stores. My first pair of winter walking trousers were my uncle's RAF trousers. They were wool, incredibly warm and comfortable. There's something reassuring in knowing your trousers played their part in the downfall of Hitler. For decades the image of a hillwalker in the public imagination was of someone in a bobble hat. That was probably because Tom Weir was the only walker most people saw on TV and he was never with out his woollen bonnet.Berghaus advertFootloose issue 27 July 1985The story of the development of outdoor clothing is a social history. In the early years mountaineering was the reserve of a small number of people who had the leisure time and the funds to be able to travel to the mountains. Specialist outdoor gear began by a small number of elite climbers combining the technology from North sea oil and the sailing community to make the clothing they needed Over the years working class folk became more affluent and outdoor clothing attracted big manufacturers and entered the mass market. Then, being practical and comfortable, it made its way to the man in the street who had no intention of going near a hill but wanted something that would keep him dry. I know I'm getting old because my early mountain kit is now preserved in a museum.Mountain Style is available to pre-order now and will fascinate everyone with an interest in the history of outdoor pursuits whilst many old codgers like me will delight in in finding something and saying. "I had one of those!"
John D. Burns talks to Kat Hill about her new book, Bothy, and her delight in these remote shelters.The pace at which our lives become increasingly complex seems to constantly accelerate. The computers, phones and artificial intelligence that we have created to release us from mundane chores seem, in fact, to have enslaved us. Who can resist constantly checking the phone to catch the latest trend and social media? Once we could escape the world by merely walking away from a phone that was attached to a wall. At one time there was a place where work, and even the cares of the world, could not reach us. Sadly, it seems that this time has passed and no matter where we are the electric machine clamours for our attention. Perhaps it is for this reason that the simple shelters scattered across the Highlands, known as bothies, have an increasing attraction.Kat Hill is an author & researcher based in the Highlands of Scotland, and her work focuses on questions of landscape, people, and heritage in various contexts. She has a PhD from the University of Oxford (2011), where she was also a British Academy Postdoctoral Award holder. Most recently she held an Environmental Humanities fellowship at the Institute of Advanced Studies in the Humanities at the University of Edinburgh and completed an MA in Environmental Humanities at Bath Spa. She is a Fellow at the IAS, Princeton University for 2024-25. Kat lectured at Oxford, UEA and Birkbeck College for ten years before leaving academia and London for a life in Scotland to write. She currently works as a Community Engagement Coordinator for Highlands Rewilding and offers bespoke 1-2-1 tutoring. She is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt and a European champion.Travelling to bothies around the UK, this book reveals the history of these wild mountain shelters and the people who visit them. With a historian’s insight and a rambler’s imagination, she lends fresh consideration to the concepts of nature, wilderness and escape. All the while, Kat weaves together her story of new purpose with those of her fellow wanderers, past and present. She moves from a hut in an active military training area in the far-north of Scotland to a fairy-tale cottage in Wales. Along her travels, she explores the conflict between our desire to preserve isolated beauty and the urge to share it with others – embodied by the humble bothy. To order your copy lick HEREGelder Sheil BothyThese are just a few of the Bothies you can find in the Highlands of Scotland. They are maintained by the Mountain Bothies Association which relies on donations to carry out its work. Donate to the MBA HEREYou can read stories about my travels to remote Bothies in my best selling book, Bothy Tales. I'm writing Bothy Tales II right now. Available in the Autumn.Buy Bothy Tales HERE
It is almost 100 years since climbers, George Mallory and Sandy Irvine, vanished into the clouds high on Mount Everest and were never seen alive again. Their disappearance sparked the greatest mystery in mountaineering. We will never know if they reached the summit and exactly what caused their fateful accident. Listen to Mick talking about his new book, Fallen, Mick Coneferey, as he tells his intriguing version of the story.Mick Conefrey is an award-winning writer and documentary maker. He made the landmark BBC series Mountain Men, Icemen and The Race for Everest to mark the 60th anniversary of the first ascent. His previous books include Everest 1922, Everest 1953, the winner of a LeggiMontagna award, The Last Great Mountain, the winner of the Premio Itas in 2023, and The Ghosts of K2, which won a US National Outdoor Book award in 2017.George MalloryIn the years following his disappearance, Mallory was elevated into an all-British hero. Dubbed by his friends the 'Galahad' of Everest, he was lionised in the press as the greatest mountaineer of his generation who had died while taking on the ultimate challenge. Handsome, charismatic, daring, he was a skilled public speaker, an athletic and technically gifted climber, a committed Socialist and a supremely attractive figure to both men and women. His friends ranged from the gay artists and writers of the Bloomsbury group to the best mountaineers of his era. But that was only one side to him. Mallory was also a risk taker who according to his friend and biographer David Pye, could never get behind the wheel of a car without overtaking the vehicle in front, a climber who pushed himself and those around him to the limits, a chaotic technophobe who was forever losing equipment or mishandling it, the man who led his porters to their deaths in 1922 and his young partner to his uncertain end in 1924.George Mallory and Sandy IrvineSo who was the real Mallory and what were the forces that made him and ultimately destroyed him? Why did the man who denounced oxygen sets as 'damnable heresy' in 1922 perish on an oxygen-powered summit attempt two years later? And above all, what made him go back to Everest for the third time?Based on diaries, letters, memoirs and thousands of contemporary documents, Fallen is both a forensic account of Mallory's last expedition to Everest in 1924 and an attempt to get under his skin and separate the man from the myth.
Listen to John McLellan talking about his new novel, Unconformity.In his second novel, John McLellan continues his love affair with the wild landscape of the Highlands. A geologist at heart, John's books combine his deep understanding of the bones beneath the landscape with his sensitivity to its influence on the human heart.Get your copy HERE ‘Unconformity’ is a standalone novel, but readers of his debut novel ‘The Faultline’ will also enjoy some continuation of the characters and their journey. Set over four summers, initially in The Alps and then across the North West Highlands, we see the inner turmoil of the characters unfold. Life will change for some of them, as they head off on a different and unprecedented path. The novel is about friendships, affection and love, with a continual background of mountains and rocks. We discover the significance of a geological unconformity, not just as an important historical discovery but also as a metaphor for understanding a life. The characters weave their way through relationships as the story moves from the glacial terrain of Chamonix into the spectacular and ancient scenery of Loch Eriboll, Assynt and Torridon.Loch EribollRead my comic novel, Sky Dance, set against the challenges facing the battle for rewilding in the Highlands of Scotland. Get your copy HERE
Harold Raeburn is acknowledged as the father of Scottish mountaineering. At the dawn of the twentieth century he was pushing the boundaries of what was possible on the ice wreathed cliffs of the Scottish mountains and later in the Himalayas. Listen to author, Peter Biggar, talk about his new book, Harold Raeburn- The Steps of a Giant and his quest to chronicle the life and achievements of this enigmatic figure whose name will be written forever on the face of Scottish climbing.Raeburn was not a climber who sought to publicise his achievements and only wrote about them in very modest terms. For this reason, as Peter explains in the interview, researching the book was often difficult and the author frequently had to rely on the accounts of Raeburn's contemporary's.Peter Biggar authorHarold RaeburnAs Scottish Mountaineering Press, the book's publishers, explains the background to the book.In feats of extraordinary vitality, he made winter ascents of Tower Ridge, North-East Buttress and Crowberry Gully in four days, cycling from Fort William to Glencoe in between. His breath taking ascent of Green Gully, cutting steps up near-vertical ice with a single axe, was doubtless the hardest ice climb anywhere at the time and was unsurpassed in difficulty in Scotland for nearly three decades. But perhaps Raeburn’s finest achievement was the first winter ascent in 1920 of Observatory Ridge, which remains one of Ben Nevis’s longest and most serious winter climbs. These routes, amongst so many others, were visionary, while beyond Scotland, he pioneered climbs in the Alps, Norway and the Caucasus, attempted Kangchenjunga and was Climbing Leader on the calamitous 1921 British Mount Everest Reconnaissance Expedition. Tragically, the latter was to be his undoing, precipitating a ‘melancholia’ that had perhaps, to some degree, dogged him all his life.With extracts from Raeburn’s own elegant writings and accounts from his friends and climbing companions, The Steps of a Giant is an intimate portrait of a master craftsman, chronicling his outstanding mountaineering record while digging beneath the surface of his modest reserve to reveal a complex, driven character upon whose shoulders subsequent generations of climbing luminaries stand. SMPThis is an important book and one which rightfully holds its place in the history of Scottish Mountaineering. John D Burns
Listen to Alan Hepburn talking about Scotland's rewilding journey. Alan is a life-long environmentalist, who fought for a moratorium on whale hunting in the early eighties and today faces urgent challenges to reverse biodiversity decline and combat climate change. A teacher and a trustee of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, Scotland's rewilding charity, he works to ensure that young people have their voice heard when discussing the future of the natural environment in Scotland.SCOTLAND: The Big Picture has just released an exciting new film Why Not Scotland. The film asks an important question about the future of Scotland: - Across mainland Europe, nature is making a dramatic recovery. Wildlife is returning, forests are expanding, rivers are being set free and wetlands restored. As nature bounces back, people are returning too, finding new economic opportunities and enjoying the many benefits of a revitalised landscape.https://youtu.be/3qogJE4sqtwSo, if rewilding can happen in Italy, Germany, Poland and Norway, could Scotland be next?As this new film launches I thought it would be good to ask Alan where he thinks we are in this journey. Alan HepburnJohn D. Burns - If you walk in the hills of Scotland, as I do, you'll know that there are vast swathes of landscape laid waste as Driven Grouse moors or or kept as barren sporting estates for the sport of rich men who enjoy stalking deer. Sometimes I find myself losing heart when I think about the sheer scale of the task involved in re-introducing the wild into this enormous landscape.It is easy to forget what has been achieved and to overlook the big plans for Scotland's future that groups like SCOTLAND: The Big Picture are campaigning for. In all this destruction I sometimes have to make myself remember that things are changing. There are beaver living in the rivers of Scotland, something that has not happened for over three hundred years. You can go to the Island of Mull and see the great outstretched wings of a Sea Eagle sweeping across the Sound of Mull. All this could support a thriving economy based on sustainable projects that could revitalise many parts of the Highlands. WHY NOT SCOTLANDThis is my novel, Sky Dance, that raises many of the issues Alan and I spoke about. Get your copy hereGet your copy of this fascinating and important book here
Kinder Scout is an iconic hill in Derbyshire. Love it or loath it you can't ignore it. Listen to Sarah Lister talking about her new book on 15 best walks on Kinder.
Anna Danby talks about the huge range of activities and events available at Fort William Mountain Festival
Listen to heather Dawe talking about her new book of short stories, Dreams of Lost Buttresses.
Have you ever been on a trek and looked at your meal of highly processed dehydrated food and thought, "Is there a way I can eat better than this?"Most of us wouldn't consider eating the type of food we find in our rucksacks on a long hike when we were at home. When hiking we sacrifice taste and freshness for light weight convenience. In his new book, Cook Out, chef and hiker, Harrison Ward, proves that you can eat well in the hills.For Harrison Ward, otherwise known as Fell Foodie, the mountains are his solace, his gym and his kitchen.Harrison WardAlthough a self-taught cook, Harrison’s journey to leading a life and career as an outdoor cook, hiker and mental health speaker only began in 2016 when he reached a point where he knew he needed to turn his life around.Harrison began suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts during puberty and discovered alcohol, whilst working in multiple roles in the hospitality trade, as a coping mechanism. A move to York followed for a stint at university but Harrison soon found himself back in the pub trade and subsequently ballooning in weight, drinking up to 20 pints a day and taking up smoking full time as he battled his mental illness."I saw alcohol as an additional tool to silence my thoughts, but it ended up becoming a bit more of a poison,” says Harrison."Things all came to a head in 2016, when my relationship at the time broke down. I vowed to get sober, remove alcohol from my life, stop smoking and really try and turn things around. So I came back to my home in Cumbria and was completely open with my story to friends and family and was really welcomed with a huge show of support.”He filled the void left by alcohol with the combination of hiking and cooking, gradually tackling more and more of the Lake District fells.“I'm completely self-taught but I have always loved cooking from a very young age. I used to cook with my grandmother and from the age of 10 I’ve studied cookbooks and cooking shows quite religiously.”Harrison began sharing his culinary adventures via social media in 2017 and soon captured people’s imaginations, using a stove and simple ingredients to create hearty but delicious meals.After being sober for two years in 2018, Harrison shared the full background to his story with his followers, including how he had lived with mental health issues and struggled with alcohol."The outpouring of support I received was huge and I found it really empowering and I uncovered lots of other stories of people who have found the outdoors to try and recover."follow Harrisonhttps://youtu.be/bKZSRtAx74w?si=8IO-vHqHFvN3kJ71
In this podcast John D. Burns talks to mountaineer and producer / director, Joe French, about his important new book, Out of Mind. Joe writes as both victim and observer of trauma, providing an acutely immediate account of the events he has experienced, with a fragile honesty. Trauma made more bearable by meditation and the mindfulness of barefoot running: Joe’s spiritual and physical connection to nature and the ground beneath his feet.Out of Mind documents four separate traumatic experiences: The first free ascent of Don’t Die of Ignorance, Ben Nevis, in 2008; the 2014 avalanche at Everest Base Camp; the 2015 Nepal earthquake; and threading through all of these: Joe’s wife Julie’s battle with cancer. It describes how Joe harnesses mindfulness and barefoot running to quieten the noise of those compound traumas. In his own words, it is a book about many things: the healing power of nature, spirituality, consciousness and death, our connection to the Earth and feeling grounded.Joe French“A deep, thunderous roar began to echo all around. It was impossible to locate, but it was growing louder, as if the mountains were collapsing above me…I heard myself cry out as Base Camp began disappearing under a dark shroud, expanding ever upwards and outwards. Within seconds the fierce shockwave had hit me and I was blown off my feet. As I crouched over my camera, something screamed past my head, and I braced myself for impact.”Photo: Andrew Muggleton“On a calm day, the surface of the lochan would capture and amplify silence. The surrounding trees would hold it there in place. Within this space, waves of sound could unwind and unravel into distinct layers, separating the hum of nature from the distant rumble of civilisation, broken only by the squawk of a jay or the splash-landing of a duck. It was easy to miss these subtleties when lost in my thoughts. Tuning in to this pristine now was the truest way to draw me out of the horrific then.”
Do we take our hills for granted? Do we ever stop to think about the toll our boots and wheels are taking on the fragile mountain environment. Listen to Stuart Younie, CEO Mountaineering Scotland talking about the crucial role Mountaineering Scotland is playing in a new project, It's Up to US , Which aims to raise awareness of the need to save our upland paths and pull together funding to enable work to begin on the most sensitive areas.An TeallachAn Teallach is an iconic mountain. Seen from a distance it looks magnificent.But take a closer look.The damage from hundreds of feet is plain to see.Work is already starting to restore the path network.Click here to donate to It's Up to Us and help preserves the infrastructure of our hills.https://youtu.be/lJfXcT_6dxk?si=PJa_2o_WeCg-3aB1Stuart Younie
Get your copy HERE
John Burns talks to fell runner, Steve Chilton, about his life running in the mountains and his work as an author. Previously published by Sandstone Press Steve has now joined leading outdoor publisher, Vertebrate Publishing.
Steve Chilton
Steve Chilton is the author of four previous books on fell and mountain running, all highly regarded both inside and outside the sport. He is a long-time member of the Fellrunner's Association and has run in many of the classic fell races and mountain marathons. Steve is also a former Chair of the Society of Cartographers and of the ICA Commission in Neocartography.
Voices from the Hills is the story of the barriers encountered by the first female fell runners who fought to participate in the early days of this male-dominated sport. Despite experiencing discouragement andresistance, these women responded with personal courage and self confidence. Thanks to them, women now compete at traditional fell races, international mountain races and endurance challenges such as the Bob Graham Round in increasing numbers.
Told predominantly through interviews with pioneering female athletes who recount their lives and running careers, this is the story of a fight for equality of opportunity and reward.
John D. Burns talks to author Tim Woods about his book of stories about high places.
Available from Amazon
Twisted Mountains is a collection of short stories set among the summits of England, Scotland and Wales, from Ben Hope to the South Downs. Each tells the story of someone who has their own reasons to be in the mountains. From a vengeful student to obsessive hostel owner, the wannabe biker to the Wainwright expert with a secret. While the stories are varied in their subjects, all have mountains at their heart and a dark humour running through them. Authored by Tim Woods, Twisted Mountains provides a different take on the characters you find in and around the mountains. Tim tells their stories in the characters' varied voices, in ways that are shocking, dark, funny and sad, sometimes all at once.
Read my best selling book of tall tales from distant Scottish bothies.
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Marcus Stitz grew up behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany where all travel was closely regulated and people were only allowed into certain zones when they had obtained the correct permit. riding his bike allowed the young Markus to slip beneath the radar of the authorities and he discovered a new freedom. Cycling soon became Markus' passion and led to many adventures in the saddle including cycling around the world. Markus has now made his home in Scotland and in this podcast he talks to John D Burns about some of the great multi-day trips he has discovered on his doorstep. Released 18 May 2023 pre-order your copy hereFor all you need to know about bike packing in Scotland click hereThis sign marks the point where the barrier between east and West Germany once stood.Hot tenting is another great way to explore Scotland. Read my Hot tent Diary here
This is a mini podcast to tell you all about what I'll be doing on the 3 May in Stirling. I'm taking my show, Bothy Tales, on the road. There will be stories from my adventures. Poems about my life in the hills and quite a few laughs.Do come along if you canHere's the event link. Ochils Mountaineering Club talk - John D Burns, author Tickets, Wed 3 May 2023 at 20:00 | Eventbrite
It's remarkable how many famous authors have also been keen walkers. What is the link between walking and creativity? Linda Cracknell talks to John D Burns about her love of walking and how it brings her closer to the landscape and influences her writing.Linda Cracknell is a writer of narrative non-fiction on the natural world, as well as of fiction and radio scripts. Her first story collection was nominated for a Saltire Award (now Scotland’s National Book Awards) and the Robin Jenkins Award for environmental writing, and her essay collection Doubling Back: Ten Paths Trodden in Memory, about journeys she took on foot in Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, and Kenya, was serialised for BBC Radio as a Book of the Week. Linda CracknellAll of Linda’s writing is inspired first and foremost by place, and she teaches creative writing, especially nature and place writing. Linda talks about some of the techniques she uses to paint pictures of landscape in her writing.Linda's new book Writing landscape will be released on April 6 2023Linda Cracknell is a writer of place and nature who believes in being alert, observing, and writing from the particulars of each experience. Engaging bodily with her writing, she is someone for whom getting mud on her boots, sleeping high up in the hills, or being slapped by salt water can all be part of her process. She follows Susan Sontag's advice to "Love words, agonize over sentences and pay attention to the world.If you love walking then why not try my best selling book The Last Hillwalker. It evokes the experience of a my generation of hillwalkers who began with army surplus gear in the 70s and were part of the explosion of hillwalking.
Jon Barton, who runs Vertebrate Publishing, talks about how new guidebooks and new technology is encouraging more people with a wide range of ability into the outdoors. Once the outdoors was the kingdom of a race of bearded men in old jumpers - now all that has changed.John Barton talks about how new technology and more sophisticated guide books has changed the face of the average outdoor person. The beards and pullovers have gone. Adventurous women now form at least half the the folk you are likely to meet on a remote footpath or see halfway up a rock face.Jon Barton talks about the trends he sees in the outdoors and a new freedom for everyone.The West Highland Way guide caters for all abilities Get your copy here
Sometimes a landscape can cast a spell on you, drawing you to it and leaving you changed forever. In John McLellan's new novel, The Faultline, he charts the experiences of a group of young people whose lives are changed inexorably by the time they spend in the wilds of the the Scottish Highlands. A coming of age story, this novel is about love and life, set in a bold, uncompromising, ageless landscape. There are journeys to places from which we never return - this is the story of such a journey and such a place. Available from Ullapool BookshopJohn McLellanStac Pollaidh Photo Ketherine Douglas
From small beginnings Fort William Mountain Festival has become one of the biggest celebrations of outdoor activities in the UK. Now there's a broad range of activities from Mountain Biking, hill running, climbing and walking. As well as the brand new Golden Axe Film competition.In this episode, Hannah Francis, Content Coordinator for the Festival, talks about the Festivals rise to prominence and some of the many events on offer. Hannah FrancisClick here to book your tickets and find out more.
One of the great joys of walking in the Highlands is putting your boots on, picking up your pack and walking into a lonely landscape that has no boundaries. David Lintern joined with walkers and writers, Peter Edwards and Stephan Durkacz, to write a book that will entice you into wild places.In this podcast he talks about how all three outdoor folk were able to come together and each contribute their own unique perspective on Scotland's landscape. With stunning photography and vivid descriptions of routes chosen carefully to display the very best of Scotland's landscape here is a book that will delight both seasoned backpacker and novice walker alike.This is a book for those who dream of open hills and nights beneath the stars. Get your copy hereDavid LinternGet your copy hereAlso available from the HIGHLAND BOOKSHOP
Mountain writer and artist, Heather Dawe, talks about the challenges of capturing the light in the Cairngorms and her adventures in Sutherland. We share our fascination with old maps as works of art and a different way of looking at the landscape.
Heather Dawe
Visit Heather's website HERE
https://youtu.be/HEOOFj_muwM
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"In the 1970s nobody died but in the 1980s all that changed." Brian Hall
The 1970s were a golden age in Himalayan climbing. New techniques meant smaller teams could make fast, lightweight ascents of the Himalayan giants. Spending less time on the high mountains meant less exposure to risk and it seemed a new age of safer climbing had dawned. Then came the 1980s and the high mountains began to take a terrible toll on those who came to climb them.
In this podcast, Brain Hall, talks about his experiences living through those two decades and gives his analysis of what changed.
Get your copy HERE
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Cameron McNeish Is one of Scotland's finest mountain authors. In this podcast he talks about his new book, An Eye to the Hills, which takes the reader on a great ride through Cameron's decades in the mountains of Scotland. In the book he revisits some outstanding people who populate the landscape of our mountains. and brings us right up to date when he talks about changing attitudes to our wild places and the challenges they face.
Cameron's passion for the hills shines through this interview and the book - a love letter to Scotland's wild places.
Get your copy here
Stand-up Paddleboarding in Great Britain is the essential companion to anyone curious about one of Britain’s most exciting water sports.
In this podcast, author Jo Moseley talks about her passion for this sport and gives some great tips on how to get started in stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) in a safe and environmentally friendly manner, this guide then suggests over thirty incredible places to SUP in England, Scotland and Wales.
Listen to Jo's podcast The Paddleboarding Sunshine Podcast
Martin Dorey, campervan king, talks about his life on the road, his books and the small things we can do to protect the places we love. Martin has travelled all over the UK in his camper van and written a series of books on the joys of exploring our island.
He is passionate about protecting our countryside and established the 2 Minute Foundation encouraging all of us just to take two minutes to help clear litter and plastic from our beaches and beautiful places.
Click here to see Martin's Books
Martin Dorey
Available as one volume in paperback
Or
As three bite sized short e-books
Listen to Andrew Terrill talking about his 7,000 mile walk across Europe and his new book On Sacred Ground. Andrew spent 18 months on a long and gruelling walk. Often alone, always isolated, only his intimate connection with nature kept him moving. In this thought-provoking interview Andrew shares some fascinating insights that he came to understand on this epic adventure.
On Sacred Ground Available now from Amazon here
The Hot Tent Diaries in Paperback and 3 bite sized e-books
Listen to John Burns talking about his new book The Hot Tent Diaries about exploring the Highlands of Scotland in a heated tent.
John D Burns talks to Sara Barnes about her love of dipping into cold water and how it has given her a new lease of life. the rejuvenating properties of a cold plunge have been known by cultures across the world from the Scandinavian's love of saunas and cold plunges to icy swims in the depths of Canadian winters. The Cold Fix talks about Sara's own journey into the depths and how it has given her a new freedom and developed her confidence to explore the physical and spiritual benefits of the cold.
Available now for Pre-order
All about my new book. The Hot Tent Diaries.
https://youtu.be/w3_-3FmuON4
At times all of us dream of leaving everything behind and heading off into the wild blue yonder to start a footloose life where we can leave all our cares behind and live a life of adventure. In her new book Retirement Rebel Siobhan Daniels has done just that. Listen to her story as she talks about the ups and downs of someone who has dared to live the dream.
Ian Carter talks on Outdoors in Scotland podcast about how contact with nature is so important to all our lives.
John D Burns talks to Gerry McGarry about his love for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and his guide book to day walks there.
John D Burns talks to Derek Gow about his new book Birds, Beasts and Bedlam. In the book Derek puts forward the case for brining back the native animals of Britain and tells us about his life rewilding iconis species such as Wild Cat and Water Voles.
Listen to Russ Moorhouse talking about his year in the wild sleeping on over 200 Lake District peaks. Do you spend your working days dreaming of being out in the hills? Russ did exactly that for years working in his job as a banker. He spent his time with wealthy people helping them manage their […]
Think you know about Lyme Disease? Think again. If you spend time outdoors there are some very important facts you need to know to keep yourself and those around you safe.
Listen to Julia Knight from Lyme Disease UK talking about Lyme Disease, how it can go undiagnosed and be mistaken for other illnesses. Learn how to get a test and get the treatment you need quickly. Let's enjoy the outdoors but go equipped with the knowledge needed to be protected from this serious illness.
Wake Up To Lyme as symptoms overlap with Covid-19!
With the weather warming up, many of us are eager to get outside to enjoy our country’s green spaces. In doing so, it’s important to Wake Up to Lyme!
https://youtu.be/rY9R-v-zGlA
The symptoms of acute Lyme disease can overlap with Covid-19 symptoms. These include flu-like symptoms, fatigue and headaches. For Lyme disease patients, being diagnosed quickly and correctly is crucial in order to avoid long-term complications. A lot of people are unaware of the illness and so Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed or left untreated.
As we spend time outside in the warmer weather, it’s important to be aware of how to prevent tick bites. Ticks can be prevalent in woodland and countryside as well as in urban parks and gardens. It’s also important to know what to do if bitten by a tick to prevent further cases of Lyme disease this year.
Ticks can be as small as poppy seeds and so careful checking is key.Take a look at a map to see if where you live or where you’ll be visiting is considered high-risk for tick activity.It’s important to be aware that whilst some areas are considered higher risk, ticks have been found throughout the UK in urban parks and gardens, as well as in rural areas with long grass and woodland.Take effective tick repellent on outdoor trips and a tick removal tool.Some people who are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease continue to have debilitating symptoms such as tiredness, brain fog and aches and pains that can last for years. Symptoms are often compared with fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and of course these days, with long-Covid.It’s unclear why some people remain unwell following a tick bite and standard Lyme disease treatment has been administered but more research is desperately needed to explore better testing options and treatment protocols.Testing is not accurate meaning cases can be missed.There is no test for cure to indicate when Lyme disease has been eradicated.There are no Lyme disease specialists within the NHS.Ticks can carry multiple other infections in addition to Lyme disease, known as co-infections.
https://youtu.be/bIAmsDwGMQQ
UK registered charity, Lyme Disease UK, will be carrying out their sixth 'Wake Up to Lyme' campaign this May, which is International Lyme Awareness Month. Lyme Disease UK is a volunteer-led charity that offers support for Lyme disease patients and their loved ones. What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. Lyme Disease UK has a detailed and comprehensive guide available on their website and want to help the public ‘wake up’ to how vital tick bite prevention and early intervention can be. We can still enjoy and be amongst nature, as long as we’re informed when it comes to what steps should be taken in the event of a tick bite:
"We don't want people to be scared of enjoying the outdoors but rather that people go out armed with the facts and knowledge they need to protect themselves and others from Lyme disease. Early intervention is key, and getting that message out to the public is crucial." Natasha Metcalf, Co-founder and Chair of Lyme Disease UK.
These are the best tick removers I've found. I carry them with me everywhere on my key ring. Available from LIFESSYSTEMS John
What is the impact?
Lyme disease is a serious illness that can have a huge impact on the lives of those suffering with the condition. However,
Ever fancied taking your bike on an adventure in the Scotland? Ed Shoote talks about his new book Gravel Rides Scotland giving some great tips on 28 of the best routes to cycle on gravel tracks. Gravel biking exists somewhere between road cycling and mountain biking. It allows you to explore some remote places on routes that are everything from a few hours to a couple of days.
Available direct from Vertebrate Publishing
Ed Shoote is a writer and photographer; his work has featured in numerous outdoor and cycling magazines over the last decade. Having developed a passion for road cycling as a child in Suffolk, Ed later fell in love with mountain biking as he moved further north in the UK, and then discovered gravel riding while living in British Columbia where he explored the endless, remote logging roads.
Detailed maps
Over the years he has travelled extensively with his gravel bike in tow, particularly in central Asia. Now living in Scotland with his young family, Ed works in developing cycling in the south of Scotland and spends his spare time exploring the glens, mountains and forests across the country on his gravel bike. Gravel Rides Scotland is his first book.
Gravel riding is the fastest-growing cycling discipline – this book showcases the finest routes in Scotland, its natural home. The routes are clustered within seven outstanding gravel destinations – the Scottish Borders; Dumfries and Galloway; Argyll and Bute; Highland Perthshire and the Trossachs; the Cairngorms (split into Deeside and Aviemore); and North West Scotland.
Each section makes the perfect base for a short break, or combine some of the routes together on a bikepacking trip. Classic gravel routes such as ‘Gravelfoyle’ and the Big Country Loop in Galloway are listed alongside hidden gems including Loch Eck and the Lammermuir herring roads.
Running Adventures Scotland by Ross Brannigan contains 25 inspirational and fun running routes, the majority of which are between 10 and 29 kilometres in length, exploring the best of the Highlands and the Lowlands.
Running Adventures Scotland is all about being immersed in the landscape – whether you’re up high on a ridge, on a tranquil forest track or negotiating a technical descent – it all adds up to be an unforgettable experience.
This book will open up adventures for you across Scotland – follow in the footsteps of runners on the route of the Pentland Skyline Race, enjoy an epic day out on the stunning Sgùrr na Strì on Skye or tackle the iconic Ring of Steall.
The runs are organised into five geographical areas; there is also a bonus section with three longer routes (ranging from 63 to 153 kilometres), for those looking to take their running to the next level on a longer or multi-day adventure.
Each route includes all the information you need to help you plan your run, interesting background information about the local area, types of terrain covered, and refreshment recommendations, in addition to detailed directions, stunning photography and overview mapping.
Downloadable GPX files of the routes are also available. There are also suggestions for other routes in the area, information on relevant conservation organisations as well as a quote from a local runner to add context to the route. Go to: https://www.adventurebooks.com/collections/guidebooks-running/products/running_adventures_scotland
Let Running Adventures Scotland take you on an unforgettable journey around the best of Scotland’s stunning landscapes. Ross Brannigan is a runner, cyclist and environmentalist with a passion for adventures both wee and muckle in wild places; he often writes about his adventures on his blog. Having grown up in Scotland, Ross is passionate about the country's hills, glens, lochs, culture and wildlife. Over the years he has taken part in a number of classic Scottish hill races, including the Trotternish Ridge Race and the Ochil 2000s, as well as the Ring of Steall Skyrace. Possibly thanks to Covid, he is the current reigning champion of the Assynt Highland Games short course. Running Adventures Scotland is his first book. rossrunswild.com
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Hillwalkers enjoying the warmer weather in the lowlands are warned against being caught out by harsher conditions in Scotland’s mountains.
Although spring has arrived in the glens, upland areas are still experiencing real winter weather and conditions, with widespread snow lying in the mountains, much of it unavoidable for people heading for the summits.
And because of the warmer days and frosty nights, much of that snow has become hard and icy – a deadly skating rink for anyone not equipped with crampons and ice axe, and the know-how to use them.
Mountaineering experts and Mountain Rescue teams are urging people to make sure they are properly equipped and prepared, no matter how pleasant the weather is when they leave their car.
Ben Gibson mountaineering Scotland
Ben Gibson, Mountain Safety Adviser for Mountaineering Scotland, said: “You can go from soft snow to hard ice in just a step in the mountains just now and, without crampons, keeping your feet can be impossible. Even on a gradual slope, if you lose your footing you can start to slide and very quickly build up momentum that can take you onto steeper ground, over rocks or over the edge of a cliff.
“On ice or harder snow it can feel easier to keep a grip going uphill, so you may not realise how precarious your situation is until you turn around and try to come back down.
“Properly fitted crampons can ensure you don’t slip in the first place, and an ice axe gives you the means to stop a slip becoming an uncontrolled slide and fall.
“If you do come across unavoidable snow or ice, consider carefully whether you want to continue to the summit. Just because others are doing it, doesn’t make it any safer or appropriate for you. Good judgement of the conditions is an important part of keeping yourself safe when enjoying a day in the mountains.”
Winter conditions can pop up almost any time in Scotland's Hills.
Kev Mitchell, Vice Chair of Scottish Mountain Rescue, said: “Scottish Mountain Rescue volunteers have been busy across Scotland dealing with multiple slips, trips and falls. Even though the snow in the hills still looks pretty, it has turned into ice patches making conditions particularly treacherous.
“Without the proper equipment, such as ice axe and crampons, and knowing how to use them, it can be very easy to slip, which can turn into a nasty fall.
“Help our volunteer teams by, before heading to the hills, ensuring you are properly equipped and prepared for winter conditions. Check the mountain weather forecasts and be aware of your limits.
“Please remember if you are lost, in need of assistance or in an emergency in the mountains, dial 999 ask for POLICE then MOUNTAIN RESCUE and our volunteer teams will assist any hour, any day, any weather.”
Shaun Roberts, Principal at sportscotland National Outdoor Training Centre Glenmore Lodge, said: “Any slip on a snow patch can have a consequence and is avoidable. Even when it feels like a warm spring day, if there are snow patches on higher ground, having an ice axe and crampons and a bit of knowledge will make all the difference.”
Police Scotland Mountain Rescue Coordinator Inspector Matt Smith added: “There has been a significant rise in Mountain Rescue Incidents in recent weeks, with 40 percent more calls than the previous average. Dozens of persons have ben assisted and a number of tragic deaths have resulted.
“Scotland’s Mountain Rescue Teams, particularly those on the west coast, have been working tirelessly to deal with this increase in demand. If you are visiting our outdoor spaces in the coming weeks I’d urge you to plan carefully from reliable sources and not to assume that social media images are a true reflection of the conditions you will encounter during your day even at lower levels.”
Hillwalkers are urged to remember: it might be spring in the glens, but in the mountains they should still #ThinkWINTER. Information on climbing Scotland’s mountains in winter co...
For those of us who enjoy the outdoors in Scotland our access rights have become very precious to us. In contrast to folk South of the border we are able to enjoy enormous freedom in the outdoors that we love.
But how many of us really know what that access legislation means and what we can and cannot do when we're out in the hills. Recently came across a sign that boldly stated no camping. I posted that sign on Facebook and Twitter wondering if it contravened our access legislation. A lot of folk responded to my postings on social media many with very different views. I think it's important that we all know what are rights and perhaps just as importantly what our responsibilities are in the outdoors.
Is this sign in keeping with Scottish outdoor legislation?
In this podcast I'll be talking to Davey black, access officer for Mountaineering Scotland. I want to ask him just what our rights are and how things are changing in the outdoors so that we can get some definitive answers as to where we all stand.
Davie Black
Anyone who goes regularly goes into Scotland’s hills will know that things are changing. Even in the winter I notice that there are camper vans parked in remote spots and the rise of the NC500 has meant that in certain areas some places are inundated with visitors in the summer. Just how do we manage the inevitable conflict these changes bring?
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Heavy Whalley
Heavy Whalley is one of the most experienced mountain rescue experts in Britain. Listen to his thoughts on mountain safety and the changes he has seen in our hills over the years.
David was a son of the manse in Ayr his father was the Rev WH Whalley minister of Newton On Ayr church. His father and mother gave him a love of the hills in Arran, Galloway and the Scottish highlands.
He was a member of the RAF Mountain Rescue (MR) for 37 years. He was the Team Leader of RAF Leuchars, RAF Kinloss and Deputy Team leader at RAF Valley in North Wales. He spent his last four years working in the ARCC Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre at RAF Kinloss giving him a unique insight into Rescue in the UK. After leaving the RAF he joined the Torridon MRT serving with them for 3 years until he retired.
He was the Senior Team leader at the Lockerbie Disaster and has been involved in over 1000 Mountain and over 80 Aircraft incidents in mountainous areas. He was a member of the Executive of The Scottish Mountain Rescue Committee for over 20 years, serving for 5 years as the Accident Statistician and 3 years as Chairman of Mountain Rescue Scotland. He was awarded the BEM, MBE and the Distinguished Service Award for Service to Mountain Rescue. He is an honorary member of the Torridon and Kinlochewe MRT and Search and Rescue Dog Association Scotland.
Dave 'Heavy' Whalley
Heavy is retired and is in the process of writing a book and lecturing on Mountain Rescue and Mountain Safety in the UK and overseas. As an active climber and walker he climbs every week and is a member of the SMC & Moray Mountaineering clubs. He was Patron of a local Charity Outfit Moray that works with children in the outdoors up to Nov 2017. He has climbed the Munros 7 times and plans to complete them again this year.
He is a regular contributor on the media on TV and radio on Mountaineering and Mountain Rescue and his daily blog has in excess of 1,300,000 hits. www.heavywhalley.com
He has climbed in most parts of the world on over 30 expeditions and has completed the Munros 7 times, has 1 Corbett’s left and was a member of the successful RAF MRT 2001 Everest North Ridge Expedition.
The legendary Sea King with many years of service in mountain rescue.
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He was a member of USA in a Commerative Cycle to Syracuse in November on the 30th Anniversary of the Lockerbie Tragedy. Heavy - is now retired and is a Consultant on Mountain Rescue and Lecturer and Public after Dinner Speaker.
He still presents Mountain Safety Lectures and has spoken at the Fort William, Dundee,Arran and Keswick Mountain Festivals and is currently a Team member of the Scottish Mountain Rescue Benevolent Scheme and a honorary member of SARDA .
A regular on the hills for over 55 years, he loves the wild places and tries to ensure we maintain the Right to Roam, the bothies and our no insurance for Rescue stand in the UK for Rescues.
He enjoys introducing young folk to the mountains and wild places.
Mountain Rescue Scotland is run by volunteers and maintained by public contributions please DONATE HERE
For advice on mountain safety and much more visit
Back by popular demand. The Cairngorm Mannie himself, Neil Reid, talks about bothy news and the latest goings on in the world of Scottish Hillwalkers.
We also bat the breeze about our favourite words for walking, weather and mountain phenomena. Do let us know if you think we've missed any.
Neil Reid
Dreams of ice and snow. Here's that sastrugi we were talking about.
Photo: NOAA At The Ends of the Earth Collection Photographer: Ross Burgener,
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Join John D Burns talking to walking expert Paul Besley.
What's the best thing to do if you find yourself lost?
What's the single most important thing you can do to keep yourself safe?
What are the most common mistakes people make when they are out walking?
Find the answers to these and and 998 other questions in Paul Besley's 1001 Walking Tips.
Get your copy direct from Vertebrate Publishing
Paul Besley
Paul Besley is a writer who started exploring the British landscape while at school in the 1970s. His main focus of work is the interaction between human and land from the Neolithic period to the present day. His work has evolved into the study of how the physical environment imprints itself on humans and how we as a race respond.
North Lees Hall peaking out from the inversion below Stanage Edge. The hall was once owned by the Eyre's, an old Hathersage family. Charlotte a friend's daughter from Haworth stayed there and wrote a book in which she used the house but changed the name to Thornfield Hall. The book was called Jane Eyre.
Paul first hiked in Derbyshire as a teenager, and has honed his outdoor expertise as a volunteer ranger for the Peak District National Park, a member of Woodhead Mountain Rescue and a walking guide. His previous publications include Day Walks in the South Pennines for Vertebrate Publishing.
Available direct from Vertebrate Publishing
Scout in action
Paul has also written three guides to walking in the Peak District for Cicerone Press. He lives close to the peat and gritstone of the Peak District with his wife, metalsmith Alison Counsell, their two pet dogs Monty and Olly, and his Mountain Rescue Search Dog, Scout.
Here's your chance to ask all the cycling questions you wanted answered but were afraid to ask.
Should you go commando in cycling shorts?
How can you avoid a sore bum?
What's the best thing to shout at pedestrians?
All this and Much more when I talk to Hannah Reynolds about her book 1001 Cycling Tips
Get your copy here
Hannah Reynolds
Hannah Reynolds is a cycling writer and author. She has worked in the cycling industry for a couple of decades - writing fitness features for cycling magazines, and as an editor and content creator. Once upon a time she did a bit of bike racing but now spends most of her cycling time towing a child's trailer, touring or guiding cycling holidays.
She is co-author of France en Velo - the ultimate 1,000 mile cycle journey from the Channel to the Med
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Here's those links
Specialist cycle clothing. Endura Sport
Advice on cycle routes and active travel from Sustrans
Great cycling trails at all levels Komoot
Neil Reid
Neil Reid is a lifelong hillclimber and bothy user, and has been an active member of the MBA for about 15 years, heavily involved in the renovations of a number of Cairngorm bothies. He is one of three joint MOs for Corrour Bothy, and is active in the Eastern Highlands Area of the organisation, currently serving his second term as a trustee. He is also a member and trustee of the independent Bob Scott's Bothy Association.
Corour Bothy Photo Dan Barber MBA
Having used and valued them all his life, he is passionate about the idea and ethos of bothies and bothy culture, and is dedicated to ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy them in the same spirit. Professionally he is Communications Officer with Mountaineering Scotland and editor of 'Scottish Mountaineer' magazine.
Volunteers working on the Red house bothy.
Mountain Bothies Association (MBA) bothies are open to visitors. There is no need to book but you'll need to bring all your own food, stoves and equipment. It's a good idea to be prepared to camp as bothies can be busy.
Read MBA Covid-19 guidelines HERE
These are some of my favourite bothies
A real mountain bothy high in the heart of the hillsFriendly wee bothyGelder Shiel Bothy
If you'd like to know more about the history of mountain bothies read Ralf Storer's book
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Listen to Susanne Masters talk about her fascinating adventures exploring the unseen world of our coastal and inland wild water.
Direct from Vertebrate Publishing
Wild Waters by Susanne Masters is a celebration of the breadth of wildlife that can be found in and around our varied waterways, from oceans and rivers to rock pools and ponds. Armchair explorers can read a fascinating account of how aquatic plants and animals enrich human life. Swimmers, paddleboarders, dog walkers, families and anyone with a passion for the great outdoors can learn about local wildlife, including when and where to look for different specieswithout causing any harm.With stunning illustrations by Alice Goodridge, Wild Waters provides a tantalising insight into the world beneath the surface.
Susanne diving in Turkey Photo Derya Yildrim
Susanne Masters is a plant scientist, writer and wild swimmer who loves connecting people with nature and the environment. She studied conservation science and ethnobotany, and works on the botanical side of product development for the spa and distilling industries, with a particular interest in sustainable wild harvestingand cultivation. Susanne has written about wildlife and travel for abroad range of media, including BBC Wildlife magazine, BBC Earth, BBC Travel, Countryfile magazine, the Guardian, Red Bull Adventure and the New York Times. She writes a monthly column on wildlife for Outdoor Swimmer magazine, and has contributed to The World Atlas of Street Food and Kew’s Teas, Tonics and Tipples She has swum in the Bosphorus race from Asia to Europe, at awinter festival in China and at high altitude in Bhutan. She swims outdoors all year round in the UK.
About 71 per cent of the Earth’s surface is water, and even on dry land we remain closely connected to aquatic life. It provides us with oxygen, food, medicine and materials, and infiltrates our lives in many surprising ways. Every other breath we take is filled with oxygen provided by ocean-dwelling microscopic plants. A type of seaweed provides a means to directly test whether people are infected with viruses, including Covid-19. Robotics design takes inspiration from a pike’s ability to accelerate with greater G-force than a Porsche.
Great gifts for the outdoor person in your life. Get your copies now direct from Vertebrate Publishing and save 20%
Ramblers Scotland director Brendan Paddy
Ramblers Scotland has embarked upon a landmark court battle against a landowner’s attempts to permanently sever a scenic path through a West Highland estate. The charity - which faces legal costs of up to £82,000 in its fight to save the Glenborrodale to Acharacle path - has today launched a fundraising appeal to support its work on this and other legal cases.
Donate to help Ramblers Scotland stand up for access
The path is on the Ardnamurchan peninsula and offers stunning views of Loch Sunart. It is of great value to the local community and as a strategic long-distance trail. In 2019, two Ramblers were reported for aggravated trespass while walking peacefully on the same path, which is near to their Glenborrodale home. A sheriff court last week granted Ramblers Scotland permission to join The Highland Council in opposing a bid by Woodland Renewables to use section 28 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 to remove access rights from the affected part of the Ardnamurchan Estate.
Ramblers Scotland director Brendan Paddy said: “We always view legal action as a last resort. In fact, we haven’t entered an access case of this type in well over a decade, particularly as legal action can be so costly. “However, this is a landmark legal case featuring an historic and important path. If we don’t fight to save the route, it’ll be a significant blow to our hard-won access rights and walkers will be banned from parts of this beautiful trail forever. “I hope that lovers of the outdoors will consider donating to support our work - and deliver a resounding message that people in Scotland believe our access rights are worth fighting for.”
As well as opposing the section 28 application, The Highland Council intends to prove that a path that crosses the affected area of the estate is a Right of Way. This route has been used by generations of walkers before the area was more recently developed as a woodyard on the understanding that access rights would be maintained.
All parties are due back in online court for the next hearing on 2 February 2022. This case follows several complaints about locked gates at the estate in recent years. After being interviewed and a report sent to the procurator fiscal, eventually no further action was taken against the two local walkers who were reported for alleged aggravated trespass - but Ramblers Scotland has branded the case “unprecedented and worrying”.
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High above the mountaintops on the Isle of Mull, a huge bird is soaring. Its all-encompassing gaze records people in its Hebridean territory far below, but they are of no interest. The eagle is about its business: concentrating on the deer and fidgety hares out grazing in the morning sun, the urgent push of thermals beneath its wings, a threatening weather front way out at sea, and the restless chick back in its eyrie. This is Mull in its glory. This is what the excited, watching people have travelled so far to witness. They train their binoculars and admire, perhaps envy, the eagle with its vast freedom, knowing that such a self-willed being is part of another world – almost.
Stephen Littlewood
Stephen Littlewood's book guides the reader through that world. With superb illustrations and illuminating text, we are led to the wild side of Mull. Every facet of the island’s natural history is considered, its diverse species and many stories – past, present and future. Along the way we are reminded that wildness is not somehow separate from the human world but influenced, and shared, by nature and people together.
White Tailed Eagle Photo Martin Jones
After ‘discovering’ nature on forays among the fields and dykes of Romney Marsh, Kent, an academic career focused on supporting sustainable communities and promoting thriving green environments throughout the UK and Europe. Now resident on the Isle of Mull, Stephen continues to be surprised and delighted by all things wild.
Puffin photo Martin Jones
Photographer Martin Jones is an award-winning photographer. His interest in wildlife photography led him to the Isle of Mull, beginning a love affair with the island, where he retired with his wife, Stella. Their interest in biodiversity resulted in a huge catalogue of photographs of Mull's unique scenery, fauna, flora and fungi.
Martin Jones
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Paul Pritchard talks about his life as a climber and his awe inspiring struggle to overcome devastating head injuries he received in a climbing accident in Tasmania.
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Shortlisted for The Great Outdoors book of the year.
All I wanted to do was go to sleep. And I was certain that if I did drift off, it would be for the last time.’In 1998, Paul Pritchard was struck on the head by a falling rock as he climbed a sea stack in Tasmania called the TotemPole. Close to death, waiting for hours for rescue, Pritchard kept himself going with a promise that given the chance, he would ‘at least attempt to live’
Left hemiplegic by his injury, Pritchard has spent the last two decades attempting to live, taking on adventures that seemed impossible for someone so badly injured while plumbing the depths of a mind almost snuffed out by his passion for climbing.Not content to simply survive, Pritchard finds ways to return to his old life, cycling across Tibet and expanding his mind on gruelling meditation courses, revisiting the past and understanding his compulsion for risk. Finally, he returns to climb the Totem Pole, the place where his life was almost extinguished.The Mountain Path is an adventure book like no other, an exploration of a healing brain, a journey into philosophyand psychology, a test of will and a triumph of hope.
https://www.v-publishing.co.uk/books/bundles_3/bundles-3-john-d-burns-bundle/
John Bainbridge has campaigned for the countryside and right to roam for over fifty years.
In that time he’s worked as a volunteer for the Ramblers Association, spent nine years as the chief executive of the Dartmoor Preservation Association - leading the successful campaign which saved Shaugh Moor and the Blackabrook Valley from mineral working. John spent nearly a decade as a council member of the Council for National Parks and was a founder member of the Two Moors Way Association. He created the Teignmouth and Dawlish Way in Devon.
John was included as one of the twenty most influential right to roam campaigners in Roly Smith’s recent book “Walking Class Heroes”.
Apart from campaigning, John has worked as an outdoors journalist since the 1970s, and is now the author of several thrillers including “Balmoral Kill”, which is mostly set in the Highlands, “Dangerous Game”, set on Dartmoor, and the William Quest novels.
As an inveterate free roamer, John is the author of “The Compleat Trespasser” and the walking autobiography “Wayfarer’s Dole”.
John Bainbridge
John is currently campaigning alongside the wild campers of Dartmoor to defeat plans by the Dartmoor National Park Authority to restrict the legal right to wild camp on the Moor.
He lives in Cumbria, spending most of his spare time hillwalking in the Lakes, Pennines and Scotland.
WALK MAGAZINE SAID OF JOHN BAINBRIDGE's BOOK OF TRESPASS - "On a vagabonding tour through Britain’s most delightful countryside and forbidden tracts, Bainbridge charts the history of access and assesses the present state of the law. Villainous landowners feature; so do the likes of GHB Ward and CEM Joad, calling at rallies for access to mountain and moor. Gamekeepers, spring-guns and mass trespasses also get a look-in. Redolent of country air, with nature and archaeology dealt with in graphic style, the book evokes the age of campaigns before words like ‘stakeholder’ and ‘partnership’ were hatched out. The author lends his support to the England Coast Path campaign and calls for the Scottish access model to be extended throughout Britain. It’s thought-provoking stuff and well worth a read."
“Sean Miller - a rogue of the first water; a former Army sniper, he seems unable to stay out of a fight.” Sean Miller’s fighting a guerrilla war in Spain when he’s called back to Britain. His task? To seek out an assassin as dangerous as himself. A sniper whose deadly aim could plunge the world into war. As the shadow of the Nazis falls across Europe, a sinister conspiracy plots a secret war closer to home. Miller’s pursuit leads from the menacing alleys of London’s East End to the lonely mountains of Scotland. A duel to the death where there can be only one victor in the Balmoral Kill. A fast-paced action thriller by the author of Dangerous Game and the William Quest adventures”
John Bainbridge can be contacted at stravaigerjohn@gmail.com
John’s Walking and Campaigning Blog:
www.walktheoldways.wordpress.com
John’s Writing Blog:
www.johnbainbridgewriter.wordpress.com
John is on Twitter at:
@stravaigerJB