creation podcasts: bmwtouring: Recent Episodes
BMW and Classic FM
It's called recreational snowboarding. And you can learn how to do it at the Snow Dome in Birmingham. It's a thrilling sport and those who already ski should find very easy to do. Organisers of the indoor Snow Dome claim to be able to teach you how to snowboard in just one day. The main slope is 170 metres in length with real snow, two junior slopes and an ice rink. The venue also boasts the only indoor snow mobile slope in the world. We sent our reporter Kylie Olsson off to Birmingham to test the “learn to snowboard in one day” claim.
It's our final BMW touring experience so we're going back to our roots. Apparently, most people in the UK can trace their ancestry back to the Mendip Hills in Somerset and, more specifically, Cheddar Gorge. Underground, once you've passed the remains of Cheddar Man in the enchanting surroundings of Gough's Cave, it's time to go off-piste and explore the intricate and exhilarating system of underground tunnels and caverns. Cheddar Caves and Gorge is the only place in the UK where you can literally turn up and try your hand at potholing, so we sent our reporter Kylie Norman to take a step into the darkness and back in time. For more information, go to the Times Your World website
The days of giving up your old life and running away to join the circus are over – because the previously secretive circus is now running workshops! So you can keep you old job and still learn a trick or two from the experts, with a set of circus skills that as a kid you may only have dreamed of doing. At the Circus Space in London – based inside a disused power station – they run a practical degree course. And they've now opened their doors to the public for weekend workshops. For more information, go to the Times' Your World website.
It's often the case that we don't appreciate places and events that are on our own doorstep. We might fly off to, say, Barcelona for the weekend for a spot of arts tourism … but here in the UK there's a place that's just as good – if not better. The Scottish capital Edinburgh is awash with a fascinating cultural and musical heritage. And it's so easy to get to with good transport links from all parts of the country. For more information, go to the Times' Your World website.
The World Heritage city of Bath is known for its architecture and expensive shops. But what is not so well known is that it's also the home to the UK's only natural thermal spring. After all, following a long, cold winter we all deserve a little pampering! The Thermae Bath Spa prides itself on offering total relaxation – with every type of water massage imaginable, including a rare treatment known as Watsu. It all leads up to the ultimate chill out experience! Charlotte Hanna from the Thermae Bath Spa has been telling us more about the relaxing properties of natural thermal spring water.
For more information on this and many other touring experiences, go to the Times' Your World website.
This week we experience the pleasure of Swing Dancing! Our reporter Kylie Norman has been off to meet the folks who go to the London Swing Dance Society – a regular event where you can learn to dance ion 1930s and 1940s style.We also get tips and advice on how to dress properly and make the most of your unique night out from a man who organises monthly themed nights all across the UK For more information, go to the Times' Your World website.
It's that time of year again … yes the month when big softies all round the country turn their attention to romance! With Valentine's Day just round the corner, we've been off to Europe's most romantic city – Paris – to check out places to take your loved one. One such venue visited by reporter Kylie Olsson is The Rosebud Bar – a place where you could imagine Orson Wells sitting in the corner, watching the world go by. It hasn’t changed in over 40 years and many of the waiting staff have been there since it opened. For more information, go to the Times' Your World website
The issue of wildlife and conservation is one dear to most people's hearts. Certainly most of us would like to think we'd do all we can when it comes to preserving the wild animals all around us.
Most zoos take their responsibility for wildlife and conservation very seriously. Kylie Olsson chats to Nick Lynsey about this issue, head of international zoo programmes for Whipsnade Wild Animal Park in Bedfordshire. For more information, go to the Times' Your World website.
Six months from now and one of the world's most famous – and arduous – sporting events will come to London. We're talking here about the Tour d'France cycling race. And of course there's always the annual London to Brighton bike ride in June that has 27,000 taking part. But there is another side to cycling – a much easier day out on an adventure trail. One centre that runs days out is the Aston Hill Mountain Bike area in Bedfordshire. We sent reporter Kylie Olsson off to experience the thrill of two wheels. For more information, go to the Touring Festivals website.
Ever wanted to get away from city life for a long weekend but you just don't want to stay in yet another hotel? Well you could always spend your weekend as a Wwoofer – which stands for “World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms”. In other words, it's a chance for you to get down and dirty on a British farm! It works by offering you free accommodation and food in exchange for working the land. We sent reporter Kylie Olsson down to Wwoof-registered Maria Marten's Cottage near Colchester to meet the team. For more information, go to the Touring Festivals website.
They say it really is like no other food experience, though caviar comes close … we're talking here about oysters. The British are often seen as very conservative when it comes to food – fearful of trying new things. But that could all be about to change as 2007 is tipped to see the oyster industry find a legion of new fans. Our reporter Kylie Olsson has been down to Whitstable in Kent to meet both experts and fishermen alike. For more information, go to the Touring Festivals website.
Writer and travel journalist, Jeremy Hart, has inspired this week’s BMW Touring Experience. He traced the great postimpressionist painter Cezanne through France and added to his ever-growing collection en route. Our reporter Kylie Olsson decided to transpose this experience, following the path of young British artists through the London art scene and, in particular, the career of one of our most prolific artists, Damien Hirst. So if you’re in the mood to pick up a bargain for your collection in the New Year, we spoke to some experts for some tips whatever your budget.
It may be mid-winter but surfing could be one of this country's most popular sports this Christmas. And its popularity with the ladies is fast-growing. Wearing a winter wetsuit and facing waves of almost six feet, the Escape School of Surf in Newquay claim they can teach you how to ride your first wave in just two hours. Cornwall is said the UK's surfing capital with 11 beaches stretching over seven miles of golden sands. So it's not surprising the one-time fishing village of Newquay has transformed itself into the surfers' paradise. Kylie Olsson has been down to the South West to meet up with the guys at the Escape School of Surf to catch a few winter waves.
Ever fancied the thrill of a skydive? But not too keen on actually leaving the ground? There is an alternative. You could jump into one of two giant 35 foot air tunnels with fans at the bottom producing winds in excess of 100mph. This is what you'll find if you visit AirKix in Milton Keynes. It's the world's first purpose built wind-tunnel for indoor skydiving.
We sent Kylie Olsson off to Milton Keynes to experience the thrill of floating in this huge windtunnel.
Welcome to the second of an exciting new 16-part series – BMW Touring Experiences…. Last week we began with the first in a two part special about a unique event for serious fell walkers – the Three Peaks Challenge. The challenge was to climb the UK mainland's three highest mountains – Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scarfell Pike … all within 24 hours! In the studio with John Brunning were the three competitors who took part – Chris, Ben and Nicola. In this latest podcast we leave the studio behind and get our hands dirty by bringing you the practice of an actual climb itself. We begin by joining our reporter Kylie Norman as she's about to head off to Wales. You can also see the Channel 4 online video by clicking here.
Welcome to the first of an exciting new 16-part series – BMW Touring Experiences…. We start with part one of a two part special about a unique annual event for serious fell walkers – The 3 Peaks Challenge. We discuss the theory, passion, motivation, dangers involved and the knowledge needed. Host John Brunning meets the three people who took the challenge to climb the UK mainland's three highest mountains – Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scarfell Pike in the Lake District national park. Part two can be download on Friday 20th October. You can also see the Channel 4 online video by clicking here.