Scotland Outdoors

Professor Lorna Dawson, Forensic Soil Scientist

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen meets head of soil forensics at the James Hutton Institute, Professor Lorna Dawson. Mark meets Lorna at the Institute's research farm, ...

Peregrine Falcons in Glasgow, Loch Garten Ospreys and a Spitfire in the Borders

03 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Peregrine falcons have been in residence at the University of Glasgow’s Gilbert Scott Tower for a number of years now, with a new clutch of chicks b...

Sixty Years of the Scottish Wildlife Trust

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel Stewart speaks to Dr Kenny Taylor at the Montrose Basin about 60 years of the SWT

Birch Sap, Sailing and Boggy Marathons

26 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tennants of Elgin is a family quarrying business that has been operating out of the North East of Scotland for fifty years. They have had numerous imp...

The Poetry Path at Corbenic Camphill Community in Perthshire

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen visits the poetry path at Corbenic with its founder Jon Plunkett

Wildfires, Mounth Roads and East Lothian Hedgehogs

19 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Elsick Mounth is an ancient trackway, linking the River Dee to the Mearns, and is one of the routes featured in the new Scotsways guide on hill tr...

Lorraine McCall - the Trailblazing Adventurer on the Scottish Hills

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lorraine McCall from the Highlands has overcome cancer three times in recent years. She has previously climbed all of Scotland's 221 Corbetts and 282...

Inchindown Echo, Edinburgh's Herbarium and the 120 Mile Postie's Path

12 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Scottish Crannog Centre on the banks of Loch Tay is a bustling model Iron Age village, filled with various craftspeople to demonstrate ancient cra...

The Dawn Chorus with Ian Broadbent

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Helen Needham meets with bird recorder Ian Broadbent to capture the April dawn chorus

Tattie Tastic Light Fantastic

05 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Potato Enthusiast Bob Donald talks to Rachel about a community growing project in Aberdeen which has led to libraries in the north east handing out se...

Walking and Motherhood with Writer Kerri Andrews

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kerri Andrews is the author of Pathfinding - On Walking, Motherhood and Freedom. She describes her own traumatic experience with pregnancy, birth and...

A North East Lido, Badger Behaviour and a Coral Beach

29 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lambhill, in the North of Glasgow, is home to a thriving community hub, built out of an old stable block on the edge of the Forth and Clyde canal. Mar...

A Fresh Focus on Adaptive Skiing in Scotland

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A shortage of volunteers means some clubs have struggled to restart following the Covid pandemic in 2020. Campaigners say more needs to be done to rai...

Biofluorescence Walks, Reindeer in Aviemore, and Glasgow Central Mosque

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Cairngorm Funicular Railway is back up and running after some extensive structural works. Mark took a trip up to the snow-covered peak with the In...

Celebrating the Imperfections in Wood with Artist and Maker Duke Christie

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen visits Duke Christie at his studio in Moray

The March of the Frogs, Heavy Lifting Stones and Boat Building

15 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many landowners across Scotland are engaging with large scale restoration projects. One such project, spanning 80 thousand acres, is Wildland, in the ...

Wild Swimming with Greg and Jules

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The actors have become regular wild swimmers in recent years. In their latest BBC Scotland TV series, they visit some of Scotland's islands and try ou...

Bracklinn Falls, Needle Felting and The Cabrach Distillery

08 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Golf courses are often criticised for their lack of biodiversity, but at The Plock, near Kyle of Lochalsh, a community project is reclaiming the local...

Preserving Antarctica's Heritage Buildings with Conservation Carpenter Graham Gillie

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen hears from Graham Gillie about his extraordinary working life in Antarctica

Kingfishers, a Gunpowder Mill and a Halifax Bomber Relic

01 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mark visits the Montrose Air Station Museum to hear about a new addition to their collection, part of a Halifax Bomber, which crashed in the Angus gle...

Wildlife on the Water of Leith

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During the Covid lockdown, Tom Kelly decided to stroll along the Water of Leith Walkway every single day and take photographs of the wildlife in the a...

A Soutar's Shop, Jigsaws and Gorillas

22 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Winchburgh in West Lothian is expanding rapidly, with several new housing developments underway. At the heart of these new developments is the 85 acre...

The Glasgow Seed Library with Rowan Lear

19 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Helen Needham meets seed librarian Rowan Lear

Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Snowdrops and a Beaver MOT

15 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Auchnerran Farm is run by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust as a demonstration farm to test and trial conservation and land management strategi...

Sunset Song - Exploring The Mearns - Part 2

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The 7th February 2025 marks 90 years since the death of Scottish writer Lewis Grassic Gibbon, author of Sunset Song. In 2016, it was voted Scotland's ...

Water of Leith Otters, Salmon Fishing on the River Tweed and a Famous North East Cow

08 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The National Farmers Union of Scotland Conference has been underway this week, and Kevin Keane is there, joined by Professor Colin Campbell from the J...

Sunset Song - Exploring the Mearns - Part 1

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The 7th February 2025 marks 90 years since the death of Scottish writer Lewis Grassic Gibbon, author of Sunset Song. In 2016, it was voted Scotland's ...

The Festival of Imbolc, World Wetlands Day and the Big Farmland Bird Count

01 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Parts of the country are still recovering after last week’s Storm Eowyn including Jupiter Artland. The 100-acre sculpture garden on the outskirts of...

Burns on Birds, Golden Eye and How to Make Haggis

25 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We celebrate Burns Day on Out of Doors on the 265th anniversary of his birth. Mark chats to Professor Fiona Stafford from University of Oxford who wri...

Wandering Morven - A Wander up Morven with Artist and Adventurer Morven Stewart

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Helen Needham walks up Morven in Aberdeenshire with Morven Stewart

Endurance Racing, the Ness Islands of Inverness and a Mini Kilted King

18 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel is in Lochaber where one of the biggest nature restoration projects in the country is underway. The Nevis Nature Network Project covers 22 thou...

Tam O' Shanter and the Poetry of Robert Burns

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen chooses some Burns favourites including his rendition of Tam O' Shanter

Nordic Skiing, Lynx and Mountain Rescue

11 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The weather has certainly been a big talking point for a lot of us this week. And it’s also the theme of a new exhibition at the McManus Art Gallery...

Behind the Lens with Shahbaz Majeed

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel Stewart speaks to photographer and Landward presenter Shahbaz Majeed

A Wild and Wonderful Sound Journey with Musician and Composer Cosmo Sheldrake

04 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Helen Needham meets musician and composer Cosmo Sheldrake

Life on the Island of Jura

01 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart spend a day on the island of Jura to get a sense of life on the Ardlussa Estate where the Fletcher family have lived f...

A History of the Palace of Holyroodhouse

25 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen gets a tour of the Palace with Curators Deborah Clarke and Emma Stead

A Winter Solstice Special

21 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark and Rachel are joined by the Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Professor Catherine Heymans who can tell us what’s actually happening to earth to ...

Kidnapped and the Stevenson Way - Part 4

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen follows the route from Balquhidder to Corstorphine in Edinburgh

Firth of Forth Oysters, Soil Cubes and Dolphin Communication

14 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark meets builder and artist Becky Little whose work is being displayed as part of an exhibition called A Fragile Correspondence at the V&A in Du...

An Orkney Hurricane, Sightings of the Loch Ness Monster in the 1930's and Terrifying Sounds from the Hamilton Mausoleum

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Helen Needham presents some audio gems from BBC Scotland's archive

Queen Victoria's Picnic Cottage, Thick Trunk Tuesday and Swimming in the Clyde

07 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last week Rachel was in Aberfoyle where the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association was celebrating their 50th anniversary. The organisation brings r...

Kidnapped and the Stevenson Way - Part 3

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark follows the route through Glencoe, Kinlochleven and Rannoch Moor.

St Andrew's Day, Central Belt Badgers and Temperature Blankets

30 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel is in Fife to meet a woman who is leading the charge on making the outdoors accessible to all. Jan Kerr set up a rambling group for those who r...

The Hidden Histories of Scottish Wood with Woodworker Callum Robinson

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Helen Needham meets woodworker and author Callum Robinson

Ealing Beavers, Cosaig Growers and a Wonderful Steam Ship

23 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Forth Bridges Trail is a five-mile circular route which brings together various points of interest in North and South Queensferry and crosses the ...

Kidnapped and the Stevenson Way - Part 2

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this section, Mark leaves Mull and crosses over to Morven before heading to the site of the famous Appin Murder and the monument to mark this blood...

Stranraer Oysters, Moray Firth Seagrass and a Moonlit Dip

16 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Moray Ocean Community is a group of citizen scientists aiming to raise awareness of the importance of marine habitats and species. A couple of weeks a...

Finding Hope in a Crisis with Climate Activist Matt Sowerby

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Helen Needham speaks with climate activist and writer Matt Sowerby

The Skipinnish Oak, Laggan Wolftrax and Fair Isle

09 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoors

Kidnapped and the Stevenson Way - Part 1

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We've dug into our archive to bring you a programme originally broadcast in 2012 when Mark Stephen followed the route taken by protagonist David Balfo...

Caledonian Pines, Cider and the North Coast 500

02 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A recent report showed that almost a quarter of all ancient pinewoods are at risk of disappearing altogether. Earlier this week, Mark attended Scotlan...

Montrose Mosquitoes, the Grey Lady of Glamis Castle and Life as a Lighthouse Keeper

26 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark is back at the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Montrose Basin site, but this time it isn’t geese he’s looking for, it’s mosquitos. Mark hears abo...

Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, Head of Restoration at the Beaver Trust

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen meets Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, Head of Restoration at the Beaver Trust. They meet at the Argaty Beaver Project near Doune in Perthshi...

Islay Part Two

19 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark and Rachel with the second part of their visit the island of Islay, the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides.The RSPB has two reserves on th...

Islay Part One

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark and Rachel visit the island of Islay, the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides. They take a walk with gamekeeper turned outdoor guide, DJ M...

Slugs, Surfing and Tattie Picking

12 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Slugs are sometimes regarded as a garden pest, but they are more important than people might think. Rachel meets with retired teacher and slug expert ...

Saving the Great British Elm with David Shreeve and Max Coleman

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dutch Elm disease has killed millions of elms across the world over the past century. But there is still hope that this mighty tree can be saved. He...

Tree Hugging, Firth of Forth Wildlife and Fyvie Castle

05 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s Scotland Outdoors episode, Mark meets Tim Simons of Scotways to learn more about the history of outdoor access in Scotland.Celebratio...

A History of Outdoor Access in Scotland with Tim Simons of Scotways

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen meets Tim Simons of the Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society

Turn Table Ferry, Lady of the Lake and Tile Whipping

28 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

ScotWays (Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society) have published the sixth edition of Scottish Hill Tracks in around 100 years. The book launches o...

An Autumn Equinox Walk up Aberdeenshire's Bennachie with Ian Grosz

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A weaving of Ian's essay 'The Sacred Mountain' with a walk up Aberdeenshire's most prominent hill, Bennachie. As we pass through the Autumn Equinox i...

Saltmarshes, Shipwrecks and Honey Bees

21 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With many parts of Scotland finally getting harvest underway, and planting for 2025 harvest being undertaken, NFU Scotland is asking growers to now co...

Putting Nature at the Heart of Decision Making with Gretchen Daily of the Natural Capital Project

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Helen Needham meets Gretchen Daily of the Natural Capital Project at Stanford University

Wildflower Meadow Skincare, the Love Tree and Newburgh Beach

14 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Phil Sime visits an RSPB reserve on North Uist where local crofters work alongside the charity to improve the habitat for birds including corncrake an...

A Sound Journey Along Scotland's National Trail with Musician Jenny Sturgeon

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 2023, Musician and Sound Artist Jenny Sturgeon spent 37 days walking the 864 km trail from Kirk Yetholm in the Borders to Cape Wrath in the North W...

Bogs, Bairns, Stovies and Scything

07 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There was much celebration in Caithness a few weeks ago when it was announced that, after decades of planning and preparation, The Flow Country has be...

Dan Richards on the Remarkable Life of Pioneering Climber Dorothy Pilley

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dorothy Pilley was a pioneering climber who wrote of her adventures in the high peaks in her book 'Climbing Days' which was published in 1935. Thanks...

Hercules The Bear, Ryeland Sheep and A Pink Tablecloth

31 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for the second Big River Watch of the year. It’s a chance to spend time observing the health of your local river between the 6th and 12th ...

Travels With A Pink Tablecloth

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen meets long distance walker Claudia Zeiske in Peterhead after the completion of her 220 km walk from the Cairngorns to the coast of Aberde...

Natural History Film Maker and Musician, Andrew O'Donnell aka Beluga Lagoon

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Andrew O'Donnell is a natural history film maker but he's also a musician who records under the moniker of Beluga Lagoon. Maud Starts meets up Andre...

Saskatoons, a Sunken Sugar Ship, Mighty Oaks and Inverness Castle

24 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In January 2015, Margaret and Angus Mackenzie’s son Neil died in a climbing accident in Canada. Neil loved the outdoors, and to continue his memory,...

Poet and Writer Kenneth Steven on Seil Island and Wildscape Encounters

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen visits Kenneth Steven at his home on Seil Island in Argyll

Meteor Showers, A Dusk Chorus and Stone Skimming

17 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Glenmore Lodge, the Scottish National Outdoor Training Centre, has recently established Scotland’s first hill navigation training course to be deliv...

Nature-Friendly Gardening with M.T. O'Donnell

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Scottish gardening expert M.T O'Donnell talks about what measures people can take to make their gardens more appealing to nature. She shows Rachel Ste...

Live from the Edinburgh Festivals

10 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart present Out of Doors live from Dynamic Earth as part of BBC at the Edinburgh Festivals. We are joined by an amazing pa...

Breaking Down Barriers in the Outdoors for Deaf People with Climbing Instructor Morag Skelton

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen meets Morag Skelton at Glenmore Lodge in the Cairngorms

Alpacas, Osprey, Stone Stacking and Rally Driving

20 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Scotland’s first new vet school in over 100 years has opened to applicants. Mark went to visit the School of Veterinary Medicine at Scotland’s Rur...

Operation Osprey - 70 Years of Breeding Osprey in Scotland

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the early twentieth century, very few ospreys were breeding in Scotland. They had been persecuted for decades and their eggs stolen by collectors. ...

Pine Hoverflies, A Solar Powered Boat and a Stand Up Comedian Farmer

13 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We are in East Lothian with Patricia Stephen, founder of Phantassie Organic Produce. They head out to the fields during pumpkin planting and chat abou...

Living in a Housing Cooperative with Owen Shiers

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rural Wales and rural Scotland face many of the same issues: a lack of affordable housing, limited opportunities for young people and the prospect of ...

Surfing, Swimming and Sauna on the Beach at Cullen

06 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Out of Doors is live from the village of Cullen in Moray.The village is popular with holiday makers over the summer months but it’s home t...

A Life in Market Gardening in Scotland with Tricia Stephen

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel Stewart visits Tricia Stephen of Phantassie Organics in East Lothian

Swifts, Salt and Shetland Sheep

29 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The 29th of June marks the beginning of swift awareness week. Mark meets Cally Fleming of the Huntly Swift Group at the Bennachie Centre to chat about...

Ceramic Artist Lotte Glob's Sculpture Croft by Loch Eriboll in the North West Highlands

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen visits Lotte Glob and learns about her deep connection to landscape and rock

Celebrity Goats, Sheep Shearing and Cold War Scotland

22 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Rachel has been at the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston just outside Edinburgh. One of the first places she headed to when she arrived was t...

Awakening the Senses, Walking and Writing with Linda Cracknell

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Helen Needham goes for a walk in Aberfeldy with writer Linda Cracknell to discuss the new edition of her book 'Doubling Back'.

The Saltire,Sligachan Statue and the Voice of Nan Shepherd

15 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Open Seas is a Scottish charity that focusses on protecting our marine environment and the things that live in it. A few weeks ago, Mark joined them i...

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE AT RAHOY HILLS RESERVE

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel Stewart speaks to Artist in Residence Liz Myhill. The landscape and wildlife artist has been creating pieces based on her time at the Rahoy Hil...

Aspen, Osprey and Mulberry Harbours

08 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel meets Peter Livingstone who has spent a decade campaigning to save the Aspen tree. Thanks to his hard work, numbers of Aspen in Renfrewshire ha...

Majorca and Skye, Singles Walks and Rahoy Nature Reserve

01 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel visits the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Montrose Basin reserve in Angus where a group of nursery children were out exploring the mudflats to see...

Isle Martin - one of the Summer Isles of Wester Ross

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen visits Isle Martin which forms part of the Summer Isles lying north of Ullapool in Wester Ross. The island is owned by a community trust...

Flax, Dandelions and Bike Buses

25 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel visits Fairhill Rise, an education centre in East Lothian which is part of the Ruskin Mill Trust. The centre provides outdoor learning and acti...

Chippendale International School of Furniture in East Lothian

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen visits the Chippendale International School of Furniture near Haddington in East Lothian. He meets the principal and students from home ...

Movement for Mental Health, Therapeutic Gardening and Connecting with the Land

18 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In our latest Scotland Outdoors podcast Helen Needham meets regenerative farmer Nikki Yoxall in the hills of Aberdeenshire. Nikki’s cattle are outsi...

Mob Grazing Cattle in the Hills of Aberdeenshire with Nikki Yoxall

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Helen Needham visits Nikki Yoxall and her herd of pasture fed cattle in Aberdeenshire

The River Tweed - Kelso to Berwick Upon Tweed

11 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart follow the river Tweed from Kelso to Berwick Upon Tweed.In Kelso, they visit Floor Castle and Gardens in the company o...

Connecting Poetry, Photography and Regenerative Farming with Sophie Gerrard and Iona Lee

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Helen Needham learns about the We Feed the UK project

Dawn Chorus, Dipping Luggers and Moray Marsupials

04 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On Thursday this week campaigners gathered outside the Scottish Parliament to protest the proposed plans for a new powerline between Kintore and Teali...

WILD ISLES - A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT THE MAKING OF THE NATURE SERIES

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Producer Alastair Fothergill has spent decades making nature documentaries around the world, often working closely with Sir David Attenborough. His wo...