The Outdoors Station

Andy awakes at 4.30am enjoying the full joys of tarp tenting! Shirley on the other hand has a ghoul free night at Gourton Bothy before setting out for Ben Alder Cottage. Once she has negotiated walking by the train line she triple checks her location before heading through Rannock Forest, where she spends a few moments chatting with Roy Cocker, Paul Richards, Barry Turton and Catherine Cane. Meanw...

In part two we cover day 2 and 3 as Andy awakes to pouring rain. When he and Phil Turner make it to an empty Glen Africk SYHA they sit over a mug of coffee and discuss some of the map integration software, twitter and mobile blogging Phil is using during the crossing. Touching on various options for mobile charging for phones and MP3 players. Clever lad that Phil! Then they head for Cougie stoppin...

And so here is the first of the extended podcasts relating to the 2010 Rab TGO Challenge. Sorry for the delay in launching it, however there has been a considerable amount of editing required to tell the story. Recorded this year by Andy and Shirley this first episode includes the travelling day and then starting out on day one. Included are conversations about routes, food, gear and emotions with...

This final podcast from the Friedrichshafen Trade Fair 2010 finds us meeting the MSR Director of Tents and Shelters, Dale Karikostas and he and I get very excited about single skin shelters and the new bivvy bags which will be arriving in the UK early January 2011. I also sit down with Toshio Shina the R & D Director from Evernew Titanium Cookwear along with Takaya Mioshi and hear more backgro...

Coming to you as live as we can make it, we are still in Friedrichshafen exploring the rich and varied products currently on offer from around the world and in this episode Roman get very excited about some of the new lightweight offerings coming through from Montane and Golite. So we let him off the leash and he makes a bee-line to speak with them and weigh everything in sight. We on the other ha...

More from our hot wanderings around the vast halls at Friedrichshafen where we spend some considerable time in the Tent Village only to find Chris Davidson from Vaude UK and discuss the Power Lizard and more offerings from them using the same fabrics. Heidi Koysel on the Leki stand introduce us to the new attachment for photographers, wanting to turn their Leki Walking Pole into a monopod, and mor...

This is the first in a series of podcasts from the Outdoor Show over in Friedrichshafen 2010 and we talk to two winners of Gold Awards for Innovation. Andy Utting from Terra Nova regarding the new Laser Ultra 1, a 500gm two skin tent and Wayne Edy from Inov-8 regarding the new Bare-Grip 200. The closest thing to barefoot running you're going to get in 2011. Of equal interest to us was also the Ino...

Rose is at it again! After her first taste of a Triathlon last year, we head off to another local 'sprint' event in Worcester on what is forecast to be the hottest day of the year. Her support crew (ie me) keeps the faith, takes pictures and generally passes the time in a very restful manner and taking advantage of a sports massage with Mindy Davvey of www.206therapy.co.uk. Afterwards we chat abou...

We catch up with our back log of emails and update you with the latest news regarding previous interviewees. Andy nips down to the big smoke to interview Ben Collins, who is just about to set off on a long walk to a new career. Leaving a top job in the city for the life of an outdoor walking photographer! Please join our newsletter and follow us on our socials > https://linktr.ee/the_outdoors_s...

Its the beginning of May 2010 and Andy Howell drops by to collect a few goodies and discuss the growing impact wood burning stoves are making in the outdoor world. Specifically we look at the latest Titanium offerings from Evernew in Japan and Vargo in the US. Both items have just arrived in the UK and are combining with others already in the market, to offer more variety in outdoor cooking. As An...

This is the last release from our collection of interviews recorded at this years Outdoor Show at the NEC. The last time it will ever be there, so it is fitting we should talk not only to exhibitors at the show, but also the MD from Voss Media, the organisers to find out where the show is going and why. Other interviews include Keswick Tourist Information, something specifically for the walker or...

Part 2 from The Outdoors Show at the NEC see's a wealth of information crammed into this podcast. We hear details of the forthcoming Keswick Mountain Festival, about usual 3D metallic map gifts, indulge in a bit of Glamping, chat with Cicerone author Paddy Dillon, catch up with Sam from Shewee, touch base with the forthcoming IOW walking festival and celebrate 10,000 members with the John Muir Tru...

A very mellow show recorded in some glorious Spring sunshine to encourage us to get out there! A brief interview at The Outdoors Show with Evan Milner the project Officer for the Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty about what could draw us self powered people to the island. Plus we talk once again to Gayle of Mick and Gayle Blogspot fame, who are currently walking from Kent to Cape Wrath....

Just wanted to launch this podcast as soon as I returned from The Outdoors Show at the NEC 2010, as there's a very special offer available just for a few days from Montane, where a select range of Special Edition clothing is up for grabs and all the profits are going to Mountain Rescue. See montane.co.uk. Also I chat with the National Cycle Route Director from Sustrans and we discuss the growth of...

In part two of the Solar Cyclists, Susie Wheeldon shares the highs and lows of their 163 days in the saddle. How a simple thing like a bee sting can change your whole outlook on life, and how the Middle East isn't getting a fair representation in main stream media. We discuss practical things like money, health and water, and ultimately hear what impression a trip like this left on her. Make sure...

The one unique aspect of The Outdoors Station, is our ability to freely support people who get out there and do something inspiring. They may not get massive recognition in the main stream media, but we like to honour their efforts, share their journey, hear their passion and respect their achievements, no matter how big or small. One such group of people are the Solar Cyclists, who returned to th...

This is a timely podcast which may be of interest to those considering taking a break from a traditional holiday commitment, and perhaps doing something more useful with your time, than sitting on a beach reading a book. Have you ever thought about volunteering? There are many projects around the world, which rely on volunteers to support their efforts. This can be at orphanages, building projects...

Lands End to John O'Groats or LEJOG as it is better known is one long distance walking and cycling trip in the UK, that most people consider at some stage in their outdoors life. It isn't as massive as the Appellation Trail, or as wild and dangerous as walking to the North Pole say, but it does seem to be ingrained into the core of every British citizen as 'the long one'. At around 900 miles as th...

Hey we're back! Full of apologies mind you, but at least we're back! In this podcast we join in with a Haiti fund raising marathon hill climb relay, right here in our home town of Malvern. We chat to organizer Steve Ollis and then join our small group as we puff our way up the hill and down again. Later in the show I revisit our roots with a lightweight overnight wild camp using some of the new 20...

In this final part of the series, Beth and Alice visit a few more of the breathtaking islands, popular with tourists and especially the boating fraternity. This expensive destination takes its toll so they soon escape and make their way over Hvar Island and experience just how helpful Croatians can be when looking for accomodation. Finally, Trogir one of the oldest and most exciting cities on the...

Beth and Alice spend several days wondering through the cobbled streets of Dubrovnik enjoying the rich history, glorious sun and yet more exquisite ice creams. Their adventure then takes a turn inland towards Bosnia and after an interesting bus ride past the marked mine fields still present along the access road to the sea, they arrived in Mostar. Here they stay at a hostel for a few nights and in...

An interesting mixed bag for you this time, with an interview with Microsoft regarding their image cataloguing tool Expression Media for those 1000's of outdoor photos you have stashed away. Andy and I review the 2009 Times Destinations Show with one eye on the forthcoming 2010 event, and Roman speaks with Andy Burgess from Golite who are 'Going Lighter On The Planet' with the use of recycled nylo...

In part two Beth and Alice spend the end of week one in the beautiful port side town of Zadar. Enjoying the ice cream to the tune of the town’s sea organ, as well as the great company and conversations with other Croatian travellers. After a few relaxing days they continued south along the Dalmation coast, stopping at the oasis of Krka National Park before arriving in the historical town of Dubrov...

The OMM 2009 didn't quite make the same headlines as 2008, but that was probably a good thing. Here is our recording of this years event and the frustratingly poor performance we put in, which was all my fault. However we did get to have a brief chat with a few people, competitors Liz Creaser and Michael Porter, plus various volunteer marshals Sean Lightfoot, Andy Leafer and 2 ladies I didn't catc...

It's been a while since we had a Travel Show on The Outdoors Station. Beth, our daughter went to Croatia this summer with her friend Alice, on a shoestring budget and wanted to record the experience for other backpackers. Fresh out of University both girls were in need of some rest and relaxation, sunshine, ice cream and stimulus other than academia. This series records their progress through, pla...