The Outdoors Station

Islomania is defined as a craze for, or a strong attraction to islands… and Paddy Dillon has the bug! Paddy is a prolific outdoor writer with over 30 books to his name. Here we find out just how many islands he has visited (and walked all over!), and what makes island visits so very special. You can get loads of great holiday ideas here! Please join our newsletter and follow us on our socials >...

Mark Richards’ transition from full-time farmer to full-time outdoor writer has been a gradual one. In 1973, with the direct encouragement of Alfred Wainwright, he wrote his first walking guide to the Cotswold Way. Since then he has indulged his pleasure in exploring rural Britain by creating a range of walking guides, including guides to the Peak District, Hadrian’s Wall and more recently the amb...

Photography and the outdoors could have been made for each other, yet we all sometimes find there is a disappointing miss-match between what we wanted to capture, and what we actually achieved! Jon Sparks has developed his youthful hobby into a professional career, and here he offers some valuable tips for outdoor enthusiasts, whatever their sport or destination. Please join our newsletter and fol...

Pembrokeshire contains Britain’s only coastal National Park, such is its beauty, with soaring rugged cliffs, tranquil inlets and broad sandy beaches. There is immense variety in both the scenery and natural life of the Pembrokeshire coast. Dennis and Jan Kelsall talk about their lifetime of exploration on foot, which can be equally satisfying for serious walkers and those more inclined to potter....

Welcome back to this weeks show, where we talk, tarps, tripods and fishing. This week we meet Jed Yarnold and discuss tarpoligy, Vic Soloman who tells us about the new Manfrotto carbon fiber tripods and Kevin Ashton about the practicalities of using a sea kayak as a fishing platform. Plus of course, our What's On Diary and the chance to win one of the remaining VIP 10 pairs of tickets we have to g...

We're back with the first in our series of weekly shows to let all lovers of the outdoors know what is going on around them. In this weeks show we chat to the editor of a new Ocean Paddler Magazine, PGL Holidays who are looking for new instructors and Kate Thomas regarding the forthcoming Outdoors Show. Plus of course, our What's On Diary and the chance to win one of 40 pairs of tickets we have to...

Lord Smith of Finsbury is now well known as the President of the Ramblers’ Association, but in 1997 - as plain Chris Smith MP - he became Culture Secretary in Tony Blair’s incoming government. Working with colleagues he paved the way for the introduction of the Access legislation that is now well used by ramblers and hillwalkers throughout England and Wales. In this interview we talk to Lord Smith...

Guidebooks can provide the reader with far more than just a route description. A good guide has essential background information for travel, accommodation, alternative routes, difficulty and above all, provides inspiration. Cicerone have been publishing guides for forty years, and the current team are as enthusiastic as ever as they describe what’s involved in making a great guidebook. Sponsored b...

An Alpine walk from Lake Geneva to Nice, and the legendary GR20, reputedly Europe’s toughest trek. Paddy Dillon has walked both of these routes at least twice, and has written guidebooks to them both. Here he discusses both routes, and looks at how they can be combined to create a trek to excite you for the entire summer. Sponsored by Cicerone Press. Please join our newsletter and follow us on our...

One of the keys to unlocking the hills and countryside is to have the ability to navigate confidently using a map and compass. Having this ability is a liberating experience, and we talk to navigation expert Pete Hawkins about what is involved in learning these skills. Sponsored by Cicerone Press. Please join our newsletter and follow us on our socials > https://linktr.ee/the_outdoors_station

Becky Alison talks us through a more gentle approach to her Gap Year travel. As someone more cautious about traveling so far from home, she chose to go through established companies and contacts, slowly building up her confidence before returning to Australia a second time and really going for it! Please join our newsletter and follow us on our socials > https://linktr.ee/the_outdoors_station

The West of Ireland is an attractive destination for sea kayakers, with its deeply indented coastline and challenging weather patterns. Jim Kennedy of Atlantic Sea Kayaking has a passion for this area and talks to Simon Willis regarding his top three routes, around Skibbereen in West Cork. Please join our newsletter and follow us on our socials > https://linktr.ee/the_outdoors_station

We meet Basha O'Reilly once again and discuss the planning and preparation for her forthcoming 2008 trip, the world's first circumnavigation on horseback. Gear, safety, health, planning, fitness and good old fashioned luck, will all play a part. Please join our newsletter and follow us on our socials > https://linktr.ee/the_outdoors_station

In this show Simon Willis talks to well know sportsman Nigel Dennis turned Kayaker, and finds out when, where and what turned him onto this sport. Please join our newsletter and follow us on our socials > https://linktr.ee/the_outdoors_station

In this travel show we meet Beth who tells us of her 2006 Gap Year in Peru where she mixed it with traveling around neighboring countries for several months. Of course this included Machu Pichu, Lake Titicaca and a mountain bike ride down Death Road, sand boarding and the Nascar lines all formed part of this adventure! Please join our newsletter and follow us on our socials > https://linktr.ee/...

One form of traveling we haven't covered so far on The Outdoor Station is horseback. Mainly because we assumed that very few, if any, people still travel this way. However, how wrong we were! We are fortunate to meet a member of The Long Riders Guild. Lightweight horse riders out to see the world, and boy do they travel some miles! Please join our newsletter and follow us on our socials > https...

This time we are off to the South Pacific to 'castaway island' for a marine project, where in 2004 Fergus Brown spend his time on a Gap Year project, before heading to Australia and New Zealand to see what it had to offer. Please join our newsletter and follow us on our socials > https://linktr.ee/the_outdoors_station

Brian Wilson is author of two of the most addictive and enjoyable Sea Kayaking books, Blazing Paddles and Dancing With Waves, which came as a result of his trip around the coast of Scotland and Ireland a few years back. Here he chats with Simon Willis from Sea Kayak Routes and tells the story of his paddling, his writing and his next book. Please join our newsletter and follow us on our socials &g...

Merry Christmas everyone! Andy Howell joins me for the Christmas show where we have a yomp across the hills, sample some real ale, and chat about 2007 and where we might be heading off to for 2008. Rose and Kate also join us and we all sit around a roaring fire in an award winning pub. What a life! Please join our newsletter and follow us on our socials > https://linktr.ee/the_outdoors_station

After leaving 6th form in 2004, Naomi Cartwright spend her Gap Year project at a school for disabled children in Cambodia. Afterwards she saw more of the country before heading into Thailand and down to Australia trying to make her money last as long as possible. Full of useful tips and ideas for anyone wanting to do a similar route. Please join our newsletter and follow us on our socials > htt...

After 10 months, 4000 mountain miles, of which 450 were snowshoeing miles Judy Armstrong is pack from her epic Via Alpina trip. Traveling with just a 5kg pack she tells of her experiences and shares her love for that part of the world. Please join our newsletter and follow us on our socials > https://linktr.ee/the_outdoors_station

This week we chat with the on-line enthusiasts who are keeping a log of their activities and share their passion for their hobby for us all to enjoy. We catch with Judy Armstrong on her return from her 4000 mile Via Alpina trip and meet some popular outdoor bloggers to find out why they do, what they do! Plus of course we announce the competition winner for the Lightwave rucksack and launch anothe...

Andy Howell joins Colin Ibbotson for a lightweight tarp weekend in Snowdonia during late summer 07. They share the Welsh weather, simple shelters, some local sustenance and interesting conversations all about long distance lightweight hiking. Please join our newsletter and follow us on our socials > https://linktr.ee/the_outdoors_station

Where to start looking for information regarding your gap year or sabbatical is getting harder as there's so much choice. We interview the 'google' search engine for service providers, and meet the Gap Year company described as the Rolls-Royce of the industry. But don't forget travel safety and awareness with the team who advised Ewan Mcgregor and Charlie Boorman. Plus, keep taking the tablets guy...

In this show we review interesting gear released this year with Chris Townsend, and Andy Howell has a rummage through his bookshelf for some of the more exciting books to keep you company during the darker days. Plus we of course announce the winners to last week competition and give you the chance to win a Lightwave rucksack before Christmas! Please join our newsletter and follow us on our social...