Wild for Scotland Podcast

'A Coorie Winter' is a story about getting cosy (or 'coorie') in the great outdoors during the Scottish winter months. We're heading to the Cairngorms National Park and the Moray Coast for stops in Aviemore, Tomintoul and Findhorn. In each location, we're trying another coorie winter activity, from hiking with reindeer on the Cairngorm plateau to sweating in a wood-fi...

Join me for a conversation about Gaelic Songs and the role of singing in oral tradition with Gaelic singer Ali Coyle (Alison Mhic Giolla Chomhgaill). As a Gaelic learner in Argyll, she has taken on the role of a tradition bearer, learning Gaelic songs and their stories. In this conversation, Ali shares how she got started with singing in Gaelic and how songs shape her relationship with Gaelic cult...

'Good for Crofting' is a story about living with and off the land. Crofting is an integral part of Scottish culture in the Highlands and Islands, and on a crofting tour with DJ Cameron in South Uist, you can learn more about it. We learn what distinguishes crofting from farming, talk about sustainable crofting techniques and get a glimpse of the unique relationship between a crofter and...

'The Sounds of Mousa' is a story about two back-to-back trips I did to Mousa, a small island off the west coast of Shetland. First, we head there at night to witness the return of thousands of storm petrels to their nests. The next day, we return in daylight to explore Mousa Broch and the trails across the island. Along the way, we'll meet the men who take you to the island, learn a...

Last week, I spoke with Francesca Lo Verso, an outdoor therapist and host of the “ We Are Here, Too ” podcast. One of the questions I asked her was about exercises we can do to tune into our surroundings, feel more present in the moment and connect with nature around us. From this, we came up with the idea to create a special episode with a couple of guided nature meditations for you. So, today, w...

Join me for a conversation with outdoor therapist Francesca Lo Verso about nature connection and how to be more mindful of nature on the go. Francesca is a therapist with a focus on outdoor therapy and host of the " We Are Here, Too " podcast about life abroad and mental health. We met up to dive deep into that feeling of connectedness with nature, why it’s important and how it can add t...

Join me for a conversation with Russell Fraser, the Managing Director at Loch Ness Hub & Travel and Chair of the Scottish Community Tourism Network, SCOTO . We hear the story of the local community in Drumnadrochit, and how they stepped up to the challenge of running the local visitor information centre. But that's not all they do - from e-bike hire and baggage transfer for hikers on the...

This story was recorded LIVE at the Tremula Festival in Brighton on 21 September 2024. Local communities should be at the heart of sustainable and slow tourism in Scotland. 'A Slow and Winding Journey' is a story about discovering the wild landscapes of the Isle of Harris - without losing sight of its community of people who take care of North Harris, its mountains, beaches and coastline...

Covering great distances isn't necessarily the best way to see as much as possible when you travel. 'One Mile Magic' is a story about picking a mile-long stretch on the Berwickshire Coast and exploring it in depth. We'll enjoy a slow morning on the beach of Coldingham Bay, go snorkelling and swimming on the Berwickshire Snorkel Trail, and follow the coastal path to the charming...

'Push and Pull' is a story about slowing down and exploring the Isles of Barra and Vatersay by bike. I spent 3 nights on these islands which I had only visited once before - to travel even slower, by foot on the Hebridean Way. Yet somehow, I never felt like I did these islands justice - seeing so little of them on my hike... That's what this story is about - maximising your time on...

Wild for Scotland is coming back soon with brand new stories and conversations digging deep into what it means to travel slowly and with purpose. Season 6 of Wild for Scotland is all about "Slow Travel". We’ll take it slow, soak up our surroundings, pay attention to the littlest details, and will find joy in the small things all around us. Our journey will take us to distant islands and...

How far north can you go in Scotland? In today's episode, I'm sharing with you a bonus story that I produced for my Patreon community, the Wild for Scotland Social Club , back in season 1! 'The Art of Nature' is a short story about my first trip to Unst, the northernmost island in Shetland (and thereby in Scotland as well as the entire UK). We're visiting a glass artist wh...

Last month I visited the Isles of Barra and Vatersay - two islands in the Outer Hebrides that I hadn't returned to since solo hiking the Hebridean Way in 2018. My trip inspired me to revisit one of the first stories I shared with you on Wild for Scotland. It's called 'Out of Nowhere'. But there is another reason why I decided to give this story an encore... you'll have to...

'A Confidence Game' is a story about feeling safe and confident in the Scottish mountains. I'm taking you with me on the 2-day Hill & Mountain Skills course at Glenmore Lodge to learn about navigation techniques, what kit to pack, how to plan a route off-trail and how to keep ourselves safe in the hills. After the story, I walk you through my detailed hiking tips for Scotland. W...

With the Islay Festival (Fèis Ìle) just around the corner, let's revisit another classic Wild for Scotland episode. 'An Acquired Taste' traces my journey to become a whisky drinker in Scotland and tells the story of my first visit to the Isle of Islay. Famous for its heavily peated whiskies, Islay is home to nine working distilleries - with more underway! Every year at the end of Ma...

It's International Dark Sky Week! ✨ 🔭 🪐 To celebrate we're revisiting an episode about one of my favourite islands on the Scottish west coast. 'Day and Night' is a story about my first trip to the Isle of Coll. It lasted only 24 hours, giving me a taste of everything Coll has to offer by day and by night. Rugged coastlines, wild waters, beautiful beaches, fascinating history...

'Like an Open Book' is a story about an archaeology tour to the Scottish Borders with HARP Archaeology . Your guides are professional archaeologists Michelle Gamble and Ian Hill, joined by a group of experts in Roman history, medieval battles, family research and more. We travel to Kelso and Melrose, uncover the secrets of Roxburgh and Hume Castle, walk in the footsteps of medieval merce...

How do you deal with the constant rain in Scotland? 🌧️ ☔️ In today's episode, I'm sharing with you a bonus story that I shared with our Patreon community, the Wild for Scotland Social Club , last November. 'An Ode to Rain' is a playful response to one of the most asked questions I get from visitors - how do I deal with the constant rain in Scotland? As a member of our Patreon...

Wild for Scotland turns 3! 🎉 To celebrate we're revisiting one of our favourite stories from the archive. ‘Flourish’ is a story about Glasgow’s “City of the Dead” - the Necropolis cemetery - and the woman who rest there. We’re joining a group of history detectives from the Glasgow Women’s Library for a guided tour of the Victorian garden cemetery behind Glasgow Cathedral and hear stories abo...

'Icons of the Kingdom' is an episode about the wonders of Fife. From the majestic Forth Bridge in North Queensferry to the picturesque fishing villages on the East Neuk, we peel back layers of medieval and Pictish history, discover what outdoor adventures to enjoy even in winter, and we'll indulge in Fife's tasty side with delicious food and drink Along the way, we hear from lo...

What are Kathi's plans for Wild for Scotland in 2024? When can you expect the next season to launch? Which episodes are coming up soon? And how can you contribute to making it all happen? All of this and more is revealed in this preview episode. Are you wild for 2024? Unlock bonus content and get access to exclusive member events by joining the Wild for Scotland Patreon community ! If you&apo...

Travel has always played a big role in my life and I wouldn’t be the person I am today, had I not had the opportunity to travel abroad.  I might have never had the confidence to move abroad to Scotland - oh how, different my life would have been... Travel matters a great deal to me and to lots of other people. That's why I’m introducing you to a podcast that I think you will enjoy. It’s calle...

What happens when a storm derails your island adventure plans? You follow the advice of locals and go on an unexpected adventure off the beaten path. 'Over the Ratagan Pass' is a story about an unexpected detour to the tiny village of Glenelg. Like most people, had only planned to take the Glenelg ferry to the Isle of Skye. But when a storm put the boat out of action, I had no other choi...

In this episode, we speak to Freya Bromley , host of The Tidal Year podcast, Alycia Pirmohamed , a poet shortlisted for the Nan-Sheperd Prize, and Mollie Hughes , world record-holding adventurer extraordinaire, about their latest books.  We talk to the three authors about their journeys as writers, how they draw inspiration from water and what we can expect from their books: The Tidal Year by Frey...

Join me for a conversation with Caroline Willis from the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust. We discuss the impact marine tourism has on coastal environments and marine species like whales and dolphins, and what we as visitors can do to minimise our impact. Caroline also tells us about the work the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust has been doing since the 1990s, their various citizen science proje...