Wild for Scotland Podcast

Scotland's Snorkel Trails highlight suitable places to snorkel in search of marine wildlife all along the Scottish coast - and they help us fight against the "extinction of experience". We speak with Elouise Cartner from the Scottish Wildlife Trust about her work on the trails and how snorkelling can contribute to stronger relationships between people and the coast. And we hear from...

'A Long Time Coming' takes you on a journey along the River Tay, from its source to the sea. We hop inside a canoe to follow the footsteps (or paw strokes?) of beavers who live on this river system - and learn about their troubled past. We talk about beaver reintroduction programmes in Britain, learn interesting facts about beavers and head out to hopefully meet them on the river banks....

'All That Could Be' is an explorative adventure story set in the waters of Loch Craignish. We go snorkelling and paddleboarding to immerse ourselves in the dazzling underwater world of seagrass, meet its inhabitants and form a relationship with an eco-system that normally goes unseen. We speak with Philip Price of Seawilding about the importance of seagrass meadows for our coast and clim...

We know you were expecting a brand-new episode of Wild for Scotland today, but life happens sometimes and we fell a little bit behind our production schedule. Listen to our short announcement in your feed today and let Kathi explain what has been going on... Connect with me on Instagram @wildforscotland ! Join our email list to never miss an episode. Planning a trip to Scotland? Check out my Scotl...

'Healing Waters' is a deep-dive into my own personal experiences with swimming, grief and depression. The story takes you first into my mind, and then on a journey to the Isle of Coll I undertook in search of healing. Visit our website to find the full show notes incl. the transcript and links to further resources about the topics we cover on the show. This episode contains contextual re...

'Salt of the Earth' is a story about a landscape of extremes. Twice a day, the salt marshes of Scotland get flooded by the incoming tide and the plants that grow here perform their own secret magic trick - surviving and thriving in both fresh and saltwater! Visit our website to find the full show notes incl. the transcript, tips for a trip to St Andrews and links to further reading about...

'A Vastness of Space' is a story about my trip to the Flow Country, a region of vast peatlands spanning Caithness and Sutherland. We travel through the area by car, by train, by bike and on foot, and learn about the fascinating ecology of a blanket bog. From its complex system of interlinked peat pools to a variety of birds and insects that call these moorlands their home. We also talk t...

Dan the Merman is a professional open-water swim coach who lives and works on the west coast of Scotland. From his home in the Heart of Argyll, he takes locals and visitors out into the open waters of Scotland. In-person and digitally he fosters a community of considerate swimmers who want to immerse themselves not just in the deep, dark cold of the sea, but also in the culture and language of the...

'A Taste of Freedom' is a story about changing your perspective and seeing the Scottish coastline from a different angle. We're setting sail aboard the Stravaigin , a 44 ft sail yacht owned by John Ormiston. John takes us on a sailing adventure from Oban to the Isle of Mull, Lismore and Kerrera - but there is a lot more to this trip, than spending time on the water... Visit our webs...

Wild for Scotland is coming back  with a brand-new season diving into the depths of "Uisge - Scottish Waters". Pack your swimsuit, water shoes and drybags, and prepare for a jam-packed season of water-inspired stories and conversations. Our journey will take us from the shallow bays of the rugged west coast to the peat pools of blanket bogs in the northern Highlands. We’ll go sailing, sn...

Season 5 of Wild for Scotland is coming soon - here's a wee teaser of what to expect! The first episode of Season 5 will drop in your feed on 19 September 2023. Make sure you’re subscribed so we can all dive into "Uisge - Scottish Waters" together - and be Wild for Scotland! Want to know more about what inspired this season? Join our Patreon community for a glimpse behind the scenes...

'That Magical Feeling' is a story about the good, the bad and the ugly sides of solo travelling. But how do you overcome the overwhelm of being responsible for ALL the decisions, and step into the power of adventuring on your own? Let's find out together shall we? I'm taking you on a trip from the dreamy streets of Edinburgh to the remote mountain peaks of the Cairngorms Nation...

'Yours to Explore' is an episode about Scotland's newest city Dunfermline and the surrounding region of West Fife. We dive into the medieval history of this Royal Burgh, its role throughout the Industrial Revolution, famous emigrants who found their luck in North America and world-changing innovations that left a lasting impression until today. Oh, and did I mention we'll visit...

Is there any wilderness left in Scotland? In this episode about rewilding Scotland, you'll learn about Scotland's diverse landscapes and species, what threatens them and how they can be restored. You'll also meet two young people who are actively working on rewilding Scotland as part of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture's NextGen programme: Joe McLellan and Jura MacMillan. And hopefull...

If you love stories about the Scottish coast, The Coast That Shaped The World is an app full of audio stories that I think you might enjoy! The Coast that Shaped the World, or simply Coast , is a gathering of stories reflecting and celebrating the people, communities, heritage, culture and environment of the west coast and islands of Scotland. More than 30 local story gatherers spent a good part o...

Sarah Hobbs is a professional storyteller - that is to say, she tells stories for a living. With her company Strathspey Storywalks she offers guided nature walks in the Strathspey and Badenoch regions that combine her passion for Scotland's rich storytelling heritage with her passion for nature and landscapes. If you'd like to learn more about Badenoch and get a sense for this region, li...

'The Land of Stories' is an episode about Badenoch, its natural landscapes, cultural heritage, fascinating stories and welcoming locals. I'm taking you with me as I travel around the region by car, e-bike and on foot and speak to the people who call Badenoch their home. This episode is sponsored by Badenoch The Storylands . Download their free app for travel tips, music and stories...

Listeners of Wild for Scotland know Kathi Kamleitner as the writer and host of the show. Long-time listeners might even know her as the creator of the Scotland travel blog Watch Me See. But in this conversation with Wild for Scotland co-producer and sound designer Fran Turauskis, Kathi shares more about what brought her to Scotland, her creative process and her time at the Snorkelling Artist Resid...

'Creature of the Sea' is a collection of stories and poems inspired by my time at the Snorkelling Artist Residency hosted by the Argyll Hope Spot . Me and a group of 10 other artists were able to explore the abundant underwater world of this stretch of coastline and learn to draw underwater. Our snorkel explorations were guided by local experts, experienced swimmers and wildlife artists...

Adam Raja is a mountain man, but if you looked at his photography and social media platforms, you'd never think that it took most of his life to develop that passion for the outdoors. It came as no surprise to me though, that the hills of Glencoe played an important role on this journey. If you're not familiar with Glencoe and why it's such a special place in the Scottish Highlands,...

'Where it all began' is a story about a walk through one of the most beautiful places in the Scottish Highlands. I'm taking you with me as I hike the Two Lairigs route from Glen Coe to Glen Etive and back. Along the way, I tell you about my personal relationship with this glen, the exact moment I fell in love with Scotland and I reflect on some of the conflicting feelings that alway...

Heather Thomas-Smith combines her passion for the great Scottish outdoors with her interest in history and background in geology to guide fascinating journeys through the Heart of Argyll. Whether you're interested in Scotland's Neolithic period or its natural history, want to see pretty Highland scenery or forage for edible plants among the rocks - Heather is the guide for you. If you&ap...

'6,000 times around the sun' is a story about Scotland's ancient history and how we connect with it. Kilmartin Glen is an excellent place for this journey as there are hundreds of historic sites to discover. We explore structures and monuments that were built soon after the last Ice Age and rock art that was created thousands of years ago. Along the way we learn about the lives of t...

Join me for a conversation with Canna native Isebail Mackinnon whose family has lived on the Isle of Canna for generations. We'll talk about life on Canna, what it takes to live and thrive on a small Scottish island and her favourite places to visit. If you've never heard of Canna before, listen to last week's episode 'Of Stacks and Stones'. Connect with Isebail Mackinnon...

'Of Stacks and Stones' is a story about an island that looks remote on the map, but it actually a bustling hub on the Scottish west coast - for people and animals alike. But it's also a story about the natural beauty of the Isle of Canna. We make our way to the top of a magnetic hill, across the bridge to Canna's tidal neighbour Sanday and towards the cliffs and sea stacks that...