Love an Islabike

This is for all you parents out there with wee ones growing into big ones that are just desperate to get on a bike. I’m a parent of 5-year old, into everything, twins who just love what the outdoors has to offer. While researching how to get them started on a...

Keeping in Touch

Our latest newsletter for Summer 2012 is now available. In this issue: – The Segways have arrived – Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society take on the Spey – ‘Fiona Outdoors’ joins us on the Great Glen – In Your Element joins...

Hillwalking and stalking

With ever increasing numbers of people heading for the hills and mountains of Scotland to enjoy what the landscape has to offer, it’s important to remember that walkers aren’t the only people that make use of the land.  For many it provides a livelihood...

Reporting rubbish!

As the nice weather is (hopefully) approaching and more of us will be out on the water I thought it would be a good opportunity to share some information about reporting any litter/ pollution related problems we encounter while out paddling in canoes or kayaks....

New Scottish National Trail

One of the country’s leading outdoors writers and broadcasters revealed he will be working with the BBC this year to film a project that will follow a route from Scotland’s border to its north-west extremity. Cameron McNeish will start at Kirk Yetholm in the Borders...

Scottish Fossil Code

Ok, so unless you’re talking about some of our staff, we can’t claim to be experts on fossils.  However, that’s not to say that we, as outdoorsy-type people won’t come across them while out and about.  You might come across them while doing a...

Ticks…look out!

It is anticipated that 2012 could be the year of the tick. Recent news reveals that the ticks are coming… and this year they will be more prominent than ever in Scotland. This is not good news for walkers because of the potential risk of contracting Lyme’s...

Custom OS maps

If you’ve ever done a walk that spans more than one map sheet then the faff will be familiar; and it’s usually raining and windy when it comes to the swap, too. More and more people are using handheld mapping devices but when all else fails you may still...

A legacy in time

The next time you’re huffing and puffing up a steep mountain track, take a moment to consider why we even have mountains to explore. Nothing lasts in nature. Given time, lots and lots of time, towering mountain ranges wear down, expansive continents erode and...

Song of the Paddle

Why “Song of the Paddle”? The Song of the Paddle is a well-known book amongst open canoeists.  It is written by Bill Mason and is subtitled “An Illustrated Guide to Wilderness Camping”.  So, although it is a book about open canoeing it is also about the exploring of...