Scotland Outdoors

Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone join High Life Highland countryside ranger John Orr at Ardersier Local Nature Reserve in search of one of the UK's rarest orchids.

Next week, communities in Lochaber will be asked to share their views on beavers being reintroduced to the area. Kirsten Brewster from rewilding charity Scotland: The Big Picture tells Mark about the consultation process and why Lochaber might be a good area for beavers.
Rachel meets an Aberdeen lecturer who has won an award from the Mammal Society for his innovative camera trap box designed specifically for small mammals. Nick Littlewood shows Rachel the Littlewood Box, which he developed alongside his wife.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is widely regarded as one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet. It brings together people from all walks of life to take on an extraordinary 11-month adventure, racing across the world's oceans aboard 70-foot yachts. This weekend, the Clippers arrive in Oban, and earlier this week, Mark went to hear about the town’s preparations for them and what else is going on as part of the Festival of the Sea.
This week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast features artist and sculptor Helen Denerley. She met Rachel in her Aberdeenshire studio to tell her where it all began and reflect on her near 50 years of work.
We chat live to one of the Scottish crew members who have been taking part in this year’s Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. The race is arriving in Oban this weekend before heading to Portsmouth on the last leg of the challenge. We hear about what life has been like at sea for the teams taking part.
Rachel is back with Colin Bartholomew at RSPB Mersehead on the Solway Coast, trying to spot the rare Marsh Harrier which make their home on the reserve.
We catch up with another endurance challenge team on the high seas. GB Row Challenge is working with the University of Portsmouth on real-world research to preserve marine environments and wildlife. We catch up with the team to hear how their journey is going and what they’ve observed so far.
And producer Phil and his trusted colleague Morven Livingstone head to Hopeman on the Moray coast to try their hand at snorkelling. The two-day event, run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and a number of partner organisations called Snorkel for All, aims to make snorkelling more accessible for people like Phil, who is registered blind.

Rachel Stewart meets Helen in her workshop as she unveils her latest sculpture.

Mark hears about the preparation involved in setting up the Fettercairn Show which this weekend celebrates its 190th show, and the 200th anniversary of the Fettercairn Farmers Club which runs it. The committee tell him what sets it apart from other shows.
Rachel is on the Solway coast exploring the RSPB Mersehead Nature Reserve. Mersehead is home to one of the rarest amphibians in the UK and has a huge range of different habitats.
This week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast features Mark learning about attempts to save the rare twinflower in the Abernethy Forest. We hear an excerpt of Sam Jones from charity Plantlife showing him some of the success they’ve had so far.
If you’ve been in Edinburgh recently, you may have spotted the Floral Clock in West Princess Street Gardens. It’s the oldest one of its kind in the world and this year therapeutic horticulture charity Trellis are the organisation being celebrated by the clock. Rachel went to see it all being planted up and hear about its history.
North 58 Sea Adventures run boat trips into the Moray Firth from Lossiemouth and Findhorn. Mark climbed aboard a trip from Findhorn with skipper Peter, and some enthusiastic dolphin spotters to see if they could catch a glimpse of any.
We chat live to Pete Moore who is undertaking a challenge to see all of the 29 species of butterflies that are native to the Scottish Highlands. He’s cycling to all the different locations, and we hear how he’s been getting on so far.
And we celebrate some unusual wildlife encounters and your wildlife poetry after last week’s story of an amorous grouse sparked you to get in touch.
Rachel finds out about an Aberdeen University project which involves studying the sounds of two coastal areas, Torry in Aberdeen and North Yell in Shetland which are both undergoing economic and cultural transformations. She hears some of the sonic postcards being created at Greyhope Bay.

Mark Stephen hears about attempts to save the twinflower in Abernethy Forest