Scotland Hikes & Tours

21/05/2025

As someone who has seen wildfires firsthand (in British Columbia & Alberta, Canada), people in Scotland really need to be taking the fire risk more seriously.

If you're out this coming Bank Holiday weekend, or at any point this summer, please follow the rules for open flame fires. Just one small spark that is caught by the wind or that hits some dried grass on the ground could burn down kilometres and kilometres of forests and homes.

Please help to spread the message.

Yesterday, the ranger team put out eight BBQs near Loch Morlich whilst on patrol, and the police and fire service were called to Muir of Dinnet when people who lit a fire didn’t cooperate with the ranger team.

Police also attended Glenmore last night as further campfires were lit there after the ranger team left the area.

⚠️ The ranger service and partner ranger services are on patrol during the day and late into the evening across the Cairngorms National Park during this period of extreme wildfire risk - Thursday 15 May until Monday 19 May.

🔥 You can help by not lighting a BBQ or fire, always ensuring ci******es are fully extinguished and taking your litter (including glass) away with you. It only takes one spark to cause devastation.

🚒 If you see a wildfire, dial the emergency services on 999 and provide them with the location.

🔁 Share to stories to help spread the word.

Please take extra care when enjoying this warm weather and play your part to protect the Cairngorms National Park 🧡

Find out more at ➡ https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/news/firefighters-issue-no-flames-warning-as-renewed-wildfire-alert-issued

14/05/2025

Hey all you women hikers and hillwalkers!!

Join me this evening and next Wednesday evening for a free webinar about hiking in Scotland.

In this evening's session, Becky McLean from TіSO will be talking about the type of gear and clothing you need. She will also talk about how to get the right fit and the differences between brands, how to maintain your gear, and the right way to pack a backpack.

In next week's session, I'll be talking about route planning, navigation and finding your way, mountain weather, and how to train for a day out on the trails.

NOTE: You don't have to be based in Scotland/the UK to attend. This is aimed at anyone who's interested in finding out more about hiking in Scotland.

And though we'll particularly be talking about what's needed for Munro bagging (the 282 mountains in Scotland over 3000ft/914 metres are called the Munros), the same info applies to most hiking and walking in Scotland, as well as other areas of the UK & Ireland.

Both webinars run from 7-8pm UK time (11am-12pm PST / 2-3pm PST). It's free to attend, but registration is required.

The sessions will be recorded, so for those not able to attend live, be sure to register at the link below so you can get access to the replay.

Have you been wanting to bag a Munro but didn't know what to do or how to get started? Join our webinar to learn what you need to know.

01/05/2025

It has been extremely dry across Scotland in recent weeks. Areas that are normally wet and boggy are brittle and crackly. Grasses as well as bushes and trees could go up in flame very quickly.

This message is from the Cairngorms National Park Authority but it applies all across Scotland. If you're going to be out and about this coming Bank Holiday weekend, don't light fires or use BBQs.

Stay safe everyone and protect our beautiful landscapes!

A ‘very high’ to 'extreme' risk of wildfire is in place across north-east, central and southern Scotland from Monday 28 April until Sunday, May 4.

18/01/2025

For those who don’t know, Scotland is hugely nature depleted and lacking in biodiversity. There are no longer any apex predators as they were all hunted to death for their furs or removed to make way for sheep grazing.

As a result, the ecosystems across the country are out of balance. There are many conservation organisations and scientists working to restore that. There are also many private individuals who buy land so as to rewind it - plant more native trees and other plants, remove those that are invasive (like rhododendron), and reintroduce species, amongst other initiatives.

One of the proposals is to reintroduce lynx which have been missing in Scotland for hundreds of years. As you can imagine, it’s quite controversial. Many farmers are afraid of the reintroduction and are certain that their sheep and smaller livestock will be taken. There’s unfortunately a lot of misinformation and wrong beliefs around the lynx and its reintroduction.

Recently someone illegally released four lynx in the Cairngorms National Park. No doubt someone who was frustrated by the lack of progress in moving forward with the reintroduction and who thought that releasing would start the process.

All four lynx were captured and taken to be quarantined and examined by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. Sadly one of them later died. Though no doubt well intentioned, this illegal attempt at reintroduction has not only resulted in the death of a magnificent animal, it has made a lot of those opposed to the reintroduction even more reluctant and more distrustful of the process and those proposing it and has likely set back the process of a potential reintroduction.

A landmark new book, The Lynx and Us, is being published next month by Scotland: The Big Picture. Here the author of the book Dr David Hetherington, the UK's leading lynx expert, asks what it would be like to live alongside lynx. Until just a few years ago, the lynx was virtually unknown as a former...

03/01/2025

Happy New Year and wishing you all a wonderful 2025!

It's been a while since I posted here! I don't usually make New Year's resolutions anymore, but one for this year will be to post more regularly.

Instead of making resolutions, what I do is to set goals and intentions for the year.

Writing down your goals is always a good first step, but you also need a plan for making them happen.

My brother John is running a 1-hour webinar on Sunday 12th January focused on goal-setting for 2025. It's on Zoom and totally free.

I've got quite a few goals for this year that I want to make happen, so I'll be attending. Hope to see you there!

Jan 12 - 1 hour Workshop begins at Noon PST, 3pm EST, 8pm GMT Most goal-setting sessions stop at some great ideas and maybe a little excitement. But the problem isn’t inspiration—it’s follow-through. Unless there’s real action behind your goals, they become little more than wishes. This work...

21/06/2024

What symbolises summer for you?

For me it’s bright green, fresh grass. I especially love the smell of it after the rain.

Happy Summer Solstice! ☀️

(And happy Winter Solstice to those in the Southern Hemisphere!)

Summer for me has always been a time to be out in nature. It’s a time of lightness, not just in terms of more light hours in the day, but an emotional lightness and ease.

Green is the colour that I most associate with summer and of course it’s also the colour that we most associate with nature. It evokes feelings of renewal and being refreshed, as well as calmness and positivity.

The bright green tones of grass, in particular, really represent summer for me. It brings back memories of moments spent lying in the grass and absorbing the sun when I was younger and more carefree.

It’s been a very busy and stressful period for me lately, hence my lack of posting over the past month. I know that when I go out and spend time in nature, it always calms and re-energises me. Even while I was editing this image, I could feel the freshness of the green taking away some of the stress.

It’s a reminder to me that re-energising ourselves by spending time in nature doesn’t have to mean heading out to the mountains or a wild forest or even somewhere in the backcountry. It can be as simple as lying in the grass in a garden or park and enjoying a few minutes experiencing the smells, sounds and feelings.

So make the most of your summer and get out to enjoy the green! 🍃

This is an ICM image (Intentional Camera Movement) of some grass at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh back in late April.

20/06/2024

If you’re doing any hikes or outings on Forestry Commission land, be aware of the parking rules.

Taking the car for a trip to the forest?

Please make sure not to park on verges or block gates, trails or roads.

Access to our forests is needed at all times, particularly for emergency services.

31/05/2024

The Edinburgh Festival of Cycling starts today and runs until next Sunday. There are lots of rides, talks, films, and other events. I’ll be out at the women’s ride tomorrow.

More info at www.edfoc.org.uk.

15/04/2024

I was out shooting waterfalls over the weekend and scoping out locations for some upcoming photography workshops. A few times I got distracted by these lovely signs of spring.

06/04/2024

Happy Tartan Day!

Did you know that there are over 500 officially recognised clan tartans and over 7000 listed on the Scottish Register of Tartans?

Tartan is a coloured, patterned cloth made in Scotland from woven wool with horizontal and vertical stripes in different colours. A tartan isn’t actually identified by its colour but by its pattern and thread count. So you can change its colour, but if the pattern and thread count are the same, it’s still considered to be the same tartan.

As well as the established family tartans, there are many others that have been registered, such as the City of Edinburgh’s tartan. Even Canada has its own tartan called the Maple Leaf and each of the provinces, plus Cape Breton, has their own too.

is the main producer of tartan in Scotland, employing skilled craftspeople using traditional methods in their weaving mill based in the Scottish Borders.

If you want to be sure to have an authentic tartan, look for one that says “Made in Scotland”. There are many tourist shops all over Scotland selling items such as scarves, shawls and even kilts that are actually made in China and therefore not authentic tartan.

If you’re in Edinburgh, I recommend and .kiltmaker where not only can you buy authentic tartan products, but you can learn about the clans, tartans, and the history of the buildings they’re in.

01/04/2024

Happy April Fool’s Day from the ultimate April Fool 😆

Come out for a hike or tour with me and you’re sure to have a good laugh! 😁

Sound on if you really want to have a laugh 😉