Best Atlantic Rower Podcasts (2026)

1
A Walk on the Wild Side with Zeki Basan 40:24

Play Pause

20h ago40:24

40:24

Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone go wild foraging in the Highlands with outdoor survival instructor Zeki Basan. Along the way, Zeki introduces them to essential bushcraft skills, from food preservation and shelter building to the ancient art of fire-lighting using stone.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
A Ryvoan Bothy Special 1:23:55

4d ago1:23:55

1:23:55

Mark and Rachel celebrate 60 Years of the Mountain Bothy Association with a trip to Ryvoan Bothy to get a sense of the very lively bothy culture in Scotland.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
In Search of Bird Song with Neil Ansell 30:12

1d ago30:12

30:12

Helen Needham discusses hearing loss and his search for bird song with writer Neil AnsellBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
Alpacas, Robins and a Christmas Treasure Hunt 1:22:14

5d ago1:22:14

1:22:14

Farmer Simon Johnson offers tours and experiences with alpacas. Rachel heads to Bowbridge Alpacas in Fife and begins by taking a look at some alpaca babies sheltering from the cold. It’s National Robin Day on the 21st of December. Mark meets Ian Broadbent in Aberdeenshire to chat about the songbird and its small but mighty reputation. Rachel joins …

1
Crystal Hunting on Cairngorm with Mark Diggins of the Scottish Avalanche Information Service 27:36

8d ago27:36

27:36

Mark Stephen goes out in search of snow with Mark Diggins of SAISBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
Squirrel Detection, Ice Swimming and Cattle Droving 1:22:40

12d ago1:22:40

1:22:40

The Scottish Wildlife Trust has just acquired a piece of land which will double the size of one of its wildlife reserves. Rachel joins Reserves Manager Rab Potter at Gight Wood near Methlick to discover why the site is so significant. A new survey has revealed that the number of peregrine pairs in the breeding season within Cairngorms National Park…

1
The Findhorn Foundation 29:16

15d ago29:16

29:16

Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone meet up with Jonathan Caddy at the Findhorn Foundation.By BBC Radio Scotland

101
The Super Moon, Fungus and the Highest Village in Scotland 1:23:20

20d ago1:23:20

1:23:20

In the summer, Mark met Euan Tomes, Assistant Woodlands Manager at Moray Estates, in the aftermath of a wildfire that spread through Dava Moor. Mark catches up with Euan to find out how the land has been recovering and what happened to the osprey chicks Euan helped to save. In the heart of Sanquhar in Dumfries and Galloway is an organisation called…

1
Twenty Years of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code 28:26

30d ago28:26

28:26

Mark and Rachel speak to delegates at the Scottish Outdoor Access Network conference.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
A Daredevil Photographer, a Winter Climber and an Atlantic Rower 1:22:38

26d ago1:22:38

1:22:38

The Spirit of Adventure Festival is hosted this weekend by Paralympic champion Karen Darke and features Claire Alldritt, who embarked on a 1000 mile trek with her horses in 2022. Rachel joins them to chat next adventures. In this week’s podcast excerpt, Mark meets climber Guy Robertson whose latest book, The Great Mixed Climbs of Scotland, co-produ…

1
Winter Climbing with Guy Robertson 33:37

29d ago33:37

33:37

Mark Stephen meets Scottish based winter climber Guy Robertson. Guy's latest book, The Great Mixed Climbs of Scotland, co-produced with photographer Hamish Frost highlights the best winter climbs in the country. Mark also finds out what it takes to be a winter climberBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
A Doggy Special - Sheep Dogs, Dog Walkers and a Deathly Disease 1:23:12

1M ago1:23:12

1:23:12

Forvie Nature Reserve is known for its seal population. Ythan Seal Watch are a volunteer group who promote responsible viewing of seals, Mark met up with them to find out more. Rachel heads to the beach at Broughty Ferry to chat with Isla Fowler and Jessica Giannotti about SeaDyes, a young company working with the James Hutton Institute to create n…

1
The Stalker and the Chef 23:31

1M ago23:31

23:31

Mark Stephen goes out on the hill at Finzean in Aberdeenshire with stalker Hedge Shand and Chef Sanjay Bhattacharya to discuss deer management and venison.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
Outdoor Saunas, Walking with Goats and A Library of Things 1:24:06

1M ago1:24:06

1:24:06

Photographer, filmmaker and researcher Jill de Fresnes has encapsulated the experiences of twelve Scottish women who worked as herring gutters from the 1920s to the 1960s in a new exhibition at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh. Mark meets Jill there to chat about Silver, Salt and Stories – Images and Memories of the Scots Herring Women…

1
Saunas and the Sea 23:47

1M ago23:47

23:47

Two working mothers in Fife set up Wild Scottish Sauna during lockdown after seeing the popularity of wild swimming.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
Magpies, Dark Skies and Cairngorms Pride 1:20:43

2M ago1:20:43

1:20:43

Cairngorms Pride is a new nature-led organisation set up in Cairngorms National Park with the motto: “here for the planet, queer for the planet”. Rachel chats to Dan Cottam and Kath Pierce about the social enterprise. Coinneach Rankin and Hamish Macleod are climbers and filmmakers who make the series Dàna on BBC Alba in which they capture their adv…

1
Adventures in Gaelic with Coinneach Rankin and Hamish Macleod 26:39

2M ago26:39

26:39

Coinneach Rankin and Hamish Macleod are both climbers and filmmakers who make the series Dàna on BBC Alba in which they capture their adventures in the outdoors. They discuss their approach to adventuring, filmmaking and the Gaelic language and landscape.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
Daydreaming, Rare Moss and Photographing the River Spey 1:23:09

2M ago1:23:09

1:23:09

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoors.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
The Battle of Culloden 22:08

2M ago22:08

22:08

Mark Stephen visits Culloden Battlefield to meet archaeologists involved in a recent dig there to find out what they have uncoveredBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
Saltmarshes, Shinty and A Horse's Tooth 1:23:01

2M ago1:23:01

1:23:01

The Mither Tap forms part of the range of hills collectively known as Bennachie in Aberdeenshire. Mark takes a stroll with Peter Stock and Alan Henderson of Bailies of Bennachie to discover plans to restore the path to the Mither Tap. Jenny Graham joins the Strong Mum Club baby hike near Inverness to find out how mums in the group are benefitting f…

1
Tom Bowser, author of Waters of Life, Fighting for Scotland's Beavers 23:58

2M ago23:58

23:58

Rachel Stewart meets Tom Bowser, author of Waters of Life, Fighting for Scotland's Beavers at his farm in Perthshire where in November 2021 a family of beavers were relocatedBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
Campervans, Catching Leaves and a Community Garden 55:25

3M ago55:25

55:25

Mark Stephen and Jenny Graham with stories from the great outdoors.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
The Power of the View with Alec Finlay 18:48

3M ago18:48

18:48

A conversation between geographer and writer Hayden Lorimer and Alec Finlay, in which Alec describes his creative practice around limit and how he came to appreciating and celebrating the View.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
The Sound of Beavers, Larch Trees and the Home of the Lord of the Isles 1:22:31

3M ago1:22:31

1:22:31

A multimedia installation which explores the role of beavers on an estate in Perthshire is part of this year’s soundfestival in the north east. Rachel joins composer and musician Dave Maric to learn more about Silent Architects. Mark takes a stroll in Falkirk with writer Rebecca Smith to appreciate the beauty of larch trees and new techniques to pr…

1
Roy Dennis - Highland Cows and Capercaillies 26:23

3M ago26:23

26:23

Mark Stephen meets conservationist Roy Dennis to explore an innovative project in Moray, where the introduction of Highland cows to a wooded landscape is helping to restore Scotland's capercaillie population.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
Snorkelling Artists, Acorns and Access 1:24:13

3M ago1:24:13

1:24:13

Since 2021, Argyll Hope Spot’s Snorkelling Artists Residency has been offering artists the opportunity to explore the marine habitats of Argyll and create artwork inspired by what they find beneath the waves. Mark dons his wetsuit to join printmaker Louise Scammell and artist and writer Jane Smith who are helping to run the residency. Last week, Sc…

1
An Historic Sailing Ship - The Bessie Ellen 27:39

3M ago27:39

27:39

The Bessie Ellen is a unique sailing ship which has been lovingly restored by Nikki Alford. Originally from the South West of England, she spends most of her time sailing in Scottish waters. Writer Linda Cracknell has a personal association with the ship after she started looking into her family history and discovered that she comes from a long lin…

1
A Kitchen Garden, The Trossachs Explorer and 200 Years of the Modern Railway 1:22:19

3M ago1:22:19

1:22:19

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoors.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
Life, Death and the Outdoors with Juliet Robertson 22:48

3M ago22:48

22:48

'Upsetting content warning' - Juliet talks very openly about her terminal illness which some people may find upsetting.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
Trees, Trains and Spiders 1:23:45

3M ago1:23:45

1:23:45

Leslie Heritage Group in Fife came up with an ambitious project designed to unearth more information about the ancient village’s history and raised money for an archaeological dig. Rachel went along to day one of the excavation to learn more from Group members Bill Carr and Bill Fiet and archaeologist Philip Karsgaard. Woodland Trust Scotland has d…

1
RRS Discovery 27:56

4M ago27:56

27:56

Mark Stephen visits Dundee to hear how a consignment of teak which was salvaged from a sunken steamer ship in the Irish Sea is now being used as part of the RRS Discovery restoration projectBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
Counting Butterflies, Carriage Driving and Nature Writing 1:21:48

4M ago1:21:48

1:21:48

The North East Open Studios allows people to meet artists and makers, often in their own workspaces. Rachel is welcomed by Marguerite Fleming from Westfield Croft in Aberdeenshire who has a rare breed fibre flock which she uses to create hand woven rugs and yarns. Around this time last year, Mark visited Scott Campbell on his farm at Kinellar in Ab…

1
The Beauty of Moths 20:59

4M ago20:59

20:59

Mark Stephen visits Insh Marshes near Aviemore in the early hours to meet a couple of moth enthusiasts and discover the contents of the moth trap they had set the night beforeBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
Rooks, Disc Golf and Autumnal Activities 1:21:34

4M ago1:21:34

1:21:34

The University of St Andrews is using ancient rocks from Torridon to test instruments that will be used on the Mars Rover to look for evidence of life. Mark meets Dr Claire Cousins in the lab. Rod and Niccy Angus opened the Scottish Owl Centre in West Lothian in 2012 and are now looking for new people to take over the attraction. It’s the largest c…

1
Scottish Owl Centre - End of an Era 26:48

4M ago26:48

26:48

Rachel Stewart meets the owners of the Scottish Owl Centre as they prepare for retirementBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
Coal Carrying Championships, Life on St Kilda and Underwater Photography 1:22:15

4M ago1:22:15

1:22:15

The Bikery in Huntly, Aberdeenshire aims to repair and resell old bikes to stop them ending up in landfill. Rachel chats to team members Stuart Pow and Laura McNeil about the Bikery’s mission, before heading to the workshop to learn how the project teaches mechanical skills. Josh Donaldson from Arbroath became an internet sensation after posting vi…

1
Josh Donaldson - Litter Picking 21:19

4M ago21:19

21:19

Mark Stephen speaks to Josh Donaldson from Arbroath who became a Tick Tock sensation after posting videos of him clearing up litter from his local forests, beaches and streets. As well as coming across the usual litter such as plastic bottles, cans and crisp packets, he’s even found a grenade. Now with a following of 1.5 million fans as far as the …

1
Rivers, Fossils and Hot Air Balloons 1:24:21

4M ago1:24:21

1:24:21

Mark is back with Heritage Engagement Manager Ingrid Shearer on the banks of the River Clyde to discuss one of Scotland’s first access rights success stories, the case of Harvie’s Dyke. Also on the Clyde, Helen Needham takes a wander with author Louise Welsh and architect Jude Barber, who are asking for recognition of the legal personhood status of…

1
Rivers with Robert Macfarlane 31:12

4M ago31:12

31:12

Helen Needham discusses the 'aliveness' of rivers with writer Robert MacfarlaneBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
Moose, Cranes and the Wolf of Badenoch 1:21:10

5M ago1:21:10

1:21:10

Mark is in Aberdeenshire with RSPB’s Hywel Maggs to try to catch a glimpse of the Common crane and to find out why numbers of the birds are increasing in North East Scotland. Naturalist and Educator Dan Puplett reads the Scottish landscape to track wildlife. Jenny Graham meets him Rafford, near Forres to search for evidence of local species. ‘Cloud…

1
Eddy Graham - Clouds 24:42

5M ago24:42

24:42

Mark Stephen meets Eddy Graham, a lecturer/researcher in atmospheric science.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
Rowing on the River Clyde, Stonehaven's Land Train and Free Bikes at the Edinburgh Fringe 1:22:43

5M ago1:22:43

1:22:43

Comedian Dion Owen is at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to combine his two passions, cycling and stand-up. Mark meets Dion before his show to find out more about his free bike programme for Fringe artists. Gardening expert Julie-Ann Henderson is trying to encourage more young people to consider horticulture as a career. She established the first Nor…

1
The Whithorn Way - Part 6 - Girvan to St Ninian's Cave 39:25

5M ago39:25

39:25

The Whithorn Way follows an ancient pilgrim route from Glasgow to Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway. In this final episode, Mark and Rachel walk some of the Ayrshire Coastal Path south of Girvan. Then Mark takes to his bike for the final section to Whithorn. They reach Whithorn Priory where the relics of St Ninian were kept, and the place where pil…

1
A Herring Queen, Art on a Bus and a Very Small Ferry 1:23:29

5M ago1:23:29

1:23:29

Since 1978 the Travelling Gallery has been bringing exhibitions to communities throughout Scotland by putting art inside a bus. Mark steps on board with curator Louise Briggs in Callendar Park, Falkirk, to explore the latest exhibition, Seedlings: Diasporic Imaginaries. Phil Sime speaks to blind farmer Mike Duxbury about Scotland’s first inclusive …

1
Scotland's First Inclusive Farm 28:49

5M ago28:49

28:49

Phil Sime visits a farm near Aboyne, Aberdeenshire to speak to blind farmer Mike Duxbury and his partner Ness Shillitto about creating Scotland’s first inclusive farm. This is a place where people with disabilities will gain the confidence, skills and opportunity to pursue a career in agriculture.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
An Orkney Shipwreck, A Rare Moth and Aspen Trees 1:20:18

5M ago1:20:18

1:20:18

The rare Dark Bordered Beauty moth is found in only two sites in Scotland and one in England. Mark joins Dark Bordered Beauty Moth Champion Pete Moore at RSPB Insh Marshes nature reserve to find out more about attempts to reintroduce the moth to other areas in Scotland. Dark Bordered Beauty moths in Scotland are reliant on aspen suckers - shoots th…

1
The Whithorn Way - Part 5 - Ayr to Girvan 29:36

5M ago29:36

29:36

The Whithorn Way follows an ancient pilgrim route from Glasgow to Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway. In this episode, Mark and Rachel begin at Crossraguel Abbey at Maybole, once a significant stopping off point for pilgrims. Then it's off to the once very popular holiday destination of Girvan to learn about a new community led tourism initiative. A…

1
A Tea Clipper, Sail Training and The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 1:24:28

6M ago1:24:28

1:24:28

It’s anchors aweigh for Out of Doors as we are live from the Tall Ships Races in Aberdeen.By BBC Radio Scotland

1
Veteran Cattle Breeder and Author, Harold Murray 18:08

6M ago18:08

18:08

Mark Stephen meets Harold Murray, veteran cattle breeder and author from North East Scotland. Now in his nineties, Harold has spent his life working with cattle and more recently has turned his hand to writing and poetryBy BBC Radio Scotland

1
Screaming Swifts, Flapperskate and a Pictish Hill Fort in Fife 1:23:10

6M ago1:23:10

1:23:10

In a couple of weeks, swifts will leave our skies and depart for their wintering grounds in Africa. Author and naturalist Mark Cocker has spent a lifetime observing them and Rachel meets him in Crail to chat about the migrating birds and his new book One Midsummer’s Day - Swifts and the Story of Life on Earth. Never a stranger to getting his hands …