Magazine

Behind the Lens 1: In the first instalment of this series we catch up with Sam Howard, an amazing photographer who’s passionate about capturing images of Scotland’s surf scene. Stay tuned for more conversations with talented photographers from a number of disciplines, discovering the ins and outs of day to day life in the world of photography.

Scotland is renowned for its distinctive and diverse range of landscapes; from dramatic mountains and glens, to deep lochs and rugged coastlines. Some would say there is no better way to appreciate Scotland than from the top of its highest peaks and for those among us who long for that extra challenge, climbing may be the activity for you. Although very technical initially, once you get the hang of it, it will provide the perfect tools to unlock ALL that Scotland has on offer.

There are 282 munros scattered all around Scotland. 3 years ago Emily Scott achieved the amazing feat of climbing every single one in just 120 consecutive days. Armed with just her hiking gear, tent and bike she set off on her 4 month adventure. She covered over 4,800km with over 198,000m ascent, her journey was self-propelled, and for the most part self supported.

It’s no secret that dogs make great adventure companions and at Meander we’re all passionate about getting out and about with our four legged friends! Dexter dog (our resident founding fluffy team member) is a keen hiker (and frisbee champ) and has even conquered a few Munros.

It’s no secret that the fashion industry has a significant impact on our environment. In fact, it is the second largest polluter in the world, just after the oil industry. The environmental damage is only increasing as the industry booms. One of the largest issues in the production process, and one that’s not often discussed, is that of the chemicals used in various stages of garment production from fibre productions to dyes and treatments. We often think of the risks associated with chemicals in things like cleaning products and pharmaceuticals, but rarely give serious thought to the chemicals that are used in the production of the clothes we wear all day long.

From hiking solo to building a community of over 13,000 people and establishing a social enterprise in just 4 years, Edinburgh based Iona has created something really special. We caught up with her to chat about her journey, the importance of adventures and some confidence boosting tips for beginners.

The green tourism movement is growing in Scotland and its great to see more and more cottages, hotels and glamping sites being built using sustainable methods, green enery and paying attention to their environmental footprint. At Meander we love to travel and of course, if we can do it in a more sustainabile way, then we’re all for it. We’ve put together a list of some unique eco friendly Scottish accommodation to help inspire your next adventure.

Beautiful coastal trails, rolling hills, glittering expanses of open water – Scotland really has it all. The awe inspiring, ever changing landscapes on offer make it a cyclists heaven. This has led to an expansive list of catalogued routes spanning from the Firth of Forth all the way to the Outer Hebrides and everywhere in between.

We’ve got some new products from some amazing Scottish brands. Perfect to take with you or inspire your next adventure.

Steve takes the leap into water - North Berwick

This week is National Dark Skies Week and alongside our article on the best places to go stargazing in Scotland, we wanted to share some tips with those of you who want to try their own hand at capturing our incredible starry skies. We’ve been in awe of some of Tristan Cameron Harper's night sky photography and even sell some of his prints in our store, so we asked for his help on this one and he didn’t disappoint.