Magazine

Following on from our Meanderer’s Guide to Aberdeen, we’re exploring the riverside city of Dundee, found on the edge of the River Tay on Scotland’s East coast. Beyond its unique and rather stunning waterfront views, the city is rich with a modern urban culture that’s blended with a historic past. It’s a city that celebrates the arts, from the famed V&A museum to the vibrant street art and contemporary galleries, making it the perfect place for an urban stroll. Alongside this, an array of scenic spots, beautiful beaches, and outdoor adventures are accessible nearby with sunsets that never disappoint, living up to its namesake ‘Sundee’. Read on to find out more about some of the hidden gems Dundee has to offer, its must-see spots, and best coffee shops!

'Alex Staniforth is a record-breaking adventurer, ultra-endurance athlete, author and charity founder from Chester who is no stranger to overcoming challenges. By the age of 19 he had already survived the two biggest disasters in Mount Everest history, in two consecutive years. However, his biggest challenges have been closer to home: with mental ill health, epilepsy, stammering and bullying since school. He is the fastest person to climb all 100 UK county tops - covering 5,000 miles by human power in 72 days - and has raised over £100,000 for charity, being awarded the Pride of Britain Granada Reports Fundraiser of the Year 2017 and a Points of Light award from the Prime Minister in 2023. Alex has authored two books ‘Icefall’ and ‘Another Peak’, and in 2020 founded a national charity, Mind Over Mountains, to restore mental well-being through nature.'

Gilly McArthur describes herself as "a cold water swim coach, presenter, writer, and illustrator with a passion for ice, climbing, community and well-being." Throughout the past 20 years of Gilly working in the outdoors industry, she has mastered a fine skill of bringing people together. Whether it's a tight-knit men's swimming club, or a grand get-together of trad-climbing women, big or small, Gilly is a complete expert on creating warm, friendly, safe spaces for people to assemble and enjoy the outdoors.

From sailing the Atlantic Ocean solo, to swimming the length of Britain, we asked Jasmine Harrison what drives her to take on these monumental challenges, plus how she's prepping for her biggest adventure yet: a solo sail across the world.

Scottish Highlands local, Sophie Nicholson, shares with us her favourite "do-able" mountain meanders.

For the final Q&A in our Rewilding series, we caught up with James Shooter; Lynx ambassador for SCOTLAND: The Big Picture and host of the Rewild Podcast. Read on to find out more about the benefits of having the lynx integrated back into nature, their history within the Scottish landscape and how we can help aid Scotland’s rewilding mission.

Sammantha Kinghorn is an internationally renowned wheelchair racer, having competed in the Paralympics, and the Commonwealth Games. Not only that, she is now one of the newest additions to the fantastic team of Countryfile presenters. Read on to find out how Sammi began on her racing journey, what it takes to prepare for championships like the Paralympics, and how she’s finding her new role with Countryfile.

This week, we were lucky enough to chat with Kirsten about the Beaver for the second Q&A in our Rewilding series. Kirsten is the beaver ambassador at SBP so, to find out more about our relationship with these animals, we knew she’d be perfect to speak to. Read on to find out more about how they have integrated back into nature, why they're so important to Scottish rewilding and how to spot one in the wild!

Following the launch of our collaboration with SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, and the release of our new Rewilding Collection, we wanted to do a deep- dive into the animals that feature on our rewilding tees and sweats. We caught up with Tara Mann who is SBP’s ambassador for the Red Squirrel. Whilst this is a native species to Scotland, the red squirrel faces challenges as a species that prevent them from thriving, despite their importance to our ecosystem. Read on to find out more about the squirrel's struggles and what we an do to help the situation.

We're back with another Highlands Guide and this time we're headed to Wester Ross, including the famous Applecross, Ullapool, Torridon and Plockton. We have curated this guide to highlight the top-spots in Wester Ross, whether you're searching for an adventurous climb up Stac Pollaidh, looking for the Highlands' best seafood spots or seeking a relaxing stroll through Inverewe Gardens. Wester Ross is dynamic, with fun to be had for all ages and interests, so read the full article to find out more about our top-picks.

Joshua Adeyemi, otherwise known as Tales by Josh, is an award-winning outdoor enthusiast, and the co-founder of Black Scottish Adventurers (BSA), a community interest company that aim to introduce more ethnic minorities to the outdoors in Scotland. We were lucky enough to catch up with Josh, to find out more about his work with BSA, how he first began on his adventuring journey, and what his top adventures are.

Scotland, with its breath-taking landscapes and storied history, offers a myriad of remote and unique accommodations for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Whether you dream of staying in a secluded island cottage, a stylish shed on the edge of a loch, or even a quirky off-grid pod, there's a perfect retreat waiting for you. Here, we explore some of the most enchanting remote places to stay in Scotland, each providing an unforgettable blend of nature, tranquillity, escapism, and adventure.