Passing Places Around Scotland

Flanders Moss nature Reserve

Its great to be back in front of the microphone (yet another new one) after being absent for many months.  I make a few visits to Flanders Moss a national nature reserve near Stirling, some audio from the Western Isles and I update listeners on up and coming developments in the Passing Places podcast.

A real wander around Scotland in this episode. I have spent  a fair amount of time in recent weeks clocking up some serious mileage all over Scotland including Angus, Fife, Stirlingshire and the Highlands. As always I'm chasing the weather, the northern lights and the quieter more remote parts of Scotland.  In this episode however I also spend a few days in the busy harbour at Peterhead as well as few great nights at Cruden Bay.

Visiting Skye & appearing on The Motorhome Podcast

I'm finally back in front of the microphone. In this weeks episode I cover some of my recent trip to Skye as well as giving you some idea of where I have been the past two months.  I have also included an excerpt from my recent appearance on The Motorhome Podcast.  Finally I also include some musical audio from the Mull of Kintrye.

East Neuk of Fife and Kirriemuir Angus

A great few days on the east side of Scotland.  Some days spent adjacent to the wonderful villages on the Fife Coastal Path.  The coastal villages of St Monan's, Anstruther, Elie, Earslferry, Pittenweem and Crail are often referred to as the strings of pearls. Its a wonderful location for walking and enjoying the very best of the Kingdom of Fife. The second half of the podcast is based in the small town of Kirriemuir in Angus.  I mention J.M. Barrie and his famous novel Peter Pan.  I also reflect on my imminent trip to the the Isle of Skye.

On The Mull of Kintyre at Easter

The ten days or so I spent on the Mull of Kintyre delivered some great weather, magical sunsets on glorious beaches and a number of starlit nights watching the International Space Station tracking overhead.  I also enjoyed a brief stop at Butter Bridge in Glen Kinglas on my way home. It was a lovely day and a great spot to have a break, take in the views and paddle in the river.

The Mull of Kintyre is almost a hidden gem, shunned by many of the tourists in their rush to head north to the more famous locations of Oban, Fort William and Inverness.  It really is a special place and remarkably quiet even on an Easter bank holiday week-end.

Interview with Glen Moyer from Louisana USA

I'm on the Mull of Kintyre in my van talking to a new friend living across the pond about his impending visit to Scotland.  It's also a birthday week and I'm enjoying being away for my birthday and finally again introducing new voices to Passing Places.  It's great to see technology linking the wider Scottish diaspora to each other and finally rejoining all the Scottish connections across the globe.

The internet is bringing people together so check out Glen's blog A Glen in Scotland and for the motorhome and caravan folk I also cover one possible way how you could possibly connect to the web using your mobile phone.

I'll be back next week with more details of my current travels in the motorhome.  I'm back on the road travelling around Scotland.

Culloden & Glasgow's Link to Slavery

A busy week on the podcast wandering from London to Glasgow.  I share some thoughts on the Commonwealth Games and the current controversy around the permission to allow a private housing development on the Culloden Battlefied outside Inverness.

Please checkout the current planning decision about Culloden. It is a site of international importance and one which has been failed by the current planning regulations in Scotland.

It is now spring in Scotland and I visit Aberfoyle and the Loch Ard area of the Trossachs and for the first time provide an update on the buzz which is being created around the Scottish vote on independence which will take place this September.

The Hills north of Glasgow

Whilst Glasgow unfairly has a reputation merely as an industrial city, it sits in a most beautiful location with some wonderful hills minutes away from the city.  In Passing Places this week I visit The Campsie Fells and mention the exodus of Glaswegians in the 1900's and beyond, as they escaped the smog and discovered the magic of the Scottish countryside. In particular I talk about Tom Weir one of the the most influential men of his time in his ability to share his passion for Scotland.  He is remembered by most, for his STV series Weirs Way but he was much more than that. He was a naturalist, acclaimed climber, prolific writer, photographer and a fantastic ambassador for the wild places of Scotland.

I hope to produce an episode of Passing Places this year all about Tom Weir and the current campaign to erect a statue in his memory on the banks of Loch Lomond.

Balmaha Rowardennan Conic Hill & Ben Lomond

In the podcast this week I discuss the merits of visiting the East side of Loch Lomond and taking in a boat trip to some of the many fifty plus islands.  I also talk about climbing Conic hill, walking the West Highland Way and bagging Ben Lomond perhaps your first munro?

The area is beautiful and as well as walking and water sports there are two campsites on the east side of Loch Lomond. Finish your day in either the Rowardennan Hotel or the Oak Tree Inn at Balmaha.