What a pleasure to chat with Tom Gale from Atom Packs.

The instigator behind the UK’s only lightweight, bespoke, pack manufacture for the lightweight hiker. Designed by him and manufactured with his team of four, he produces solid, quality lightweight products based on his experience of the long distance hiking, completing the triple crown, several mountain qualifications and the Te Araroa trail in New Zealand.

All tough trails and the best possible training for someone who has put experience and knowledge into a pack that will perform as you wish, but last for the duration of your adventure and more.

This podcast tells the full story of his journey from unfocussed student to creator of this small manufacturing base employing 4 staff. It's a journey which has legs, has covered thousands of miles and one which has picked up a bucket load of experience on route.

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Abbie Barnes is a very popular film maker on Youtube and active on other social media so if you are into walking any of the UK National Trails I am sure you will have watched at least one or more of her videos.

She has set herself the task of walking and recording at a very honest level all 16 of the UK National Trails describing the rich experience each one offers, accompanied by an eloquent explanation of the history and natural environment which goes to make each one special.

This year that task also included releasing a new video every Monday, which in itself is an almighty pressure to keep creating and releasing content at such a high quality level.

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This interview came about following an email from a regular listener who heard of a small charity in Buxton in need some outdoor exposure to support their fabulous work.

They are raising funds to build a lodge at White Hall Education Centre in the heart of the beautiful Peak District of Derbyshire with the aim to provide access to outdoor activities and respite accommodation for children and young people with additional needs. This includes children living with difficult life circumstances, such as young carers or those who have lost a parent or sibling.

However one of the key ways they are doing this, is with the creation of a specialist outdoor themed charity shop. They receive items from all over related to sport and the outdoors and find new homes for them at reasonable prices.

This could be a great starting point for those on a tight budget, DoE explorers not wanting to spend too much plus lets face it, this is the perfect excuse to pass on your old sports/outdoors items and have a browse for something you ‘never knew you needed’ in return. Helping a fabulous cause along the way.

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This is it, the 500th episode in the long running series produced by me and released almost 14 years to the date of the first podcast release back in 2005.

This is a fun, musical chat with some reflection on the last 14 years.

In it I look at the past, a few of the many changes to the digital landscape which now surrounds us and speculate over some of the developments for The Outdoors Station for 2020.

If you want to get involved in anyway or have suggestions click on any of our Social Media links and drop me a line.

Once the new studio is completed and I’m inside and getting warm these changes will slowly take place.

Many thanks to one and all of you my audience. You’ve been a big part of this journey and I hope to be keeping making content you all to enjoy for many years to come.

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Every wanted to go (or try) Wild Camping but never quite sure where to start? You don’t want to feel a fool posting on the many public forums to get dismissive replies and you have worries about trespassing and other fears?

However you really want to see what all the fuss is about and if it is for you?

Then how about Nearly Wild Camping?

This is a small helpful cooperative or over 80 locations around the country which are certainly far removed from typical commercial campsites, but still may have the important basics of water and a loo.

Many cater for tents, tarps and traditional camping set ups, however quite a few also have trees for hammocks, allow camp fires and offer rural education should you wish it, about the habitat and environment you might be camping in.

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The following morning we woke after another disturbed night. Although all of us slept well we did have one ear open at all times as each gust hit the shelter, or deluge lasted longer than anticipated.

Unconsciously I’m sure I put my hand out a few times as I slept just to check if the ground had become so sodden that water had seeped in anywhere. Thankfully I returned my dry hand to quilt and once again turned over crossing my fingers that it stayed that way.

The original intention had been to move on from here towards Loch Ossian and camp again. However the brief discussions shouted between the shelters concluded that 24 hours here might be the wisest course of action. The weather looked to be in for the day. A brief glance over to the Bothy indicated that the couple of German mountain bikers were packing up and setting out up the same path we intended to go.

3 hours later they had returned and unpacked once again. A good indication that some of the burns and paths were as difficult to cross as we thought they might be. So I rolled over in my warm quilt and returned to my Kindle.

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Nine years ago, yes NINE, in 2010 I released a short 3 part series entitled Three Men In The Cairngorms which recorded an audio diary of Lee, Tony and myself as we headed into the Cairngorms for a weeks walking and wild camping.

They were a very popular series of just three normal guys going for a wander and so when lee called me in summer this year asking if I wanted to join them again for another mini adventure I didn’t hesitate.

Once again Lee was in charge of the router and the plan was to spend the first 2 days up on the Cairngorm plateau at the Wells of Dee and then drop back down via Loch Eanaich back to Aviemore. Pick up our second rations and then catch the train to Dalwhinnie and head for Ben Alder Lodge, round to Lock Ossian and then walk into Fort William along Glen Nevis.

However Storm Lorenzo had other ideas and this is part one of our adventure.

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It has been three years since I heard any new Podcasts which really float my boat. There’s been quite a few I’ve gone through which never get past the first 30 seconds. If the audio is rubbish or starts off with heavy metal music and lots of shouting that’s a no-no. If there an almighty intro with a big beefy US voice closely followed by weak thin sounding audio and an equally thin insignificant voice, that’s a no-no too. If the presenter is obviously unsure what they’ve got to say, why they are saying it and who they are saying it to .. well yes, you guessed it. It’s another no-no.

Blimey there is some rubbish out there and sadly many ‘producers’ don’t realise that as important their particular message may be to them, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is important to anyone else. So add this to the inability to record something is a listenable format, then I’m sorry, harsh I may be, but I just have more important things to do with my ears.

However if you want to hear some 'Good Stuff' then stay tuned to this Podcast and all will become clear.

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This podcast is an extract from the video interview I did recently with our European correspondent Roman Ackl and his impressions from Outdoor by Ispo the outdoor trade fair which has moved from Friedrichshafen to Munich in 2019.

If you want more information about the products please see the video on the website and YouTube.

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The world is a community and finding the right one for you can make a big difference in confidence as well as your future outlook. In this podcast I welcome several people to my community before speaking with Emma Frampton regarding Adventure Queens, a non for profit community specifically created to delicately smash down the barriers that prevent women from heading off on adventures.

They provide practical information, tips and advice on all things wild camping and the great outdoors. Little by little, bit by bit, Adventure Queens is helping women from the UK and beyond have the confidence to get out there and get WILD.

So this podcast is dedicated to community and how it can help women in particular who need support get the joy and pleasures many of us may take for granted, from the outdoors.

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