The Outdoors Station

This is the first podcast from a series of seven which covers the TGO Challenge 2018, where some 350 participants walk the 200 miles from West to East Coast of Scotland.

It was to be the tenth crossing for both Andy and I and we decided to produce the last podcast series relating to the topic. After all there are only so many questions and conversation you can have walking the same direction for 10 years!

Once again our European correspondent Roman Ackl visited the show for us and gave us a complete round up of items he thought would be of interest. Roman is a keen lightweight backpacker and has visited the show with us and for us, for many years. All details on the podcast and more images on our website.

July 2018 and Rose has now completed the Pennine Way, during what turned out to be the hottest, driest period of weather the UK has experienced for many years.

As you’ll hear on the podcast tackling it attached to Pip the Spaniel proved to be one of the many limitations, as the heat meant carrying water was priority and continual checking the dogs health when walking to blistering hot stone paths and tracks added even more to the challenge.

So on the Bank Holiday Monday we decided to crack on from Portree after a good days rest and hit the trail heading for The Storr via Ben Dearg. Although I had done some research on the route before we left, every piece I read spoke of talking the alternative coastal route which on reflection would have been (a) a walk with a view and (b) so much nicer and quicker underfoot.

After another wet night we had a short window of opportunity to wipe the tent down as best we could before packing it away at Cladach a Ghlinne.

The path then continued just a few kilometers to Camasunary, however once again there were a few places which troubled us with just a few inches of soil between the path and fresh air to the cliffs below.

The beginning of May 2018 saw Rose and I start the tough but rewarding Skye Trail starting in the south at Broadford and heading to the most northerly point at Rubha Hunish. The reason we chose the start there was mainly due to transport limitations, as the bus from Glasgow gets into Broadford at 9pm after a long days travel (6hr bus journey) and to get the to northernly start, would have taken another 24 hours. So in an effort to get started without further delay we chose Broadford.

Interview with Caroline Allen author of the new book The Ireland Way launched in 2017, which links together several trails the create the first long distance coast to coast walk on the island. The Ireland Way is a walking and cycling trail over 900km / 560 miles. It covers 14 counties from Cork to the Giant's Causeway.

In this the last from the 4 part series recorded at The Photography Show 2018 I speak with the last two brands Canon and Olympus for their good, better, best suggestion for the ideal camera for outdoor enthusiasts. Andy continues his round and has a close up look at Jobi and the Gorilla Pods plus another specialist holiday company who will whisk you away to exotic destinations and help you capture never to be repeated images.

Part 3 from the recent Photography Show at the NEC in the UK. Full of useful outdoor photography related information.

Part 2 of the 4 part series recorded at The Photography Show in 2018 where we continue our search for the best camera for outdoor enthusiasts as suggested by the brands themselves. Plus a look at some liquid magic from Ilford and a greater understanding of how to get the best Video recording from your equipment for your next big movie.