The Walk Fife Podcast - Exploring the Kingdom on Foot

We are heading out on a mini adventure in this episode of the Walk Fife Podcast.

Join Walk Fife’s Sean as he sets out to find one of the many geocaches that are hidden across Fife.

Geocaching is a great way to get active and get out exploring the world around you and is easily accessible to people of all ages, ability and fitness.

Geocaching

It can be best described as a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. To find a geocache you need to have a  handheld GPS device or a GPS enabled device such as a smart phone using a geocaching app. You can download free apps for Android and Apple devices.

Sean takes us through the process of finding a geocache and logging it online using the free smartphone. As he searches out the cache he explains the different kinds of geocaches that out out there to be found and shares some of his experiences. The Walk Fife team are big fans of geocaching especially as there are hundreds to be found in the Fife region.

Website updates

As he navigates his way to the hidden treasure, Sean explains some of the updates and improvements that have been made to the Walk Fife website. Revisions include the recent update to the routes section allowing users to embed walking routes in their own websites. There will be more improvements coming online line soon.

The Walk Fife Workshops

After the huge success of the first workshop, we have been working on developing the format and panning future workshops thanks to Gary Wilson and his team of volunteers. Sean explains how people will be able to register an interest in a place and how places will be assigned to these free workshops.

Win a Garmin GPS!

Sean reminds listeners about the latest competition on the Walk Fife website. The prize this time is a Garmin eTrex Touch 25 GPS device and all you have to do is answer the question on the website. The closing date for entries is December 8th 2017.

If you would like to ask us a question or you would like to appear on the podcast please email us at [email protected]

Show Links

Geocaching Website - https://www.geocaching.com

Join Sean as he walks a short stretch of the Fife Coastal Path on the first frosty day of the year.

The Limekilns to Rosyth part of the path is easy going and offers some nice views over the Forth of Forth.

It has been a busy time for the Walk Fife volunteers as we work to bring even more opportunities for the Fife walking community.

The Fringes of Fife

Earlier this month Sean shared a photo of a walking book published in 1894. The reaction we had from the Walk Fife community was amazing with lots of people wanting to know more about the guide and sharing some surprising information.

Win a GPS!

Sean shares the news of the latest competition on the Walk Fife website. The prize this time is a Garmin eTrex Touch 25 GPS device and all you have to do is answer the question on the website. The eTrex Touch has been built to be tough and rugged, complete with a scratch-resistant screen and IPX7 water-rating that makes it able to cope with some serious outdoor adventures. The closing date for entries is December 8th 2017.

First Walk Fife wWorkshop is a huge success

Our recent map reading workshop was a huge success and Sean talks about future plans for them. We will be running more workshops across the county covering topics such as map reading, learning to use a compass, using a GPS, safety for the walker, planning a route, digital mapping and many more.

Walking questions

We regularly get questions sent in to us by listeners and Sean takes some time to answer them before heading on his way along the coast. Topics include a Walk Fife walking club, geocaching and the best smart phones apps for recording your walking route.

If you would like to ask us a question or you would like to appear on the podcast please email us at [email protected]

Show Links

The Walk Fife Podcast Episode 12 - Rainy walks, Compasses and Changes

In this episode of the Walk Fife Podcast you join Sean as he takes shelter from a spell of heavy rain and strong winds.

As Sean sits out the bad weather he brings us up to date on what has been happening with Walk Fife and the community.

Walking Workshops

To kick things off for this episode Sean talks about the Walk Fife Workshops. This a new community driven project and the workshops aim to introduce some core skills to those new to walking routes and trail.

We will be running workshops across the county covering topics such as map reading, learning to use a compass, using a GPS, safety for the walker, planning a route, digital mapping and many more. You can learn more by visiting – http://www.walkfife.com/workshops/

The Fife walking community comes together…

We have recently had some new posters and leaflets printed to help promote Walk Fife across the county and beyond. Sean explains that the funding to allow this to happen has all been thanks to the money raised so far by our fund raising campaign. You can learn more about the campaign by visiting – http://www.walkfife.com/donate/

Choosing a good compass

Listener Rory has contacted Walk Fife to ask what he should be looking for when buying a compass after he bough a very poorly constructed one from high street outdoors store. Sean talks us through his check list when buying a compass and why it is important to be careful when considering a cheap compass instead especially as these are one on the most important pieces of equipment that a walker should own.

Accessible coastline…

Mary has recently moved into Fife and would like to be able to take her little one on a walk in a pram. Sean suggest some areas that he and is family have walked when his kids were little If you have a suggestion about where Mary can visit easily along the coast please drop us a line – [email protected] – and we will pass it on to Mary.

Get in touch

If you have any suggestions for future episodes of the Walk Fife podcast then please get in touch with us through our website or you can even drop us a line through Twitter or Facebook.

Thanks for listening!

This week Sean ventures a stone’s throw out of Fife to walk the Loch Leven Heritage Trail and has a chat with us while on his way.

The Loch Leven Heritage Trail is a excellent 20km route that takes the walker on a very easy going walk around the loch. Sean explores the nature reserve as he follows the trail as it winds along the shoreline.

Sean takes some time out from his walk to answer some questions sent to the Walk Fife website. Topics include the pros and cons of insulated jackets for the walker, family-friendly routes through the Lomond Hills and camping spots on the Fife Coastal Path. If you have a question you would like to answered through the podcast please email [email protected]

The winner of our recent competition to win a Berghuas Arrow 30 rucksack has been drawn and Sean announces the name of the lucky winner. Also revealed is the answer to the question that caused quite a few people to scratch their head. A new competition will be coming online soon.

Last week Sean dropped by one of Dunfermline’s most popular visitor attractions. The Andrew Carnegie Birth Place Museum is one of the town’s hidden gems and the museum Curator and Manager, Kirke Kook, took some time out of her busy week to chat with Sean about Andrew Carnegie and the place of his birth.

If you would like to ask us a question or you would like to appear on the podcast please email us at [email protected]

Show Links

Loch Leven Heritage Trail - http://www.walkfife.com/maps-routes/loch-leven-heritage-trail/

In this episode of the Walk Fife Podcast Sean is tucked up warm at home.

The weather isn’t podcast friendly and Sean has a cold so this week he is accompanied by a mug of Lemsip.

To kick things off Sean answers some questions that have been sent in by listeners. The first question comes from Lucy who asks if there are any walking routes that the team would like to have on the website but just can’t. Sean talk about the abandoned Fife Earth Park site near Kelty. He explains the history behind the site and why it can’t be added to the Walk Fife website despite it being an interesting place to explore.

Over the summer months John noticed that there seemed to a rise in littering across Fife and he asks what we can do as walkers to help prevent it. Sean talks about our recent visit to a local project to clean up litter and how the decline in public litter and waste bins may be to blame. Sean asks for some suggestions from listeners which could help Walk Fife to inform and educate others about the litter problem across the Kingdom.

Rachel asks for some advice on buying daypack and how much she should be looking to spend to get one suitable to use while walking the Fife Coastal Path. Sean has a lot walking experience and shares some top tips on what to look for and what to avoid when shopping for a good daypack.

There have been a few new developments on the Walk Fife website and Sean explains what they are and how you can assist. The latest addition is our What’s On Guide page where we will be featuring different events across Fife and Scotland that will be of interest to our community of walkers.

Before his voice gives out and he runs off for a Lemsip refill, Sean reminds us to take some extra safety measures when venturing out for walk this autumn and he also reminds us about the competition running on the Walk Fife website to win a Berghaus Arrow 30 Backpack.

If you would like to ask us a question or you would like to appear on the podcast please email us at [email protected]

Show Links

Win a Berghaus Arrow 30 Backpack - http://www.walkfife.com/win/

Walk Fife recently celebrated it’s 1st Birthday and Sean looks back at the past year and thanks listeners for their support.

Some of the Walk Fife volunteers recently were lucky enough to be located with places on the recently walk across the new Queensferry Crossing. Sean talks about his experience of the walk and what surprised him most about the views the walkers were treated to along the way.

Sean updates us on the latest additions to the Walk Fife website which includes Maintenance Corner where the team will be keeping everyone informed with any issues found with the walks shared through the website. There is a new feature page introducing the work of ScotWays and a page listing the maps that we think suit Fife walkers best.

To answer some questions sent in by listeners of the podcast, Sean ventures out to the very rainy Lochore Meadows Country Park where he takes a walk around the park.

Before closing the podcast Sean reminds us of the competition that is running on the Walk Fife website. We recently opened a new competition on our website to win a Berghaus Arrow 30 Backpack. This time we think we have managed to stump quite a lot of people with our question.

If you would like to ask us a question or you would like to appear on the podcast please email us at [email protected]

Show Links

Blairadam Forest is the location for Episode 8 of the Walk Fife Podcast.

Join Sean as he explores a trail leading through the forest and the surrounding farmland.

Sean kicks things off by thanking the very kind people who recently made donations to our fund raising campaign. This means we can improve our audio equipment to allow us to improve the quality of each episode and it will also give us a little more flexibility.

Our new “Wheelchair Friendly” category has been made live on the Walk Fife website and Sean explains what we are doing behind the scenes to add to this new addition.

Questions on the move….

As the rain moves across the woodland, Sean takes some time to answer some questions sent in by listeners of the podcast.

Rachel has a favourite route that she has walked many times that was considering sharing through Walk Fife but it does involve climbing over barbed wire fences at one point. She asks if she still submit to the website. Sean talks about why a route with obstacles like barbed wire are not suitable for sharing through the website and what steps can be taken to avoid issues with plotting routes with obstacles.

Susan and her husband really enjoy walking no that they are retired butwould like to make it a bit more of a social pastime and she asks what the best way is to find a local walking club. Sean points Susan to the links page on the website where we have listed some Fife based clubs and also suggest that she take a look at the Ramblers Association who have a lively social element in their membership.

Davey is trying to encourage his kids to go out walking but it is proving to be a challenge and asks if we have any tips on encouraging them. Sean shares his experience with getting his kids engaged with the outdoors through geocaching.

Walking interview

Sean recently caught up with Stephen Ripley who many will know from the routes he has shared through the Walk Fife website. They take a break while out walking a route to talk about why Stephe shared his routes and what areas of Fife really stand out for him for walking. They also talk about where he is headed next on his exploration of Fife.

Sound of nature

A number of listeners have got in touch with us to ask if we could include some more of the natural sounds that we capture when recording each podcast. Get your headphones on and sit back and enjoy the sounds of Blairadam Forest.

If you would like to ask us a question or you would like to appear on the podcast please email us at [email protected]

Show Links

Win a Berghaus Arrow 30 Backpack - http://www.walkfife.com/win/

Episode 7 of the Walk Fife Podcast joins Sean as he verifies one of the walking routes submitted to the website.

Sean talks about how Walk Fife recently hit over 100 waling routes shared through the website and thanks everyone for their support in achieving this amazing goal. Sean also talks about our campaign to raise some money to help Walk Fife further develop and make the website more functional and informative.

As Sean walks this short woodland walk he talks about how important it is to provide a accurate and detailed description with each route you submit for sharing through the website. Descriptions make it much easier for people to both identify the kind of walk they would like to try and also helps people navigate the route as they walk it. Sean points out some things that are good to include in a route description and also why including some handy tips along the way will make the walk more enjoyable for people walking your route.

Safety is another topic for this episode and Sean explains why we now have a safety notice pop up when you go to download routes from the site for the first time. He highlights the need for people to take a map and compass with them on their walks as a back up if they intend on using their smartphones and GPS devices as a method of navigating their route. We covered the pros and cons of these devices in a recent video which can be found at https://youtu.be/MkyW-OcricM

Sean mentions that are also looking for people to help us list wheelchair accessible routes on the Walk Fife website after we were asked to suggest some to visitors to Fife. We are looking to add a new category to the website for accessible routes to help people with limited walking abilities find and enjoy everything Fife has to offer.

If you have any suggestions for future episodes of the Walk Fife podcast then please get in touch with us through our website or you can even drop us a line through Twitter or Facebook.

Happy Walking!

Join Sean in episode 6 of the Walk Fife podcast as he takes a short lunchtime walk along the Fife Coastal Path.

Fife offers lots of opportunities for short walks and taking a break from your workplace to enjoy some fresh air and exercise is beneficial in many ways.

For this lunchtime stroll Sean has chosen to explore the stretch of path between North Queensferry and Inverkeithing which takes in the Carlingnose Point Nature Reserve.

You can download this route - Recycle Circle Route (shared with us by Stephen Ripley) - from our website at http://www.walkfife.com/maps-routes/recycle-circle-route/

As he makes his way along the trail Sean answers a few questions sent in to us by listeners of our podcast and users of the Walk Fife website.

Sean also drops by Fife Zoo and chats with one of the founders behind the project about their recently launched crowd funding campaign. It is hoped the the campaign will raise enough funds for the project to move on with its development and bring something truly special to the people of Fife.

You can find out more about the campaign by visiting http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/crowdfund-fife-zoo

Sean also reminds us about the competition we currently have running on the Walk Fife website to win a Ordnance Survey Map bundle covering the whole Fife region and a Silva Explorer Compass to use with them. To find out how to enter visit – http://www.walkfife.com/win/

If you have any suggestions for future episodes of the Walk Fife podcast then please get in touch with us through our website, twitter account or you can even drop us a line through Facebook.

Show Links

Carlingnose Point Nature Reserve - http://www.swt-fife.org.uk/reserve8.htm

Join Sean in episode 5 of the Walk Fife podcast as he walks a new trail and chats to us about what has been happening with the team.

The first topic for this episode is the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Recently we had to remove a walking route from the website as the land owner had blocked access to the route. Sean explains why this happened and what rights of access you have as a walker in Scotland. You can learn more about your rights and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. by visiting http://www.walkfife.com/scottish-outdoor-access-code/

Sean also talks about the recent additions to the Walk Fife reviews section and in particular the reviews of three very effective insect repellents which are a must for walking around Scotland in the midge season. You can read our choices at http://www.walkfife.com/outdoor-equipment-reviews/

As he explores more of the woodland, Sean talks about the competition we have running on the Walk Fife website to win a Ordnance Survey Map bundle covering the whole Fife region and a Silva Explorer Compass to use with them. To find out how to enter visit - http://www.walkfife.com/win/

If you have any suggestions for future episodes of the Walk Fife podcast or you would like to get involved then please get in touch with us through our website, twitter account or you can even drop us a line through Facebook.

Thanks for listening!