Out of Doors

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Out of Doors: Toads, Ski Touring and Pioneering Mountain Women

Toads, Ski Touring and Pioneering Mountain Women

BBC Radio Scotland - Out of Doors, Toads, Ski Touring and Pioneering Mountain Women

Mark Stephen and Euan McIlwraith with stories from the great outdoors.

Known throughout its history as the Waverley Route, the main-line railway which ran from Edinburgh through the Borders to Carlisle had a working life of 107 years which came to an abrupt end on 6th January 1969. Mark and Euan join rail enthusiast David Spaven on a rail trip to the borders to hear about the impact across Scotland of the Beeching cuts.

Mark meets up with Fay Cunningham and Emma Petrie from Aboyne who have taken on the ultimate endurance challenge, they are attempting to run 100 marathons in 100 days. If they complete their challenge on 29th May, they will break the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive marathons completed.

Fiona Walker and her companion Elaine Hopley demonstrate just how physically demanding ski touring is as they go off-piste at Ben Lawers.

The great news over the last few days has been the arrival of ospreys. However, in one particular nest at Loch Garten, the birds have failed to breed in the last two seasons. Euan met up with Mr Osprey himself, ecologist Roy Dennis to find out why.

Over the last couple of years there has been a significant increase in the number of people who have become interested in gardening so Mark decided to pop in and see the team at the Beechgrove Garden to see if he could pick up a few handy tips, ahead of their new series.

Last week on the programme a listener got in touch asking about toads and how to move them to safety at this time of year, so Euan met up with Stephen Corcoran, a local representative from the amphibian and reptile conservation trust for some expert advice.

Mark visits a new Edinburgh exhibition called Petticoats and Pinnacles which tells the story of inspirational women and their relationship with the Scottish mountains over the last 250 years.  It’s documented through books, journals, diaries and letters as well as photographs, film and even their climbing equipment.

With spring firmly in the air, Mark and Euan are joined by Dr Kate Pickering to hear why we should all be taking advantage of the extended daylight as it’s not only an opportunity for us to boost our serotonin levels but it’s also a time where our bodies reset it’s circadian rhythm.

And this week’s mystery bird must have one of the most irritating bird calls in the country!

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