About this episode

The episode features discussions on the Highland Folk Museum, cycling initiatives in Elgin, and fern restoration efforts in the Highlands.

Stephen Rutt is a writer and naturalist based in Dumfries and Galloway and his latest book, The Waterlands, follows a raindrop as it falls to the ground in the Lowther Hills and travels through the landscape to the Firth of Clyde. Mark met him on a suitably wet day at Threave to record a Scotland Outdoors podcast and we hear an excerpt of their chat. Rachel visits a charity in Moray that offers guided rides for adults who want to start or get back into cycling. Stu Dick and Diane Maciver from Get on a Bike meet her at Elgin’s Cooper Park, where a group are just heading out on a cycle. On a stony slope in Glen Affric, hopes are high that one of Britain’s rarest ferns can regain a foothold and recover. Mark went to hear about the work of staff from Forestry and Land Scotland and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, who have translocated and planted 250 oblong woodsia (Woodsia ilvensis) on a hillside in the glen. Mark is at the Highland Folk Museum near Kingussie. He hears about the history of the site which was founded by Dr Isabel F. Grant in 1936 and has grown into one of the area’s most popular tourist attractions. He takes a look around the open-air museum which shows how life…

People in this episode

Host: Mark

Guest: Stephen Rutt

Topics covered

• Highland Folk Museum
• cycling
• fern restoration
• nature
• Scottish culture

Keywords

• Highland Folk Museum
• cycling
• fern restoration
• Stephen Rutt
• nature

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BBC Radio Scotland, Get on a Bike, Forestry and Land Scotland, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Sveriges Radio P1

Books & works: The Waterlands

Places: Dumfries and Galloway, Lowther Hills, Firth of Clyde, Elgin, Cooper Park, Glen Affric, Sweden, Highland Folk Museum, Kingussie

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