Join me for a conversation with Russell Fraser, the Managing Director at Loch Ness Hub & Travel and Chair of the Scottish Community Tourism Network, SCOTO. We hear the story of the local community in Drumnadrochit, and how they stepped up to the challenge of running the local visitor information centre. But that's not all they do - from e-bike hire and baggage transfer for hikers on the Great Glen Way, to providing public toilets and offering school meals, the Loch Ness Hub works hard to benefit both visitors and the local community.

Russell tells us about the leading role of community tourism in Scotland, the potential of local communities to get involved with tourism and what an unforgettable trip to Loch Ness and Drumnadrochit could look like.

Visit our website to find the full show notes incl. the transcript and links to resources mentioned in our conversation.

Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!

Browse my Scotland itineraries for your next trip.

Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!

Join our email list for weekly resources and glimpses behind the scenes.
Follow us on Instagram @wildforscotland
Also check out my Scotland blog Watch Me See!

This story was recorded LIVE at the Tremula Festival in Brighton on 21 September 2024.

Local communities should be at the heart of sustainable and slow tourism in Scotland.

'A Slow and Winding Journey' is a story about discovering the wild landscapes of the Isle of Harris - without losing sight of its community of people who take care of North Harris, its mountains, beaches and coastlines.

We'll go for a hike to spot eagles on the North Harris Estate, join local guide and former ranger Daryll Brown for a snorkel session at Huisinis beach and learn about community ownership & stewardship in this part of the Outer Hebrides.

At the end of the episode, I share my top tips for a slow adventure in the Isle of Harris.

Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!

Browse my Scotland itineraries for your next trip.

Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!

Join our email list for weekly resources and glimpses behind the scenes.
Follow us on Instagram @wildforscotland
Also check out my Scotland blog Watch Me See!

Covering great distances isn't necessarily the best way to see as much as possible when you travel.

'One Mile Magic' is a story about picking a mile-long stretch on the Berwickshire Coast and exploring it in depth. We'll enjoy a slow morning on the beach of Coldingham Bay, go snorkelling and swimming on the Berwickshire Snorkel Trail, and follow the coastal path to the charming fishing village of St Abbs.

None of the places we visit in this story are further than a 30-minute walk apart - let me convince you that mileage isn't everything!

At the end of the episode, I share my top tips for a slow adventure on the Berwickshire Coast.

Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!

Browse my Scotland itineraries for your next trip.

Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!

Join our email list for weekly resources and glimpses behind the scenes.
Follow us on Instagram @wildforscotland
Also check out my Scotland blog Watch Me See!

'Push and Pull' is a story about slowing down and exploring the Isles of Barra and Vatersay by bike. I spent 3 nights on these islands which I had only visited once before - to travel even slower, by foot on the Hebridean Way. Yet somehow, I never felt like I did these islands justice - seeing so little of them on my hike...

That's what this story is about - maximising your time on the island, while also slowing down to immerse yourself in the landscapes.

We'll explore Barra and Vatersay by bike, battle the hilly roads out of Castlebay and learn about the transformations that happen at Traigh Mhor - the big beach up north on the Isle of Barra. We meet the merry dancers in the night skies and follow the road south to the beaches of Vatersay.

At the end of the episode, I share my top tips for a slow adventure in Barra and Vatersay.

Visit our website to find the full show notes incl. the transcript and links to places I visited on this trip.

Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!

Browse my Scotland itineraries for your next trip.

Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!

Join our email list for weekly resources and glimpses behind the scenes.
Follow us on Instagram @wildforscotland
Also check out my Scotland blog Watch Me See!

Wild for Scotland is coming back soon with brand new stories and conversations digging deep into what it means to travel slowly and with purpose.

Season 6 of Wild for Scotland is all about "Slow Travel". We’ll take it slow, soak up our surroundings, pay attention to the littlest details, and will find joy in the small things all around us.

Our journey will take us to distant islands and ancient civilisations, to bustling villages and crowded pubs.

We'll slow down physically and mentally, make encounters with unexpected inhabitants, and peek behind the curtains of Scottish traditions.

Along the way, we’ll hear from locals who are experts in capturing a moment in time, and will help us find ways to be fully present on our adventures.

The first episode of Season 6 "Slow Travel" will drop in your feed on 1 October 2024.

Make sure you’re subscribed and share this trailer with a friend so we can all slow down together - and be Wild for Scotland.

Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!

Join our email list for weekly resources and glimpses behind the scenes.
Follow us on Instagram @wildforscotland
Also check out my Scotland blog Watch Me See!

How far north can you go in Scotland?

In today's episode, I'm sharing with you a bonus story that I produced for my Patreon community, the Wild for Scotland Social Club, back in season 1!

'The Art of Nature' is a short story about my first trip to Unst, the northernmost island in Shetland (and thereby in Scotland as well as the entire UK). We're visiting a glass artist who draws inspiration from her surroundings and go for a walk to one of Scotland's most picturesque cliffs - all in the search for a connection between nature and art.

Resources:
Read more about Up Helly Aa in Lerwick
Use my Shetland itinerary to plan your trip
Don't miss these essential learning experiences in Shetland!

Find the full transcript of the episode here.

Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!

Browse my Scotland itineraries for your next trip.

Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!

Join our email list for weekly resources and glimpses behind the scenes.
Follow us on Instagram @wildforscotland
Also check out my Scotland blog Watch Me See!

Last month I visited the Isles of Barra and Vatersay - two islands in the Outer Hebrides that I hadn't returned to since solo hiking the Hebridean Way in 2018.

My trip inspired me to revisit one of the first stories I shared with you on Wild for Scotland. It's called 'Out of Nowhere'. But there is another reason why I decided to give this story an encore... you'll have to listen to find out!

After the story, we're sharing an updated tips section with my top tips for a trip to Barra and Vatersay.

Find the transcript for this episode here, and the updated, full show notes from when the episode aired originally here.

Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!

Browse my Scotland itineraries for your next trip.

Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!

Join our email list for weekly resources and glimpses behind the scenes.
Follow us on Instagram @wildforscotland
Also check out my Scotland blog Watch Me See!

'A Confidence Game' is a story about feeling safe and confident in the Scottish mountains. I'm taking you with me on the 2-day Hill & Mountain Skills course at Glenmore Lodge to learn about navigation techniques, what kit to pack, how to plan a route off-trail and how to keep ourselves safe in the hills.

After the story, I walk you through my detailed hiking tips for Scotland. We'll talk about what to wear and what to pack, where to find suitable routes, the role of mountain rescue and more.

Find out more about the Hill & Mountain Skills course at Glenmore Lodge!

Visit our website to find the full show notes incl. the transcript and further resources about hiking in Scotland.

This episode is sponsored by Glenmore Lodge, Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre which supports people of all backgrounds and abilities to access and enjoy the outdoors.

Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!

Browse my Scotland itineraries for your next trip.

Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!

Join our email list for weekly resources and glimpses behind the scenes.
Follow us on Instagram @wildforscotland
Also check out my Scotland blog Watch Me See!