Hiking Ben Lomond at Loch Lomond, Scotland

Ben Lomond is Scotland’s most popular Munro. The reason for this lies in it’s convenience. Now, being “a convenient mountain” doesn’t sounds like a great accolade, in fact it sounds a bit disrespectful to this nearly 1000 metre mound but here’s why it’s so popular and how to join in:- To put Ben Lomond in perspective, it’s 974m  / 3196ft and Ben Nevis, the tallest … Continue reading Hiking Ben Lomond at Loch Lomond, Scotland

What to do with 1 week free?

Hello, I’m trying to decide what to do with my last 5 days of Annual Leave this year. I’ve settled on doing an intensive course of some sort rather than going away on a holiday. So far I’ve considered:- Language Course – I’d like to learn Arabic or maybe I should consolidate my Spanish or French? Full Motorbike License Course & Test Career Course of … Continue reading What to do with 1 week free?

3, 2, 1, GO: How to pass your motorbike Compulsory Basic Training (UK)

3 – Three weeks before your CBT, you should… Firstly, learn the Highway Code. Before you start scouring the adverts for your first bike or googling top 10 roadtrips, you need to think about your safety, and the safety of other road users. Being a biker is dangerous. You are slimmer than other vehicles on the road. You fit into car blind spots.You disappear behind … Continue reading 3, 2, 1, GO: How to pass your motorbike Compulsory Basic Training (UK)

Fighting for Peace & Quiet: How to relax after work

Fighting for Peace and Quiet – the power of peaceful hobbies From woodworking to conversational French and dressmaking for beginners, most local authorities quietly offer a myriad of Adult Education Courses which are both economical and informal enough that they can provide welcome distraction and respite from a busy day in the office. Similarly, community centres and sports centres throughout Scotland, underneath the panopoly of protein-powdered workouts, host a … Continue reading Fighting for Peace & Quiet: How to relax after work

5 hiking highlights – Scotland’s West Highland Way: Stage 1

Stage 1 of Scotland’s most famous long-distance hiking route. Milngavie to Drymen. The feeling of Getting Started (& getting finished!). Walking into Milngavie to start the walk, take the photo opportunity at the obelisk with the West Highland Way thistle logo carved into it – this marks the offical start of the walk. Pass under the big steel gateway and after so much anticipation, the … Continue reading 5 hiking highlights – Scotland’s West Highland Way: Stage 1

Everything* you need to know about walking the Rob Roy Way – Scottish long distance walk.

ROB ROY MACREGOR Rob Roy: This walk follows the tracks and paths used by Rob Roy MacGregor in the 17th & 18th centuries as he worked fought and lived the life of Scotland’s most notorious outlaw. Starting from Drymen on the West Highland Way, The Rob Roy Way takes another route, north-east to finish in Pitlochry. There are different route choices so the route can be … Continue reading Everything* you need to know about walking the Rob Roy Way – Scottish long distance walk.

PHOTOLIST: 10 Colourful reasons to visit the Barras Market in Glasgow

The Barra’s market in Glasgow’s East End is close to Glasgow Green and the Gallowgate area of the City Centre and the Barrowland’s Ballroom. It’s an instution in Glasgow. Originally traders would bring their wares in wheelbarrows – hence the name. The Barras is split into individual covered markets, each owned independently, and outdoor stalls. The large amount of space and sprawling nature of the stalls means … Continue reading PHOTOLIST: 10 Colourful reasons to visit the Barras Market in Glasgow

5 reasons for a beginner (or anyone else!) to cycle Edinburgh to Kinross

Marvel at the view as you cross the Forth Road Bridge, and don’t forget to have a look back! Find a hidden quarry / secret rave, used by scuba divers as a training pool and judging by the other paraphernalia, as the site of the occasional party/rave. Have hope at the love locks*. Love is in the air. Feel the thigh burn on Fife’s hills. Okay … Continue reading 5 reasons for a beginner (or anyone else!) to cycle Edinburgh to Kinross

Hiking “the Cobbler” (Ben Arthur) in Arrochar, Scotland

The distance up the Cobbler is about 7 miles (that’s about 11km non-British guests) and the hill (Corbett) is 884 metres  / 2900ft tall. To put that in perspective, Ben Lomond the most popular Munro is 990m / 3248ft and Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in Britain, is 1344m /  4409ft. The Cobbler is about 42 miles from Glasgow, 88 miles from Edinburgh, 58 miles from … Continue reading Hiking “the Cobbler” (Ben Arthur) in Arrochar, Scotland

…but what does “Sauntering” mean?

“Sauntering” is a fairly common word in Scots, in daily life “sauntering” means to amble/ ramble/ meander. It’s an unhurried way to get somewhere or get something done. If you say someone is “sauntering around”, it can also imply a cockiness or confident and you might hear the phrase, “sauntering around like he owns the place”. It’s a late Middle English word, which probably dates … Continue reading …but what does “Sauntering” mean?

Top 10 chilled out* things to do in Tangier, Morocco… (*1 not so peaceful!)

Take the ferry to/from Spain. The ferry from Spain to Morocco runs regulary, every 30 minutes or so, from Tarifa and Algeciras. Crossing the Straits of Gibraltar which is approximately 9miles wide at its narrowest point, the Strait of Gibraltar is the entry point into the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. The waters are home to dolphins, whales, leisure yachts, superyachts and oil tankers. Visit … Continue reading Top 10 chilled out* things to do in Tangier, Morocco… (*1 not so peaceful!)

The complete* A-Z packing list for walking Scotland’s West Highland Way

A Attitude – the right one, not the one Secondary (High School) Teachers encounter. Your attitude from the outset will determine how well the ups and downs of the Walk goes for you. If travelling with someone else, it’s worth agreeing aloud that you’ll both (or all) be putting the effort in physically and mentally to make sure your trip gets off on the right … Continue reading The complete* A-Z packing list for walking Scotland’s West Highland Way