With its breathable natural fibres, merino wool is a great choice for active outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling and skiing.  Recently I’ve been testing out the Merino 200 long-sleeved zip neck from Isobaa and I have to say I’m pretty impressed. First impressions I find merino wool tops to be extremely versatile.  Their natural, wicking properties mean that they keep you warm in colder weather while being very breathable when you start to heat up.  Combined with the fact they’re quick to dry, merino tops are much preferable to cotton or many synthetic materials when you’re doing a ran ..read more

There’s something definitely beguiling about islands, bringing to mind the swathes of history that have washed their shores.   As ‘places apart’ from the mainland they’re often distinguished by their distinctive natural environments and sites of special cultural and historical significance.  For outdoors folk of course, islands have an immediate appeal as places for adventure, challenge and exploration. Scottish Island Bagging, the new book by Helen and Paul Webster who run the Walkhighlands website, brings all of these elements and more together into a fascinating guidebook that deserves to h ..read more

When you’ve been away hiking, camping or cycling you’ll know there are times when multipurpose straps are extremely useful.  Maybe you need to attach something to your pack?  Tie it down to stop it rattling or flapping in the wind?  Or secure your bike, skis or suitcase?  I’ve been putting the Wraptie multifunctional straps to the test to see if they really do provide a suitable alternative to bungees, rope and elastic. First impressions Wrapties have a wide range of potential applications for outdoors, general household and travel use.  They come in three lengths (130, 180 and 240cm) and are ..read more

Located 40 miles off the Scottish mainland in the North Atlantic Ocean, reminders of how different life is in the Outer Hebrides are never far away.  It’s often the place that feels the brunt of Atlantic storms, and experiences them first.  And with its big skies, low lying land and exposure to fierce westerlies, the weather has a huge impact on daily life. On the second day of my Hebridean Way cycle ride I felt the influence of one of those North Atlantic lows.  While the whole of the rest of the UK was basking in the early stages of a July heatwave, here the clouds had arrived and were build ..read more

It’s a scene straight out of a remake of Whisky Galore.  As the last notes of the ceilidh band fade away the high-spirited locals spill out into the street, a glass in one hand and the other arm around their partner.  The hubbub gradually subsides as most people pile into a minibus to take them back to town, and as the impromptu car park is reclaimed by the machair.  The remnants – the party crowd – wander down to the beach to continue the socialising beside a large bonfire.  Only, in this 21st Century twist to the black-and-white film, instead of the ceilidh band striking up again on the beac ..read more

Last year the Tomintoul and Glenlivet – Cairngorms Dark Sky Park was newly designated by the International Dark Sky Association.  Not only is it the darkest Dark Sky Park in the UK but it’s the most northerly Dark Sky Park in the world.  I can’t wait to visit! Copyright: David Newland Once you’ve experienced a truly dark sky – one free of most light pollution – it sticks in your memory and soon becomes addictive.  Away from the scourge of street lighting, security lights and settlements a mind-blowing sea of constellations, planets and stars is on display. The Tomintoul and Glenlivet – Cairng ..read more

A forecast of warm, dry weather while work had temporarily slowed down provided the perfect opportunity for a short break away.  Plan A was to go south to the Lake District but fully-booked campsites put pay to that idea.  So for Plan B I set my sights set on the white sand beaches of Morar and the Corbetts near Glenfinnan. It seemed that a lot of folk had a similar idea, however.  A late Easter, unseasonably warm weather and Brexit-induced staycations meant that the roads were very busy.  The A82 up past Rannoch and Glen Coe was as busy as I’ve ever seen it in the height of summer.  And this ..read more

In 1947, a Dutch car dealer called Ben Pon famously sketched out a simple, box-shaped delivery vehicle that was based on the Beetle’s chassis.  He persuaded the VW factory in Wolfsburg to put the van into production and the first VW Transporter was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in November 1949. It was an innovative design that maximised the load-carrying capacity of the vehicle, with the cab positioned over the front wheels and the engine mounted over the rear wheels.  The  Plattenwagen soon became popular as a low-cost, adaptable and flexible utility vehicle.  But the addition of removab ..read more

Often overlooked, insoles provide a crucial role supporting your feet.  More than comfort, insoles also hold your feet in an optimal position and provide added stability on rougher terrain.  As someone who never gave much thought to insoles until recently, the chance to test out Solestar’s performance insoles has opened my eyes. First impressions Solestar are a German company who have made their name designing insoles for professional cyclists and who have now branched out to hiking insoles. It turns out there’s much more to insoles than meets the eye.  Boots and trail shoes are typically sol ..read more