Active Outdoors
Active Outdoors
John Davidson
John Davidson, writer and editor of the Active Outdoors series in the Inverness Courier and Highland News & Media group, takes a look at life in the outdoors from his base in the Highlands of Scotland. Inspiration, advice and hopefully some fun as we chat to guests and see the benefits of enjoying being active outdoors.
Lejog walker Jo Page approaches the end of the road!
Jo Page is approaching the end of her 1100-mile walk from Land's End to John O'Groats... John Davidson caught up with her at Berriedale, just one week from the finish, to record this podcast
Jul 15, 2025
11 sec
Markus Stitz – bikepacking author and route developer
Bikepacking guru Markus Stitz talks to Active Outdoors editor John Davidson during a glorious ride in the Cairngorms
Jun 14, 2025
26 min
Exploring Scottish Hill Tracks with Colin Cadden, a volunteer with ScotWays
Colin Cadden, who lives in Aviemore, was one of around 130 volunteers who helped survey routes across the country for the latest edition of the guide to Scottish Hill Tracks. Compiled by ScotWays, the Scottish Rights of Way Society, the sixth edition of the guide is published exactly 100 years after the organisation first published […]
Sep 28, 2024
13 sec
Steve Smirthwaite: Mountain biking maps of the Highlands
John Davidson speaks to mapmaker Steve Smirthwaite about bikes, maps and all things outdoors in the latest episode of the Active Outdoors podcast
Aug 9, 2024
Active Outdoors interview: Tim Hamlet of Assynt mountain rescue team
The Assynt mountain rescue team covers a huge geographical area incorporating all of Sutherland and Caithness. I spent a day with team in Lochinver as part of a training weekend, where they focused on casualty care followed by a familiarisation exercise with the HM Coastguard helicopter – including practising being winched up and down. During […]
Jun 8, 2023
12 min
Ross Brannigan on his book Running Adventures Scotland
In this new episode of the Active Outdoors podcast, John Davidson speaks to Scottish author Ross Brannigan after the official launch of his book, Running Adventures Scotland, which is published by Vertebrate Publishing. Ross talks about his passion for the hills and for Scotland, how to make the step up to running in the mountains […]
May 9, 2022
18 min
River City star Iain Robertson on his BBC Scotland show ‘Iain Robertson Rambles’ and a family walk in Rosehall Forest in Sutherland
River City star and Bafta-winning actor Iain Robertson shares his passion for the outdoors in conversation with John Davidson in the latest episode of the Active Outdoors podcast.
Jan 9, 2022
31 min
Running the Speyside Way extension from Aviemore to Newtonmore
In the latest episode of the Active Outdoors podcast, John Davidson is running the newest section of the Speyside Way - the 20-mile stretch from Aviemore to Newtonmore.
Dec 12, 2021
14 sec
The Strathdearn in Tomatin and Baxters Loch Ness Marathon
In this latest episode of the Active Outdoors podcast, John Davidson is in conversation with Duncan Bryden, a former chief executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, about a project to breathe life into a Highland village close to the park.
Oct 17, 2021
15 min
The first Torvean Parkrun in Inverness and the Etape Loch Ness
What a weekend! More than 350 people took part in the new Torvean Parkrun at a brand new park in Inverness then over 2500 cyclists took to the streets in the early morning to tackle the 66-mile Etape Loch Ness sportive. John Davidson took part in both events and spoke to some of those involved […]
Aug 30, 2021
10 sec