Scotland Outdoors A Ryvoan Bothy Special
Dec 27, 2025
Guest
Cat Hill
Guest
Kevin Campbell
Guest
Isla/Ayla Schaefer (storyteller)
Guest
Ross (Glenmore Lodge Chief Instructor / Ross Serber)
Join Ross Serber, Chief Instructor at Glenmore Lodge, as he shares expert tips on night navigation and winter hillcraft in the Cairngorms. Storyteller Ayla Schaefer enchants listeners with local folklore that ties the landscape to history. Kevin Campbell discusses the vital role of volunteers in maintaining Ryvoan Bothy, while author Cat Hill reflects on her personal experiences and the cultural significance of bothies. Together, they celebrate the warm, communal spirit that makes these cozy refuges special and essential.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Map, Compass, GPS: Winter Roles
- Use map and compass primarily in low-visibility winter conditions and treat GPS as a helpful backup, not a sole tool.
- Prefer 1:50,000 maps in deep snow because detailed 1:25,000 features get buried and mislead you.
Adaptive Mobility Restores Access
- Adaptive equipment like electric trikes reconnects people with mobility-limited outdoor enthusiasts to bothying and hills.
- Dean Souter uses an adaptive electric trike to access trails, camping and bothies despite MS.
Childhood Visit That Sparked An Artist
- Angus Grant recounts his first Ryvoan Bothy visit aged ten and remembers the musky bothy smell and toasting marshmallows.
- That early adventure shaped his lasting affection and led him to paint bothies extensively.