Do you listen to  podcasts?

Have you come across any interesting hiking or trekking podcasts that focus on the outdoors? 

If we can’t wander around the bush somewhere, we like to read or listen to stories about far flung places and trips we may do in the future.

The best “recent” tech invention (in Frank’s opinion) are podcasts combined with iTunes.  Podcasts are a terrific way to “time shift” listening to radio programs or watch online information or programs from across the world.

You just subscribe to a podcast, let iTunes automatically download it and then listen or watch when it is convenient.

Frank’s current favourites are Coast and Country or Ramblings from  BBC Radio 4.
They are terrific podcasts, beautifully produced by the BBC, with a focus on “the outdoors”.  Quirky and interesting, Frank looks forward to new episodes each week so he can drift off during a train commute and enjoy some of their fascinating stories.

Clare Balding’s from “Ramblings” , joins her guests on a country walk that’s been significant in their lives. ‘Coast and Country’ travels to a different corner of the British Isles every week, seeking out the wildlife, the landscapes and the controversies that excite the passions of local people.

Here are a couple of summaries of recent podcasts:

Clare Balding walks the length of St Oswald’s Way in Northumberland.
Former hill shepherd Russell Tait, Northumberland’s answer to George Clooney, is Clare’s guide as she walk’s the fifth leg of the route from Rothbury to Simonside.

Clare Balding joins members of the North Wales Gay Outdoor Club for a coastal walk on Anglesey.
Many of the members joined the group because they wanted to meet like-minded people in a relaxed and positive environment. Pete Burling hopes the group is an antidote to the gay clubbing scene and finds that it offers a non-threatening and supportive atmosphere to those taking the first steps in coming out

Clare Balding explores the joys of group walking.
For 25 years a group of Yorkshire friends have been meeting every few months for a hike through the countryside of northern England. Clare joins them on their silver jubilee walk.

Eel Pie Island - Most people who know anything about Eel Pie Island know it was home to traditonal jazz, British blues and some pretty wild weekends for teenagers and art students in the 1950s and 60s. The bohemian days are long gone but the memories live on for at least one islander, the septugenarian inventor of the clockwork radio Trevor Baylis.

Helen Mark meets him as she tours the tiny island in the Thames and discovers it is possible to have it all – the peace, the wildlife and the community spirit of country life combined with the convenience of being 20 minutes from the centre of London.

In addition, the Outdoor Station (highlighted in previous posts) is an excellent listen. If you’re interested, you can preview them here. Paddy Pallin also feature several podcasts in their Adventurer Series.

Do you listen to outdoors podcasts?
Can you suggest others that our readers may enjoy?
We would love you to leave a comment (below) with your suggestions so we can all check them out.

Frank does a lot of commuting by train and car each week. The ONLY advantage of this is the time it allows to listen to some great podcasts on a huge range of interesting topics.

One of his favourites is The Outdoor Station from the UK. They have some great topics related to the “Outdoors” – duh! hence the name….

Topics covered range from gear reviews, trip reports, interviews and as they say, much much more!

We highly recommend you drop by and subscribe to the audio and video podcasts, Professionally produced, they are very relaxed, informative and present some great information.

Click on the sample below, “Get out there” to down load or you can listen directly from here. This podcast, as described by Outdoor Station is:

A rich and varied podcast for you this time, as I catch up with the Ramblers Association to hear how there’s a new influx of members in these credit crunched times, Andy continues his love affair with everything French by finding out how inexpensive it is to travel on the canals of mainland Europe, plus I discover how, if you can’t get to the Desert, you can bring the Desert home to you with Harem Nights! Recorded at the NEC early 2009

Do you have any favourite outdoor podcasts you can recommend? We would love to hear your suggestions and fill the iPod with some great stories about the outdoors.