How to Avoid Midges
The Highland midge follows the weather, so a forecast check, a breezy campsite and a head net keep most summer evenings in the hills bearable.
Outdoors3 min read
The magazine
Latest Stories
Everything published by the magazine, newest first: guides and explainers from the editors and clearly labelled partner material.
From the editors
Wild Swimming in Scotland
Scottish lochs, rivers and seas are cold all year, so a safe swim starts with slow entry, good company, a tow float and knowing when to get out.
Outdoors3 min read
West Highland Way Guide
Everything a first-timer needs to plan Scotland's best-known long-distance walk, from stage distances and itineraries to baggage transfer and the Devil's Staircase.
Outdoors3 min read
Scottish Outdoor Access Code
Scotland's access rights are among the broadest anywhere, but they come with responsibilities; here is what the law allows and where it stops.
Outdoors3 min read
Munro Bagging for Beginners
From Sir Hugh Munro's 1891 tables to your first summit: the basics of the list, sensible first hills and the safety habits that matter most.
Outdoors3 min read
Sports for Adult Beginners
Solo or team, indoors or out, gentle or demanding: a practical way to match a sport to your life and find a welcoming beginners' session.
Sport3 min read
How Curling Works
Granite stones, a target on the ice and brooms that steer the shot: the rules of Scotland's own winter game and where beginners can have a go.
Sport3 min read
Highland Games Events Explained
From the caber and the 56 lb weight to massed pipe bands and hill races, what a first-time visitor will see at a Scottish Highland games.
Sport3 min read
How to Play Pickleball
A badminton-sized court, a plastic ball with holes and a handful of simple rules: everything a UK beginner needs before a first game.
Sport3 min read
What Is Walking Football?
No running, no contact and the ball kept low: the slower form of football that brings older players and returners back into the game.
Sport2 min read
Starting Running After 40
Walk-run intervals, rest days and two strength sessions a week: a sensible route into running for adults starting in middle age.
Walking & Running3 min read
Nordic Walking for Beginners
Born as summer training for Finnish cross-country skiers, pole walking adds arms, shoulders and back to an ordinary walk. Here is how to start.
Walking & Running3 min read
What Is parkrun?
Register once, print your barcode and turn up: how the free Saturday 5k works for walkers, runners and volunteers across the UK.
Walking & Running3 min read
Couch to 5K Explained
Three runs a week, short walk-run intervals and a steady build to half an hour of running: how the NHS beginner plan works week by week.
Walking & Running3 min read
How to Warm Up
Why a few minutes of active movement beats stretching cold, how long to spend warming up, and how to slow down safely once you have finished.
Get Active3 min read
Chair Exercises for Seniors
Seven gentle moves done from a sturdy chair, from chest stretches to sit-to-stand, to keep joints moving and build the strength that helps prevent falls.
Get Active3 min read
No-Equipment Home Workout
Six bodyweight moves, a proper warm-up and a simple way to progress, so a complete beginner can build strength at home without buying any kit.
Get Active3 min read
How Many Daily Steps?
The famous 10,000 target began as a pedometer's name, and the research shows real benefits arrive well before it, one extra thousand steps at a time.
Get Active3 min read
How Much Weekly Exercise?
The weekly minutes, the talk test for effort, the strength rule most people forget, and what changes after 65, all taken from official UK guidance.
Get Active3 min read