Radio Scotland

Up until now, access from the top station of the Cairngorm funicular railway onto the mountain was not allowed outside the winter snowsports season unless visitors were accompanied by a guide. However, as Mark went to find out, a trial is underway to allow visitors carrying GPS handsets to explore an 'approved zone' in the mountain's ski area. Mark hears how the system works. Rachel is on the Newhailes Estate near Musselburgh exploring a rather unusual shell grotto. Diane Martin from the National Trust for Scotland shows her around and tells her about the history of the once elaborately decorated building. After years of vital conservation work, the historic palm houses at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh are just about ready to open their doors to the public. Mark went along to see how the impressive 19th-century glasshouses are looking. During Mark’s visit to Dumfries House in Ayrshire last week, he met Heather McPike, the farming and rural skills manager there. She tells him all about the different programmes they offer which aim to encourage young people from different backgrounds into farming. In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Rachel is in Portsoy on the Banffshire Coast hearing about the village’s fascinating history connected with the quarrying of Portsoy marble, or serpentine. We hear an excerpt where Rachel finds out about a project to save and restore some of the historic listed buildings at the harbour once involved with the marble trade. Have you noticed a lack of wasps this summer? Were you eaten alive by midges while camping, or is your house being taken over spiders? We chat live to Craig Macadam, director of conservation with the charity Buglife about how insects have fared over the summer and what the move into autumn means for them. Back near Musselburgh, Rachel is exploring another building on the Newhailes Estate. The restored doocot was a little too empty for staff, so some volunteers stepped up to create some rather cute residents. And Phil Sime gets up close and personal with some Highland Cows near Inverness who are proving rather popular with tourists and locals alike.