The Wilderness Rangers

What an end to our October Expeditions! 5 miles covered at the gorgeous Penicuik Estate! We started with a climb up to Kingslaw Tower, breaking apart stumps and tearing off bark to find longhorn beetles, millipedes, centipedes and ground beetles! 🪲 Down towards the grand Penicuik House next, getting to know the statues of Reginald and Monty, before curving round and making our way down to the low pond, snatching some conkers on the way 🌰 Around the pond for a snack break in the pines, finding the ridiculously toxic blush mushroom as well as the viking berserker's favourite most classic toadstool - the fly agaric! 🍄 Trekking by the river we found Jack the common frog in his beautiful autumn colours! Then it was up the sludgy hill for lunch at the ruins 😋 Back down and under a log we found Fergie the common toad while Chief Ranger Keith foraged a bumper haul of delicious oyster mushrooms 🐸 Along the way for a camouflage challenge on the line forest slopes before circling back, spotting some puffball mushrooms on the with just enough time to stop off at the (genuine) pet cemetery 🪦 As always a huge thank you to our Junior Rangers! A photo post will follow shortly! #ExploreDiscoverInspire

4.6 miles covered today on our Dalhousie Castle Estate Expedition! We started our adventures in the yew tree grove, learning about their longevity, strength and toxicity (and the reason you'll find one in almost every British graveyard 🪦). We moved through the bramble tunnels, dodging as many thorns as we could and had a quick camouflage challenge in the field before making our way through the gorgeous autumnal forest to the Dead Woods. ☠️ We learned about the Dead Woods curse and had a snack break at it's fringes, finding dead mans fingers fungus as well as woodlice, millipedes, centipedes and a hibernating wasp! Out through the golden leaved woods again to Smuggler's Bridge, down the hill and to the river bend for lunch. We skimmed stones, climbed trees and made a monster leaf pile which we all jumped and flipped into, before getting buried and throwing them all in the air! 🍂 We moved round to the sandy beach to learn about survival fires, making a fire pit, loading it with dry kindling, sparking it into ignition and then toasting some marshmallows (and pineapple) before learning about burning green to be seen 🌿 👀 Back to the ivy swings for little monkey business, then down the autumn gorge before an explore of the old tower, back into the pine forest for a camouflage challenge in the rain, then home! As always a huge thanks to our Junior Rangers! A photo post will follow shortly. #ExploreDiscoverInspire

A fantastic almost 4 miles covered today at John Muir Country Park! We started the day walking along the fences of the farm, getting visited by rheas and llamas on the way! We lifted bark and rolled logs finding woodlice, centipedes and beetles as well as a wee smooth newt! We passed the timber piles, trekked through the Jurassic ferns and snacked under pine tree shelter! Next it was round to the battle bowl to challenge Jim Gourdon with a pinecone hunt! Then the tidal canyon, crossing the brackish streams and sludging through the quickmud, up the sandy banks and over to the big elm for lunch. Across the mudflats next, finding tidal treasures as we went - beautiful shells, amazing driftwood and even a crab graveyard! A camouflage challenge in the dunes was followed by a beach exploration and a final attempt to capture Jim Gourdon before his journeys to Norway. As always a huge thank you to our Junior Rangers, a photos post will follow shortly! #ExploreDiscoverInspire

Badger footage from our camera trap set last night for our September Adventure! 🦡 #ExploreDiscoverInspire

Fox footage from our camera trap set last night for our September Adventure! 🦊 #ExploreDiscoverInspire

Summer Expeditions complete! Just over five and half miles at the wonderfully green and lush Gore Glen! We began our day in the sunshine snacking on wild raspberries and brambles, making our way to the man made waterfalls. A "Run Richard Run" climbing challenge of the underpass was won by our Junior Rangers and we headed to the stinking, stagnant bog pond! Despite the noxious fumes we managed to catch a handful of baby newts (efts). Round to the riverbend now for a spot of island exploring, rock chucking, tree climbing and creature finding with just enough time for a munch of some wood sorrel! As we crossed the bridge of Cantankerous John the troll we made our way through the pine forests with a stop for lunch. Through the pines, taking part in a camouflage challenge, we made our way to the sandstone cave for shelter from the unexpected downpour and to create a small survival fire. The glow from the little blaze lit up the walls and bathed us in roasty toasty heatwaves! We roasted some marshmallows, decorated ourselves with charcoal war paint (some with a bit more gusto than others!) then began our journey back. A hunting challenge just outside of the nettle glade allowed us to attempt to take down Barnaby Boar with our trusty pinecones! Though we were unsuccessful, we did manage to catch and handle a small smooth newt, our final wildlife find of the day! Up the zig zag path, we munched on our final rasps, brambles and even a few cheeky alpine strawberries! As always a huge thank you to our Junior Rangers! A photos post will follow shortly and you'll hear about our plans for the autumn very soon! #ExploreDiscoverInspire

For the glory of Rome! Today we covered almost four and half miles up, over and around the magnificent volcanic plug that is Traprain Law! The site of a Celtic hill fort and of one of Scotland's biggest Roman empire treasure hoard finds, the weather was on our side and we were ready for adventure. Setting off up the slopes we made our way to the summit passing hundreds of bumblebees and through big patches of the medicinal yarrow! At the top we settled amongst the rocks and the cairn, next to the bronze age pond and the herd of free roaming ponies. Though the pond wasn't much more than a puddle in this heat, it was chock full of toadlets, back swimmers and efts (baby newts!). We headed downwards now, finding a hidden geocache as we clambered over the great boulders, and a patch of 'sleeping trolls', before stopping at the ruins for lunch. We hugged the law making our way through long grass, thistles, nettles and gorse - getting our fair share of stings and jabs! Finally we made our way to the fantastic site of the historic quarry. Feeling very small within its cavernous basin we took a moment to rest and found ourselves surrounded by dozens of fluttering butterflies! We caught a few and lifted some rocks, finding a number of smooth newts and toadlets as well as plenty of anthills. We traipsed round the edge of the quarry, peering at the cliff face spotting ravens, red kites and even a peregrine falcon! We stomped over their 'kill sites', the rocky floor covered in bones and feathers, then descended into the bowl for a camouflage challenge and the capture of a final palmate newt, finally having to call it a day on our Expedition. As always a huge thank you to our Junior Rangers, a photos post will follow shortly! #ExploreDiscoverInspire

What a wonderful day! Almost 6 miles of beautiful coastline covered across Aberlady Bay. Starting by crossing the stilt bridge over the quick mud, we learned about the power of tides and how the landscape was going to change throughout the day! Our first stop next to the pond allowed us to find some black and yellow cinnabar caterpillars munching away on some ragwort! We also caught grasshoppers and butterflies (safely) with our bare hands! Onwards towards the dunes, we saw grazing roe deer, resting buzzards and a spectacular big, juicy emperor moth caterpillar! Past the fire beaters we reached the dunes and thoroughly enjoyed barreling down them whether upright, rolling or sliding! Now on the sands it was time to discover beach treasures - gorgeous shells, mysterious bones and jiggling jellyfish were all out to see us! Up to Gullane Point for lunch then down to the shale beach for a bit of cairn building. Around the bend and it was time for some rockpooling (after setting out our crab trap). We caught shrimp, hermit crabs, sea lice, anemones, big shore crabs, a goby and quite a few beautiful spotted sea hares (a species of nudibranch, or sea slug). One of the sea hares even used its defensive ink in our bucket to turn it purply red! Time to head back to base now, with almost entirely unbroken sunshine throughout the day, phew! As always a huge thank you to our Junior Rangers, a photos post will follow shortly! #ExploreDiscoverInspire

What a scorcher! Almost 8 and a half miles covered of the roasty toasty Pentland Hills, all starting at Flotterstone! We set off in the sunshine alongside the river and began our ascent towards the peaks of the day! We all grabbed a river stone to take on our adventure and leave at the top (some of us picking bigger rocks than others). Our first stop was at the top of a steep climb before having a rest amongst the sycamores. Looking down at the reservoir we found ourselves a long and furry fox moth caterpillar! Being kind to the sheep and giving thanks to the fungus, it was now time for our first proper climb...to the top of Carnethy hill! Up, up, up we climbed with the sun beating down on us, passing clumps of freshly discarded wool and beautiful blaeberry patches as we tramped upwards. A quick snack at the peak before our final ascent towards Turnhouse Hill. Through windy valleys we climbed and at the top we had our lunch amongst the cairns, adding our river stones to the pile! Now it was time to go down, on the other side of the reservoir now munching on blaeberries and raspberry patches and even catching a little minnow in the stream! Round the reservoir and down the hill, sweaty, exhausted and full of vitamin D, before we knew it, back to base! As always a huge thank you to our Junior Rangers, a photos post will follow shortly! #ExploreDiscoverInspire

What a scorcher! Just under 4 miles covered of the gorgeous Woodhall Dean today on our next Summer Expedition. We started the day learning about the site and how it is one of the rare locations that you can find adders in Scotland! We set off upwards and inwards through the ancient forest, giving thanks to the fungus and clambering over fallen oak trees as we went! We stopped off along the way, making grasswhistles and climbing trees as well as a few camouflage challenges! We splashed in the rivers throwing stones and catching some river wildlife, and we even caught a few mothy friends! After lunch we carried on through the fern paths, searching for basking adders - we spotted one adder and one lizard but they were too fast for all of us to catch a glimpse! Back down to the bridge to find the geocached treasure then onwards to the pond for a last bit of splash time before heading back to base sweaty, soaking and knackered! As always a huge thanks to our Junior Rangers, a photos post to save will follow shortly! #ExploreDiscoverInspire

Almost five wonderful miles covered today all over the different habitats surrounding Red Moss Nature Reserve! We started the day visiting Threipmuir Reservoir, skimming stones and using our sweep net - we caught spiders, flies, froghoppers, moths and even a scorpion fly! 🦂 We headed through the birch woods next, giving thanks to the various fungi we came across, lifting logs and shredding deadwood to find massive violent ground beetles! The raised bog that gives the reserve its name was our next destination. We walked the boardwalk hunting for wildlife and managed to catch a couple of monstrous dragonfly nymphs in the pond before examining the almost alien looking carnivorous plant, the sundew. 🌿 A hill on the horizon to climb now, on our way to the Cairn Crater for lunch. A pause on the way however to examine and enjoy an absolute horde of young toadlets roaming around in the grassland! 🐸 Once at the Crater, we munched then explored, enjoying Bumslide Hill and even finding a sheep carcass and massive puffball mushrooms. We tried our best at making some stone cairns to leave behind and then enjoyed some of natures bounty from Coconut Zachary, learning all about survival 🥥 Down the hill and to the secluded bird hide to see what might be living on Bavelaw Marsh. We caught glimpses of grebes and magnificent whooper swans before turning back towards the car park for home! As always a huge thank you to our Junior Rangers today! A photos post will follow shortly! #ExploreDiscoverInspire

Our Summer Expeditions have begun with a lovely 4 miles covered at Vogrie Country Park! We started the day lifting logs and leaves, giving thanks to the fungus and finding all sorts of beasties! We made our way round to the pond and stumbled across a field of froglets, we managed to get 24 in our bucket in just a few minutes 🐸 just as we were ready to move we spotted a toad and suddenly we had 2/3 of the amphibian trifecta! Finally at the pond we caught pond snails, leeches, back swimmers, pond skaters, diving beetles, tadpoles and massive dragonfly nymphs! In to the deep woods now, giving thanks to more fungus and the trolls under the bridges, over the bog for a rest by the river then up to viewpoint meadow for lunch. We used our sweep net and caught caterpillars, flies, wasps, spiders, butterflies, moths and grasshoppers 🦗 Round to the muddy bank to swing on ropes, slide down slopes and fling pinecones at Barnabus the Boar for a hunting challenge! Just enough time to build and upgrade General Storr the troll's river dam before heading up past the bouncy yew tree and back to base for home time! As always a huge thanks to our Junior Rangers, a photos post will follow shortly for families to enjoy! #ExploreDiscoverInspire