Join tour guides Liz, Helen and Susan in their weekly Scottish Blethers podcast.

As this is the first episode of the month, it’s time for a “My Favourite” edition. This time we take a look at Scottish lochs.

2020 has been Visit Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters and the theme is set to be rolled forward into 2021 as the nation continues to celebrate our vast array of lochs, waterways, islands and coastlines. With over 30,000 freshwater lochs - not to mention the fjords or sea lochs that fringe our coastline - there’s certainly plenty to discuss. Our blethers range across the blockbusters such as Lomond, Ness and Tay to the hidden gems. Monsters, myths and legends to world-renowned produce such as our oysters, mussels and scallops. We’ll even throw in a lake! Dive in - the water’s lovely!

As always, we finish our 30-minute blether with our Scots words of the episode.

Join tour guides Liz, Helen and Susan in their weekly Scottish Blethers podcast.

As this episode airs we are approaching St Andrew’s Day on the 30th of November - Scotland’s official national day. We explore the story behind the man and what led to him being adopted as the patron saint of Scotland - amongst other things including gout! This leads in turn to the Saltire and how it came to be the official flag of Scotland and a visible symbol of our identity. We conclude with a wide ranging and light-hearted discussion on what it is that makes someone Scottish. The traits, the stereotypes, the psyche - “here’s tae us; wha’s like us? Damn few, and they’re a’ deid!”

As always, we finish our 30-minute blether with our Scots words of the episode.

Join tour guide Helen Houston in a bonus episode as she talks to the Glasgow Book Fairy

Join tour guides Liz, Helen and Susan in their weekly Scottish Blethers podcast.

In Episode 12

As always, we finish with our Scots words of the episode.

Join tour guides Liz, Helen and Susan in their weekly Scottish Blethers podcast.

In Episode 11 we reflect on those who fell in two World Wars and subsequent conflicts. We revisit the ancient people of Scotland and the buildings they left on the landscape. We rediscover one of our most loved of indigenous species - the Highland Cow.

As always, we finish with our Scots words of the episode.

Join tour guides Liz, Helen and Susan in their weekly Scottish Blethers podcast.

In Episode 11 we reflect on those who fell in two World Wars and subsequent conflicts. We revisit the ancient people of Scotland and the buildings they left on the landscape. We rediscover one of our most loved of indigenous species - the Highland Cow.

As always, we finish with our Scots words of the episode.

Join Liz, Helen and Susan in their weekly Scottish Blethers podcast.

We have decided to change the format for the first episode of each month and pick our favourite... from a theme. For November, we have chosen contemporary Scottish authors.

Liz kicks off with children's authors, Susan moves into Tartan Noir and Helen focuses on female crime writers and people from abroad who have made Scotland the star in their writing - and yes, we couldn't do this without mentioning Diana Gabaldon and Outlander !

Join Liz, Helen and Susan in their weekly Scottish Blethers podcast. In Episode 7, we find out more about Andrew Carnegie and his philanthropic legacy in Scotland as well as discuss clay pigeon shooting and The Glorious 12th (of August), a key date in the Scottish Game shooting calendar. Words of the episode - teuchter, ye canny whack it and keek - with a wee added bonus word at the end !

Join Liz, Helen and Susan in their weekly Scottish Blethers podcast. In Episode 8, the controversy continues... Campbell or MacDonald, gin or whisky, Braveheart or Brigadoon ?

Join us as we blether about Glencoe, Scottish films and actors and "mothers ruin" - gin by its other name.

As always, we finish it with three Scots words of the episode - stamina’, wifie and bahoockie.

Join tour guides Liz, Helen and Susan in their weekly Scottish Blethers podcast. In Episode 7, we find out more about Andrew Carnegie and his philanthropic legacy in Scotland as well as discuss clay pigeon shooting and The Glorious 12th (of August), a key date in the Scottish Game shooting calendar. Words of the episode - teuchter, ye canny whack it and keek - with a wee added bonus word at the end !

Helen, Liz, and Susan have a chat about castles in Scotland, the power behind the throne (the queens of the castle), and the legends of fairy folk.

Susan, Helen and Liz are back for another round of blethering. This week, they’ll discuss the first Scottish superstar, tartans, and outdoor activities in Scotland.

In this week's episode, Helen, Liz and Susan talk about Highland Games, childhood games and Edinburgh-Glasgow rivalry ! Our Scots words of the episode are stooky (Helen spells it with a y on the end, whereas Susan spells it with ie on the end!), shooglie and muckle.

The three-women team of hosts—Susan, Helen, and Liz—blether about national identity and devolved powers in the you, childhood holidays (vacations), Scottish Fayre (food and drink), and teach three Scottish words.

Susan, Helen, and Liz talk about outdoor access, including Scotland's enviable right to roam, outdoor access code, vernacular architecture in Scotland, and ancestry research. They top off the episode with each of their Scots Words of the Episode.

In their debut episode of Scottish Blethers, you’ll meet hosts Susan Brown, Liz Lister, and Helen Houston—three dear friends who happen to also be Blue Badge Guides. Learn about their hopes for SB and have some fun practicing a wee bit of Scottish language with them.