This week, Jackie dives into a biographical account of life on the remote St Kilda in the early 20th century. Using handwritten diaries kept by Alice MacLachlan, a schoolteacher who lived on the archipelago between August 1906 and May 1909, we can get a hugely personal view of the challenges and unique circumstances of life there.

In this special episode, you will hear extracts from the diaries brought to life and original music inspired by the islands.

You can find more about the St Kilda diaries here.

Find out more about St Kilda here.

To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

They are the soundtrack to weddings, funerals, Burns night celebrations and more. Bagpipes have earned their places as the national instrument of Scotland and holds a special place in the heart of many Scots and the global diaspora.

Today, Jackie discovers the history and cultural significance of the Great Highland bagpipes, which are one of hundreds of types of bagpipes played around the world. She’s joined by Richard McLauchlan, piper and author of The Bagpipes: A Cultural History.

Together, they discuss the role of bagpipes in Scottish history, what makes the Great Highland bagpipes so special, and the surprising identity of the first person ever described as a bagpiper.

To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Whether it’s a woodland walk, a wild swim, or a mosey around a garden, we’ve all experienced the effects of nature on our wellbeing. Here at the Trust we know this too well, which is why we’ve launched our Walk 25 campaign – see below.

This week on the podcast, Jackie explores the science behind this phenomenon to discover why the natural world can have such a powerful influence on our health and mood.

Professor Kathy Willis of the University of Oxford joins Jackie to reveal her findings in this area, and to offer some top tips to boost the positive effects of nature.

If you’re looking for more outdoor inspiration, visit nts.org.uk/walk25.

To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.