Regatta

A day out fishing in Etherow Country Park

With the weather warming up (rising just past freezing), I decided to join my good friend Paul AKA Jiff, on a Saturday morning fishing trip. We decided in a telephone conversation the night before that we would try our luck at Etherow Country Park. The park is in Comstall which is on the border of Tameside/Derbyshire. The park is popular with families wanting to enjoy the outdoors, walking around the lakes, feeding the ducks or enjoying a cuppa in the Visitors Centre.

We, however, were there for the serious business of catching fish…Arriving at 9:00, I set about finding Paul. It was quite a cold morning but my Regatta Griddy hoodie and Polaris jacket were keeping me warm and dry. He’d arrived at dawn and so was already set up, shielding the elements in his Cooley Kacket and Chandler Overtrousers. His Regatta Rucksack was packed with all the essentials including the all important brewing gear!

After watching Jiff cast out a few times, it was my turn. I steadied myself and like a young Robson Green, I cast out my line. Once I was happy with my line, I placed my rod on the stand and waited…and waited…and waited…unfortunately, the fish hadn’t read the script. 5 hours passed without getting so much as a tremor. However, it was still an enjoyable day in lovely surroundings. I’d recommend Etherow for a day in the outdoors, some of the views are stunning and on the fishing side of things…maybe I was just unlucky on the day…I’ll be definitely trying my luck again soon!

Outdoor clothing for inbetweeners

My daughter, Little Miss Outdoors, used to be so cute and dinky. Children’s outdoor clothing suited her beautifully and she loved all the bright colours. Then she grew! Now, aged 14, she is almost as tall as me (5ft9in) and still very slight. She is too tall for the children’s outdoors range and in any case she frowns at the kids-style designs. She wants grown-up clothing but in small sizes. Thanks goodness then for Regatta’s size UK8 women’s outdoors clothes.

On test: Regatta Erika softshell jacket

Practical and good looking. Little Miss no longer desires bright colours. As a teenager black is cool. Yet plain black is "too grungy”. She wants black with a subtle twist. She said “this jacket is good because it is black but with nice silvery spider webby design. The yellow and pink zips are ok, too. Quite cool actually.”

The fit is good, too. While Little Miss is slim she is tall and long-limbed. The jacket has a lovely female shape to it and gives a flattering look.

On the practical side, as her mum, I’m happy to see lots of useful features in the Regatta Erika softshell jacket: Regatta says: “Wind resistant membrane technology and showerproof properties, making it ideal for the unpredictable British weather.”

In addition:

o Inner zip guard

o Adjustable cuffs (I say: great for skinny teenage wrists)

o Reflective trim (I say: great for safety)

o Wind resistant (I say: Teenagers get cold.)

o Atl durable water repellent finish (I say: teenagers don’t like to get wet. They moan a lot and this is annoying for parents.)

o 2 zipped lower and 1 zipped chest pocket

o Lightweight jersey backed.

o Softshell fabric 

o Adjustable shockcord hem

o Comes in white, too.

Little Miss’s pal Little L also tried the jacket. She had arrived in usual teenage mode with only the clothes she’d worn to school yet I then sent the pair off to the shops to buy our evening meal. The weather was changeable (from sun to rain t sun). Little L, who is shorter but still as teenage slim, wore the Regatta Erika jacket.

Little L says: “Cool jacket. You always have so many spare outdoors clothes in this house! I like the design and it fits nicely. It doesn’t feel too heavy and it was great when it started to rain a bit.”

Both girls thought it would be the sort of jacket they would “wear when doing outdoors stuff with our parents”. They frowned only a little.

On test: Regatta Hanna waterproof jacket

The sporty look was appreciated by Little Miss. She commented: “Waterproof jackets can be so boring. I prefer black but I don’t want plain black and I don’t want the jacket to look like a big balloon. This one actually looks good because it has a wee bit of a flowery colour design on the shoulder and it fits well.”

The Regatta Hanna waterproof jacket is also made from waterproof and breathable Isotex 5000 fabric so while it was appreciated by a fussy and fashionable teenager it also has a practical side!

Other features include:

o Mesh lined

o Adjustable shockcord hem

o Taped seams

o Adjustable cuffs

o Map pocket

o Waterproof and breathable Isotex 5000 coated polyester fabric

o 2 zipped lower pockets

o Concealed hood with adjuster

o Also comes in white (perhaps not so good for mucky teenagers) and Virtual Pink.

Again, Little Miss wouldn’t be seen wearing this jacket out with her pals (perhaps to school at a push) but for walking and cycling with me, her outdoorsy mum, she has been very happy to oblige. For a long, skinny teenager the fit is good and there is room for her to grow outwards and a little upwards. On a wet day of cycling, the jacket kept her warm and dry and the hood was very useful when we walked the dog in the rain (pretty much every weeekend!)

If your teenage girls turn their nose up at children’s outdoors clothing but are still happy to join you for walking and cycling outings, the Regatta women’s size UK8 clothes could be the answer.

Kit review: Regatta men's outdoor gear

Looking good and staying warm and dry in the great outdoors has never been easier – even for men! Gone are the days of dark green and muddy brown only shades for men’s outdoor clothing (although if you still love green and brown they are avilable!). Today there is much more choice and variety in men’s waterproofs and fleeces. Reds, bright blues and bright greens spring out of shops and on-line stores.

Modern fabrics also offer fantastic properties for outdoor clothing. Regatta has created a lightweight Isolite polyester fabric that offers good waterproofing yet also allows for excellent breathability. This product is used in the new Men’s Wayseeker jacket.

Regatta Wayseeker jacket on test

For one of our testers, Mr Out & About, the jacket provided the ideal solution for trail and hill walking days with the family. He said: “This is the type of jacket I’d put on at the start of a walk, perhaps on our favourite Sunday strolling hill, Conic, near Balmaha in central Scotland. When I warm up I can take the jacket off, stuff it into my rucksack – it folds neatly into its own pocket – and continue walking without feeling weighed down.

“If it’s a chillier day the under-arm zips are really useful. These allow me to sweat a bit but without having to take the jacket off completely.

“And if, or when, the rain comes, I can zip up the vents or whip the jacket back out of my rucksack and pop it on to stay dry to the top of the hill or the end of the walk.”

Lots of jacket features for the price

Mr O&A also liked the range of Wayseeker jacket features. He said: “For the price, around £40, the jacket has lots going for it. Waterproof and breathable and with a concealed hood, under-arm vent zips, two zipped pockets and the ability to pack the jacket into its pocket for easier stowing. I really like this.

"Another good point is that the jacket doesn't rustle too much! By this, I mean it's made from a fabric that stays quite quiet while you're walking. Noisy fabrics can be really annoying!"

Wear the Wayseeker to work or the pub

The jacket looks good, too. Whether you’re walking, heading to a country pub or going to work on a rainy day, the Regatta Wayseeker does all these jobs. Mr Out & About said: “Everyone needs a jacket that can offer a few different roles. So if it looks wet outdoors when you’re heading to the office, or you’re walking to the pub to meet friends, or you’re heading off for a country walk with the family, one jacket can do all these things. The Wayseeker is both practical and smart enough to fit into all these roles.

“One other activity that I would use the jacket for is hill running. When I’m on the move I tend not to wear much more than running tights and a t-shirt or baselayer but when I stop or the rain becomes too heavy it would be useful to have a lightweight rain jacket to pop on. I like that the jacket folds away so small.

Regatta Bailen fleece on test

Our UK summers aren’t always so warm and many people have woken up to the benefits of a microfleece. Made from supersoft polyester, the microfleece is super lightweight yet really warm. It’s the ideal item to stow in a rucksack when walking, for chillier spring and summer days, or for the end of a hot summer’s day when the sun has set.

Mr Out & About also gave the new Regatta Bailen fleece a test. He said: “It feels so light and warm. That’s what I love about microfleece. You can wear it over a t-shirt and it feels cosy yet not heavy. I like the style of this fleece to. It’s quite neat fitting so you don’t get that square look that I really don’t like. And I like the full zip, which gives versatility.

"The pockets are useful, too, especially when the inevitable chill comes on at a summer evening barbecue and you need to keep your hands warm!”

The men’s Bailen full-zip fleece is priced at £30 in five colours.

Take a relaxing walk on the canals

Canals always bring out the nostalgic in me. As a child, our family holidays were spent travelling the canals of England. I only have to see one brightly painted canal boat puttering along the waterways to come over all happy and smiley. So a recent trip to Lancaster to give a presentation about blogging to the Outdoors Writers and Photographers Guild also found me seeking out the nearby canal.

What is fantastic about canals is their proximity to urban life. The canals were originally built as a clever transportation system in the burgeoning industrial era to carry goods between towns and cities. And so, today, the network of waterways are located in close proximity to the places where most people live.

While I am happy where I live in Scotland, if I ever move to England it would need to be close to a canal. In my opinion, the canals offer an amazing place of natural wonder yet without being too far from civilisation.

The wander along the Lancaster Canal from the Lancaster House Hotel towards Lancaster itself provided a delightful chill out after a day of talking and chatting with freelance writers and photographers. So close to the main roads yet so peaceful, the Lancaster Canal is an amazing place to come to recharge batteries. You can also burn off calories cycling or running along this traffic-free towpath – and when I was there many local people were doing just that.

The hidden gem of a walkway, framed by high-rise trees, offers opportunities to see wildlife, such as kingfishers. The smell of wild flowers as they soaked up the spring sunshine was spirit lifting. But it was the joy of being able to wave to the canal boats and their captains as they sailed by that really had me grinning, and enjoying the memories of fun childhood holidays.

Over the years as a child and into my early 20s, my family covered many, many miles of the English canals network. As an adult I have also taken my own daughter on canal boating holidays and relished the chance to truly slow down and relax away from the normal hurly burly of life. And whenever I’m close to a canal when travelling I always take the opportunity to slip away to walk or run along a towpath.

These days the Canal & River Trust in England and Wales and the Scottish Canals have mapped out many walking and cycling routes on this amazing traffic-free netowrk. They are perfect for families, too. Why not check out a route near you and head off this weekend for a bit of your own canalside chill-out?

Five great canal walks

Bingley circular walk

Distance: 4miles/7km

Start/finish Bingley Rail Station

Blue Lias walk 

Distance: 6miles / 10km

Start: Blue Lias pub car park

Creech St Michael circular walk, Somerset

Distance: 5 miles/8km

Start: Canal Car Park in Creech St Michael 

Coventry Canal Art Trail

Distance 6 miles/10km

Start: Coventry Canal Basin

Falkirk to Linlithgow on Union Canal

Distance: 9 miles/ 14.5km

Start: Falkirk High train station 

101 things to do in England campaign

Visit England, the country’s tourist board, has created an innovative app that encourages people to “101 things”. The 101 Things to Do in England Before you go Abroad app has been created after Visit England asked people to suggest their favourite places to go and see.

The categories include Food & Drink, History & Heritage, Arts & Culture, Wildlife & Nature, Health & Fitness and Because It’s Awesome.

We love this idea that encourages more people, whether solo, couples or families, to get out and explore  what England has to offer. The list of things to do, while including some of the more obvious attractions – well, they couldn’t leave these out!  – reveals a great many more obscure or unusual visitor hotspots.

Here we pick our top five things to do from each category.

Food & Drink

• Taste Grasmere gingerbread
• Tour Brixham Fish Market
• Tour an English vineyard
• Have a truly English cuppa
• Eat a proper Cornish pasty

History & Heritage

• Punt along the Backs
• Visit the code-breakers
• Sleep at Hampton Court Palace
• Ride the Settle-Carlisle steam train
• Portsmouth Historic Dockyards

Arts & Culture

• Escape to Another Place
• John Rylands Library
• Take a Magical Mystery Tour
• See Banksy’s graffiti
• Watch an open-air play

Wildlife & Nature

• Spot deer in the city
• Search for monkey orchids
• Join a bat patrol at Cheddar Gorge
• Watch starlings circle West Pier
• Catch the Severn Bore

Health & Fitness

There are so many in this list we’ve chosen our top 10!

• Coasteering in Cornwall
• Scale England’s highest peak
• Walk the South West Coast Path
• Mountain biking in Dalby Forest
• Canoe along the Wye Valley
• Trek from coast to coast
• Walk the Pennine Way
• Raft down an Olympic course
• Wild swimming in Grassington
• Surfing in Newquay

Here we bring you details on how to walk the Walk the South West Coast Path (just because it's beautiful!).

The path is 630 miles long and starts at Somerset’s MInehead on the edge of Exmoor, finishing at Poole Harbour in Dorset. The route heads offers the chance to walk with heritage, geology and amid fabulous scenery.

Walking the entire route would require weeks – and if you have them, just go for it!  The alternative is to pick shorter walks on this one long trail. The South West Coast Walk website has lots of handy ideas for choosing a walk.

There are Discovery Walks, Short break ideas, Pub walks, Top 10 dog walks and many more.

A favourite South West Coast Walk

Walk Kenneggy (4.6 miles)

Start/Finish: Praa Sands Car Park

Stroll around the rocky headland of Hoe Point, passing a stunningly secluded sandy beach at Kenneggy Sands. The route circles inland to return over Greenberry Downs. Wildlife top tips include looking out for buzzards and kestrels.  Most of the walk is on country lanes, tracks and paths. There isn’t a great deal of climbing.

Because It’s Awesome

There is only one in this category: Cheese rolling at Cooper’s Hill. Can you think of any other ideas that you would have put in this category? 

To find out more see  101 Things to Do in England Before you go Abroad and on Facebook

Regatta receives Queen's award for international trade for second year in a row!

Regatta is delighted to announce that - for the second consecutive year – we have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade. This is the UK’s highest accolade for business success and acknowledges outstanding achievement in export for both brands - Regatta and Dare 2b.

Keith Black, CEO, said, “Winning a Queen’s Award once is a great achievement, but to win the following year is fantastic and I am extremely proud of everyone from Regatta and Dare 2b in the UK and Europe whose hard work and commitment has made this happen. We have shown an increase of 66% in overseas sales over the last three years, which in the current economic climate is amazing.” 

This announcement comes at an exciting time as The Regatta Group embarks on a major investment to create a new state of the art Headquarters at Mercury Way in Trafford Park. The plan is to bring the Regatta Group (Regatta Great Outdoors, Craghoppers, Dare 2b, Hawkshead Outdoor and Countryside Trading) under one roof in an environmentally friendly, sustainable and contemporary open plan office.

“This is a huge investment for us but one which illustrates our strong ambition to continue to grow as a company and become a Worldwide Outdoor Group. With our new offices in Trafford Park and our distribution centres in Ellesmere Port and Trafford Park, we will be able to continue providing the very best quality, outdoor products together with exceptional customer service.” Said Keith

For further information, please contact Gill Russell on 0161 749 1251 or email grussell@regatta.com.

Let's get kids playing outdoors

Oh, this makes for sad reading. According to a survey by Play England almost two-thirds of children in the UK say they would rather be playing on their computers or watching the TV rather than playing outdoors. If you are the same generation as the kids’ parents, you might well be as sad as we are about these findings. Surely kids are meant to go outdoors and get a bit muddy. Aren’t they supposed to love building dens and climbing trees?

Of course, we live in an age where playing outdoors is more restricted by concerns about stranger danger and increased traffic etc, but the more we encourage our children to spend time outdoors, the better it is in all kinds of way.

Benefits of outdoors play

Being outdoors and playing is a great way to burn off energy and calories and stay in shape. With childhood obesity at a high, spending more time in the great outdoors has to be a good thing. It could be as simple as heading to the local play park, kicking a football around with friends, jumping on the trampoline or riding a bike.

Outdoors fitness has also been linked to a boost in people’s self-esteem and confidence. In fact, one study in Glasgow has found that walking or cycling in green and natural places outdoors will cut your risk of depression by 50%. It’s not only adults that suffer with depression, and so your kids will benefit from improved mental health by playing outdoors.

Socialisation skills come from play. Many children, who spend time indoors even when playing with pals, will most often be amused by computer games, consoles or simply watching the TV. Outdoors play requires a great deal more imagination and requires interaction among friends.

How to encourage kids to play outdoors

Family time: If parents lead by example, children are more likely to follow. You could try to send your kids out to play alone but if they are not used to this they might not be too happy. Instead, why not head off for a family walk, bike ride or to try an outdoors activity, such as white water rafting, rock climbing or kayaking? Or how about organising a family treasure hunt or giving orienteering a go. Many children find that if they are busy thinking about where to go and reading a map they do not moan so much about the exercise.

Kids get muddy: Check out the Mud Runner Race Series, which has introduced a Junior Mud Runner race. It’s the UK’s biggest timed junior 5km mud race for children aged between five and 15 years old. The event sees kids running through water-filled pits, up muddy banks and through thick mud.

50 outdoors things to do: A campaign by Young Scot has been launched on Facebook. Young people aged 11 to 26 are encouraged to tick off a list of activities, from easy to challenging, and then share their activities with others on Facebook. The activities include such things as collecting fossils, taking a boat trip to an island, spotting one of Scotland’s Big 5 wild animals, taking a photo of a sunset and many more great ideas. There are prizes to win if you take part. 

Do you have any great ideas for encouraging your children to play or spend more time outdoors?

Celebrate John Muir Day

Did you know that the founder of the modern conservation movement was born in Scotland? John Muir, who spent his childhood in Dunbar, East Lothian, is also hailed as the father of national parks and anyone who loves the many preserved wild places across the world has him to thank in part.

Now Muir, who spent most of his life in America, is to be recognised in his birth country with a dedicated Scottish John Muir Day. On April 21, many people in Scotland will be celebrating the life and conservation work of John Muir at a host of events.

More about John Muir

Born on April 21, 1838, in Dunbar, Muir emigrated with his family to Wisconsin in America when he was 11 years old. Starting his working life in industry and showing great potential for success, he famously and suddenly quit to walk solo across America to the Gulf of Mexico. His book, A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf, charts the extraordinary journey.

Between 1870 and 1890, Muir explored the High Sierra and Alaska and it was here that he became alarmed by the threat of manmade developments and the domestication going on in wild and natural environments.

It was Muir’s forward-thinking ideas that first made people stop to think about how to safeguard the world’s wilderness areas.

Muir was behind many campaigns to protect natural areas such as Yosemite and the Sierra.  In 1892 he formed the Sierra Club to “do something for wildness and make the mountains glad”. Muir was also a key player in the establishment of America’s Sequoia and Yosemite parks.

According to the history books, Muir never forgot his Scottish roots and was often heard talking about his childhood spent exploring the beautiful East Lothian coastline, where today you’ll find the John Muir Country Park.

In the UK, our amazing national parks, such as Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland, and Exmoor, Snowdonia, Yorkshire Dales, among many others I England and Wales, might never have been created if it wasn’t for Muir’s legacy.

On April 21, 2013, the 175^th anniversary of his birth, John Muir Day will be marked on the UK calendar. Look out too, next April, for the launch of a new John Muir Trail walk across Scotland.

Where to celebrate John Muir Day

On April 21, join a special John Muir guided walk through Scotland's first National Nature Reserve of Beinn Eighe. The walk starts at 11am at Beinn Eighe NNR. See NNR Scotland

Mad about Muir takes place on April 21 at 2pm at Muir of Dinnet NNR, Aberdeenshire. Join a theatre group for a free, fun and interactive walk at the Burn o Vat. Booking essential. Tel. 013398 81667

A guided geology walk on John Muir Day takes place at Dunkeld heading to Schiehallion in Perthshire. See JMT

The John Muir Birthplace visitor centre in Dunbar will be putting on activities to mark John Muir Day. See JMBT

The Isle of May can be seen from Muir’s birthplace. And on John Muir Day there will be special activities taking place. The island is a national nature reserve renowned for its bird populations, seals, history and flowers. To reach the island you can catch a boat from Anstruther in Fife (see Isle of May Ferry) and North Berwick in East Lothian (see www.seabird.org).

John Muir Day at The Falkirk Wheel in central Scotland takes place from 10am to 4pm with lots to do for all the family. See Falkirk Wheel

Explore a national park. Check out National Parks website for parks near you and head off for a day of walking or cycling.

Outdoors fun on Britain’s canals

For so long the focus of British industry, the canals have been reinvented in the last few decades to provide a haven for outdoors fans and nature lovers. Some 2,000 miles of canals in England and Wales and hundreds more in Scotland offer a fantastic outdoors playground, and often surprisingly close to big towns and cities.

The canals might be man-made but over the years they have attracted a wide variety of wildlife, including mallards, moorhens, otters, kingfishers and water voles.

Fun and adventures can be had by hiring a canal boat for a holiday or for a day trip, or you could choose to explore the canals by foot on or a bike. The many miles of canals are matched by almost as many miles of accessible towpaths and these have the benefit of being traffic-free. For a great family walk or bike ride, the canals are a great choice.

Easter holiday fun outdoors

With the Easter school holidays now upon us and the glimmer of warmer weather, the canals spring into life. In April there are a host of events to encourage people to discover our canals.

Big April Adventure:  Walk from the Wheel 

Where: The Falkirk Wheel, Lime Road, Tamfourhill, Falkirk.

When: 10 April, 1pm - 3pm

Join the Scottish Waterways Trust for a guided walk from The Falkirk Wheel and explore Scotland’s canals. The walk is suitable for a wide range of abilities.

See Falkirk Wheel 

Open doors at Daisyfield Mill

Where: Daisyfield Mill, Appleby Street, Blackburn.

When: 12 - 13 April, 10am to 4pm

Two days of fun and free activities, including interactive tours, live street art and walks, take place at Daisyfield Mill on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. 

See Canal River Trust 

Waterways Festival and Boat Jumble

Where: Gloucester Waterways Museum, Llanthony Warehouse, Gloucester Docks

When: 14 April, 10am to 3pm

A wide range of canal themed items will be on sale, from anchors to wetsuits, during this annual and popular sale. You will also be treated to demonstrations of traditional waterways crafts, rope-making and live music. Admission to the Festival and Boat Jumble is £4 for adults, while children are free. (The entry price includes free admission to the Waterways Museum.)

See Canal River Trust 

Standedge Family Fun Day

Where: Standedge Visitor Centre, Waters Road, Marsden, Huddersfield.

When: 14 April, 11am to 4pm

Lots to do for all ages including a petting zoo, bouncy castle, kids’ craft activities. You can also take a boat trip into the longest, highest and deepest canal tunnel. This is a free event. 

See Canal River Trust

Big Toad Count

Where: North View Drive, Dudley

When: 15 April, 7:30pm to 9pm

Join the Canal & River Trust ecologists for the annual count of amphibian numbers on the Fens Pools near Dudley. You’ll need waterproof boots, warm clothes, waterproof jackets and a torch. This count helps with the long-term monitoring of the protected species living in Britain’s canals and rivers.

Contact paul.wilkinson@canalrivertrust.org.uk 

Over and Under Adventure

Where: Standedge Visitor Centre, Waters Road, Marsden, Huddersfield

When: 20 April, 9am to 3pm 

This is your opportunity for a unique trip through the longest canal tunnel in Britain – and walk over National Trust Marsden Moor Estate. The day includes a two-hour boat ride and a five-mile guided walk. Booking is essential and the cost is adults £14, concessions £12.

To book call 01484 844298.

John Muir Day at The Falkirk Wheel 

Where: The Falkirk Wheel, Lime Road, Tamfourhill, Falkirk.

When: April 21, all day 

Join the celebrations for the first ever John Muir Day in Scotland. There will be walks, bike rides, wildlife spotting and boat tips.

See Falkirk Wheel 

Big Newt Count

Where: North View Drive, Dudley

When: 22 Apr, 7:30pm to 9pm

Pull on your wellies and outdoor clothing  for an annual newts count. The species is protected and every year a special count takes place the Fens Pools near Dudley.  

Contact paul.wilkinson@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Can you spot Scotland’s Big 5 wild animals?

When you think of Scotland what wild animals come to mind? There are many to choose from but a new campaign reckons that Scotland Big 5 are red deer, otter, red squirrel, golden eagle and common seal. And a new campaign is calling on as many people as possible to go out and explore the Scottish countryside with the hope of spotting some of these Big 5 wild animals.

The initiative was launched this week and is backed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Visit Scotland initiative. The campaign is also part of the wider Year of Natural Scotland 2013 celebrations.

As well as encouraging more wildlife spotting, the project wants people to vote on-line for the nation’s favourite wild animal, even if it’s not one of the Big 5. 

How to choose the Big 5

Making the initial choice of species to just five was not an easy job. In fact, SNH believes they will see a wide range of alternative choices, as well as regional nominations, as the campaign progresses.

You can vote for your number one Scottish wild animal through the SNH or Visit Scotland websites. If you want to say why you think your Big 5 choice is the right one why not make your point on the SNH Facebook page and Twitter feed?

SNH Chief Executive Ian Jardine said: “Most people will be aware of the animals selected for the Scotland's Big 5 campaign, but many may not have seen them in their natural habitat. We have chosen animals that most people, if they want, can see in many parts of Scotland at almost any time of year.

“In setting out to discover Scotland’s Big 5, we hope more people will come to enjoy and value Scotland’s rich and diverse wildlife and scenery.”

SNH believe that the Year of Natural Scotland is an ideal opportunity to celebrate Scotland’s dramatic and rich natural environment. 

Ian added: “In Scotland, we have a good chance to see these distinctive animals in a wild setting – something that isn’t possible for many people in Europe today. We know that’s why many come to Scotland on holiday. So let’s make the most of it.”

How to spot Scotland’s Big 5

A little planning – and some patience – will reap amazing rewards for spotting Scotland’s Big 5. All five species can be spotted in a number of locations across Scotland, including several of Scotland’s National Nature Reserves and the two national parks, Cairngorms National Park and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

In Taynish National Nature Reserve in Argyll there is the chance to spot all five in one place, if you’re lucky.

SNH has launched a Smartphone app - Scotland’s Big 5 - that offers details on how best to spot each of the Big 5 and where to find them.  Leaflets and online information are also available.

A free Big 5 Funbook for children is available from SNH in English and Gaelic. The Funbook includes information, facts, puzzles and spotting tips for all Scotland’s Big 5 species.

Join a wildlife safari

There are a number of outdoor companies in Scotland offering wildlife safaris. Being guided towards the right place to see the Big 5 could be your key to spotting all five in 2013. There are never any guarantees though and patience and "going quietly" counts for a lot.

Safari companies to check out:

Wild West Safari

Wild Scotland

Highland Safari

See Scotland Differently

Big 5 nicknames

Did you know that all of Scotland’s Big 5 have nicknames?  

Otter: The Whiskered Diver (otter)

Harbour seal: The Curious Seadog (harbour seal)

Red squirrel: Tufted Acrobat

Red deer: Roaring Monarch

Golden eagle:  High Flyer

Take part in the big vote

To take part in the debate and search for Scotland’s Big 5, vote at SNH Big 5 or take part in twitter@SNH_Tweets using the hashtag #scotsbig5 or visit the SNH Facebook