Helen Todd
@helenrambler.bsky.social
1.3K followers 650 following 310 posts
Retired in 2024 from Ramblers Scotland; Chair Planning Democracy; board member Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre; volunteer with Spokes; Hon Fellow Scottish Env LINK. Interested in walking, cycling, mountains, Scottish politics, CND, climate change, gardening.
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Reposted by Helen Todd
gavincorbett.bsky.social
Outdoor recreation won’t change the world or solve all society’s ills. But a wee bit of investment will be highly visible, will bring joy and better health to a lot of people and will boost the rural economy. What’s not to love?
ramblersscotland.bsky.social
🌳Scotland needs Paths Into Nature!🚶

We’ve launched an ambitious joint manifesto ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election, backed by 7 partner orgs in Scottish Outdoor Recreation Alliance.

Our goal? ✅ Make Scotland’s world-class access rights an everyday reality for all!

ramblers.org.uk/scotmanifesto
Reposted by Helen Todd
anotherjon.bsky.social
Scottish Outdoor Access Code recognises that specific routes may need to be managed for deer stalking on specific days, but not blanket bans like this.

Section 14 of Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gives councils the power to remove non-compliant signs.

@perthandkinross.bsky.social must act now.
ramblersscotland.bsky.social
⛰ Glen Lyon access must be fixed.

We’ve written to @perthandkinross.bsky.social, calling on it to urgently require a landowner to remove ‘No Walking’ signs at popular Perthshire Munros.⛔

North Chesthill Estate in Glen Lyon is trying to stop walkers accessing its 4 Munros during all of Sept & Oct.
A heathery hillside with plantation woodland in the foreground.
Reposted by Helen Todd
nickkempe.bsky.social
If you believe what BrewDog did at Kinrara was bad, don't wait to see what is coming - take the time to understand what Oxygen Conservation stands for and protest parkswatchscotland.co.uk/2025/10/04/o...
Reposted by Helen Todd
countrysideben.bsky.social
Just published 🙂 I've been wanting to write about the rut for years but never had the piccies to back it up till last autum 🦌. It certainly helps when it's happening right outside your house.
helenrambler.bsky.social
Good to hear discussion on various aspects of public access. Have to agree with @bjpaddy.bsky.social on the programme that lack of investment in access is undermining the legislation. So many benefits to getting people outdoors, but management is crucial (rangers, education, etc) or everyone loses.
Reposted by Helen Todd
infrasisters.bsky.social
We're back! We've teamed up with @cyclinguk.bsky.social for a Glow Ride on Friday 24th October. Like us, they want to see more women cycling, and for councils to provide more safe infrastructure to enable that.
Light up your bike with lights and sparkle and join us at Middle Meadow Walk at 7.30pm.
A campaign poster for InfraSisters x Cycling UK. Showing an image of 3 silhouettes of women riding bikes.  
Light up your bike and join us!
To call for better cycling infrastructure, safer for women at night.
Friday 24th October
7.30pm 
Middle Meadow Walk 
Together with a QR code linking back to our website.
Reposted by Helen Todd
gavincorbett.bsky.social
Thanks for the company @helenrambler.bsky.social. A demonstration of our commitment to walking the talk!
helenrambler.bsky.social
Drookit, but still smiling! Not the best weather for a catch up with @gavincorbett.bsky.social but always good to get out - and lots of outdoor things to talk about. The Water of Leith provided a lovely autumnal route through Edinburgh. @wolct.bsky.social @ramblersscotland.bsky.social
Man standing in wet clothes on an urban path by a river in autumn. Rain falling, puddles on the path.
helenrambler.bsky.social
Drookit, but still smiling! Not the best weather for a catch up with @gavincorbett.bsky.social but always good to get out - and lots of outdoor things to talk about. The Water of Leith provided a lovely autumnal route through Edinburgh. @wolct.bsky.social @ramblersscotland.bsky.social
Man standing in wet clothes on an urban path by a river in autumn. Rain falling, puddles on the path.
helenrambler.bsky.social
Though that could be a pictogram of a hiker having gone to the pub after a day in the hills
Reposted by Helen Todd
helenrambler.bsky.social
That’s exactly it - I’ve been caught out in England heading for what looks like a good viewpoint, or cutting through a field, etc, then realising there’s no footpath and worrying if I’m going to get shouted at! Access just feels so much more natural in Scotland.
Reposted by Helen Todd
helenrambler.bsky.social
Ooh, lucky you to be in Knoydart! And in sunshine too.
Reposted by Helen Todd
andywightman.scot
UPDATE Who Owns Scotland Sep 2025. I have now documented a total of 4800 landholdings covering 76.4% of rural Scotland. To find out who owns Scotland, please subscribe. Subscriptions start at £12 for personal use. The project is financed solely by subscription income. whoownsscotland.org.uk
Reposted by Helen Todd
redropescot.bsky.social
We had a very enjoyable walk up and around Dundreich in the Scottish Borders last weekend. It was overcast but dry and we had good views - and chat. Our next day walk is at the end of October, all are welcome including non-members.
Group of walkers around a trig point on top of a grassy hill. Three walkers on a grassy field with rounded hills beyond Walkers heading down a steep hill on grassy moorland by a fence. Views beyond to a loch, woodlands and farmland. Group of walkers by a gate with grassy moorland behind them.
Reposted by Helen Todd
tanjabueltmann.net
When I was a teenager there was a bus direct from my hometown in Germany to London - we had a British army base, and this direct bus connection was one of the benefits of that. One summer I went on that bus to go volunteer in an old people's home in Southend-on-Sea. I had just turned 18 and was... 🧵
Reposted by Helen Todd
edi.bike
🚲 edi.bike | issue 112 | 29th Sep '25
in your weekly edinburgh cycling digest:

Cargo bike demo success, Mint tea by bike, events, community updates, route closures & more:

https://buttondown.com/edi.bike/archive/edibike-issue-112-29th-sep-25/

#bikeSky
A streetscape under a clear blue sky; flanked by tall trees and a wrought iron fence with pointed, decorative stone columns on the left, and by houses and office buildings on the right, some of which have a crane looming above. The viewer is situated on a bidirectional cycleway, next to the footway on the left; the road next to it is mostly empty save for a single grey saloon car.
Reposted by Helen Todd
sarasheridan.bsky.social
Today a THREAD👇 of Scottish WWII sheroes who shone in adversity. 1st resistance fighter & nurse Mary Helen Young helped prisoners escape Nazi-occuped France. Killed in Ravensbruck, novelist, Simone St Clair, incarcerated with her said 'she kept her chin up' Mary we salute you./1
Reposted by Helen Todd
spokes.org.uk
#Queensferry #ActiveTravel 🚲👩‍🦼🚶 consultn, ends 10 Oct

🙋 Respond by email or online

Consultn page & DRAFT response--> www.spokes.org.uk/documents/me...

@edi.bike @sw20.info @thebonnieloon.bsky.social @helenrambler.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social @harryjwilliams.bsky.social
Picture of the active travel route and connections being consulted on Consultation heading..

Queensferry: Builyeon Road new primary school and improved active travel connections

Closes 10 Oct 2025

Opened 28 Aug 2025
Start of the DRAFT spokes response..

Queensferry: Builyeon Road new primary school and improved active travel connections
DRAFT Spokes consultation response
The page numbers below refer to the document Queensferry Connections DRAFT Developed Designs
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South Queensferry residents already suffer from the effects of excessive traffic with actual and perceived risk
to life, excessive noise, pollution and negative health impacts of increasing levels of inactivity, especially
amongst younger generations. With over 1600 properties built or planned to be built in just a few years within
the town, Edinburgh Council must act now to make active travel a more attractive option for people to choose
to travel to, from and around South Queensferry.
Spokes broadly welcome these proposals as we believe this could potentially be the start of what is required to
provide adults and children with the opportunity for active travel which for most does not currently exist.
There is an opportunity for a wider active travel network throughout South Queensferry and these proposals as
the currently stand exclude other areas of South Queensferry, for example other schools around the town. All
children and adults should have the right to exercise for free and to travel actively safely and we would urge
the Council, the Scottish Government and other funding partners to take a proactive approach to planning this
(and other) active travel networks, not just individual routes that are not joined up one of the main proposals maps in the consultation, showing the active travel route beside and crossing a road
Reposted by Helen Todd
redropescot.bsky.social
In line with our social and environmental values we donate any surplus funds from our weekend trips to organisations we support. This year we've split £300 between UK-Med Gaza appeal and Assynt MRT.
www.uk-med.org/gaza-crisis-...
www.assyntmountainrescue.co.uk
A view across moorland with purple heather and blue devil's bit scabious flowers, a rocky escarpment and more hills in the distance.