Latest news with #RRSDiscovery
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Walk with Paul Goldstein to raise money for endangered wildlife
Blocked by human development, many species have been forced to stay put, abandoning ancient routes used for thousands of years. Humans, however, still have the freedom to walk in all directions of the compass. For the most part, their only restriction is time. Devising his own pilgrimage route across the UK, wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein has cleared his diary to lead an ambitious 25-day walk in aid of endangered species – and everyone is invited to join in. Over the years, Goldstein has raised almost £500,000 for wildlife causes by running 25 marathons in a tiger suit, often joined by famous friends such as Springwatch presenter and environmental activist Chris Packham. Now he plans to walk more than 1,000km from Tigerton in Scotland, to Tiger Bay in Wales as part of a charity walk named 2LegsFor4 – that's the equivalent of a marathon every day for almost a month. He's aiming to raise funds for a rescue vehicle to support wildlife in India's Bandhavgarh National Park. Broken down into 42km sections, anyone can sign up – for free – to join Goldstein along the way, raising money for any species of their choice, or simply to stretch their legs in solidarity. TV presenter Simon Reeve has already pledged his support on Instagram, writing: '2legsfor4 … it's something wonderful, meaningful and memorable to support and get involved with.' Here are a few of the highlights for walks starting on August 10 and ending September 5. Historic monuments When: August 11 Route: Carnoustie to St Andrews Penguin statues (Image: Alamy/PA) The distance from Dundee to the South Pole is around 10,000 miles but the two regions will always be inextricably linked. In 1901, explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott launched the vessel RRS Discovery from the Scottish city, embarking on an epic voyage of discovery to the Antarctic continent. His ship is now a visitor attraction, paying homage to the polar links, alongside a series of penguin statues by artist Angela Hunter. Wildlife wonders When: August 15 Route: Newtongrange to Galashiels Red squirrels (Image: Alamy/PA) Sea eagles, red squirrels, seals and otters are just a few of the species often spotted at the Scottish Borders. The region around Galashiels has several designated viewing areas. The River Tweed Trail is a good spot for observing wetland and riverbank birds, while the Gala Hill Circular is recommended for more general wildlife. Visit the Bird Gardens Scotland breeding and conservation project to see rare and endangered species from across the world. Lakes and mountains When: August 22 Route: Grasmere to Kendal Hikers in the Lake District (Image: Alamy/PA) Bring to life the verses of a William Wordsworth sonnet by visiting his former stomping ground in the Lake District – although with plenty of hikers for company, there's no need to wander lonely as a cloud. Start at the 19th-century poet's home in Grasmere, described as 'the loveliest spot that man hath found', and continue to the lakes of Rydal and Windermere. Fuel up with a fish finger sandwich at the Eagle & Child Inn in Staveley, before ending up at the home of Kendal Mint Cake. Iconic coastal paths When: August 23 Route: Kendal to Lancaster When the incoming tide creates a wave which pushes up a river and reverses its current, the result is a rare phenomenon known as a tidal bore. One of the best places to witness the roaring surge of water in the UK is at Morecambe Bay in the Arnside area which meets with the River Kent. Scenes are most dramatic during spring tides and after heavy downpours – although Goldstein is hoping not to experience the latter. After all, (big) cats aren't fans of rain. Winding rivers When: September 3 Route: Monmouth to Chepstow Tintern Abbey in Chepstow (Image: Alamy/PA) Discover the varied landscapes of the Welsh borders by walking a section of the 136-mile Wye Valley route, which runs from the mountains and moorland of mid-Wales to the fields and orchards of Herefordshire. From the grassy banks of Monmouth town, head into woodland, passing through villages and historic abbeys and hill forts. How to plan your trip For more information on signing up, pledging support or even offering the tiger a place to rest his paws each night, visit
STV News
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Lorraine Kelly shook 'like a leaf' as she climbed 25-metre mast
Lorraine Kelly said she was 'shaking like a leaf' as she scaled the mast of an historic ship that previously ventured to Antarctica, before abseiling to the ground. She joined fellow presenter Dan Snow in a race up the 25-metre mast of the RSS Discovery in Dundee on Friday, with Snow reaching the top first by a few minutes. The feat aimed to emulate the working conditions the ship's original crew faced when it voyaged to Antarctica 124 years ago, albeit they endured harsh weather conditions and no modern safety precautions. Led by the Dundee Heritage Trust, the Discovery Mast Climb will be open for daring members of the public to experience in the autumn. PA Media Lorraine Kelly climbed the mast of the RRS Discovery in Dundee. After reaching the top, both TV stars waved for the cameras below. Snow spoke into the microphone of a camera drone above, with little-to-no fear in his voice. The Discovery Mast Climb is expected to draw attention from all over the world, and is the only experience of its kind in Scotland. The Cutty Sark in London and SS Great Britain in Bristol offer a similar challenge. After completing the climb, Kelly told the PA news agency: 'The experience in general was absolutely terrifying and the only reason I think I got through it was because Dan Snow was doing it as well. 'He looked so calm as he was shimmying up the rigging. 'That made me feel a bit better, but I'm not good with heights, so it was scary, I was shaking like a leaf, but it's really good to be back on dry land.' Kelly, a patron of the Dundee Heritage Trust alongside Snow, added: 'The Discovery ship is beautiful, she's the symbol of Dundee. I'm obsessed with all things Antarctica, and she went to Antarctica. 'She's an old girl so she needs a lot of maintenance, and obviously that costs a lot of money. 'This was all about raising awareness of the Discovery and letting everyone in Dundee have a look at her.' She said the experience also highlighted Scotland's former ties to the whaling industry, which was abolished in Scotland in 1963. She said: 'Dundee's links with Antarctica and South Georgia are very important, and this whole weekend is really about that. It's about looking back on the whaling industry, which was a big part of the city, and looking forward to the fact that we don't do that anymore – thank goodness – and we're trying to save these beautiful animals, so it's a celebration of the future.' Asked if she would consider such a climb again, Kelly joked: 'I don't think I'll ever do anything like that again. I'll leave that to the experts.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Independent
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Lorraine Kelly faces fear to climb 25ft ship's mast
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly admitted she was "terrified" after abseiling down a 25-metre mast on Friday. The challenge took place on the RRS Discovery ship in Dundee, where Kelly scaled the mast with fellow presenter Dan Snow. Kelly, who is not good with heights, described the experience as scary and said she was "shaking like a leaf" afterwards. This event occurred just weeks after the 65-year-old presenter underwent preventive keyhole surgery to remove her fallopian tubes and ovaries. Watch the video in full above.
The Independent
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Lorraine Kelly ‘terrified' after climbing up 25-ft ship in Dundee following keyhole surgery
Watch as Lorraine Kelly admits she was "terrified" after abseiling down the mast of a 25-metre mast on Friday (27 June), just weeks after the star's keyhole surgery. The TV presenter scaled up and down the RRS Discovery ship, a vessel that previously ventured to Antarctica, with fellow presenter Dan Snow in Dundee. Feet firmly back on the ground, Kelly said: 'The experience in general was absolutely terrifying. I'm not good with heights so it was scary, I was shaking like a leaf.' Last month, the 65-year-old presenter underwent keyhole surgery to remove her fallopian tubes and ovaries, a procedure Kelly described as 'purely preventive'.
Scotsman
28-06-2025
- Scotsman
How Lorraine Kelly showed real courage in daredevil ascent of Discovery's mast
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Twenty-five metres up in the air may not sound that high but, converted into 'old money', 82ft seems considerably more daunting. So it was quite understandable that TV presenter and national treasure Lorraine Kelly found herself 'shaking like a leaf' as she scaled the mast of the RSS Discovery in Dundee. She also abseiled – an activity once largely the preserve of rock climbers and the Royal Marines – back to the bottom. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lorraine Kelly abseils from the mast of the RRS Discovery at Discovery Point in Dundee (Picture: Andrew Milligan) | PA A patron of the Dundee Heritage Trust, Kelly performed the daredevil feat to get a taste of the working conditions of the original crew when they travelled to Antarctica in 1901 – at a time when 'health and safety' was not really a thing – and also to raise awareness of the ship, which she said 'needs a lot of maintenance, and obviously that costs a lot of money'.
