When the team behind Scotland Outdoors first started to discuss creating this magazine, it was suggested that if we successfully matched the content to the intended audience, we would be amazed at the momentum created. We hoped that would be the case.

So, after much head-scratching and probably far too much dithering, we took the plunge. The result is a magazine that showcases the many ways to explore – and better understand – Scotland’s world-class natural diversity.

It is an editorial approach based on the curiosity of outdoorsy people. After all, many of us don’t want to climb a mountain just to get to the top. We also want to know what has shaped the surrounding landscape, why the vegetation is as it is, and what kind of wildlife lives all around. That’s why, as well as in-house writers, we use experts in their field – be they mountain guides, wildlife rangers or ecologists – to provide interpretation on Scotland’s wild wonders.

These are early days, but happily that momentum we were told about has come – and at a speed that has surprised and delighted us. We have a long way to go, but the magazine seems to have struck a chord with people of all ages who share a passion for Scotland’s wild places.

Of course, working on the magazine is not without its perks – chief among them are the opportunities to meet some of the remarkable people who live, work and play in the outdoors on a day-to-day basis. Being outside is part of their lifeblood. For some, it is about the buzz of adventure, while for others it is more about the journey.

I got a taste of both during the Saturday evening session of the excellent Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival in October. Dubbed ‘Saturday night extreme’, the audience was treated to a series of films on everything from cliff and bridge jumping to snow-kayaking and a short piece about extreme white- water tubing that poked gentle fun at the clubby, ‘too cool for school’ element of some adventure sports.

Top billing, however, went to Mark Beaumont, the round-the-world cyclist featured in our autumn issue who gave an absorbing talk on how he cycled 18,000 miles in 194 days, shattering the world record in the process. The guy is a natural presenter and is going to be a big name – not just in adventure circles.

At the moment, work on our winter issue is also in full swing. For our cover story, Ida Maspero unravels the science behind climate change to explore exactly what is happening to plants and animals right here in Scotland. Her investigations focus on mountain environments – very much the front line when it comes to noticing the affects of climate change.

Meanwhile, the ‘explore’ section of our winter issue will centre on Fort William and Lochaber, the self-styled ‘Outdoor Capital of the UK’ (although those living in the Cairngorms might have something to say about that). The section will explore what the future holds for the Nevis Range and other ski centres, before looking at ice climbing for beginners and some of the many other adventures people can get up to in the area this winter.

Elsewhere, our winter issue will also include features on the rise of women-only outdoor training courses; the exhilaration of ski mountaineering; and an intimate look at the world of grey seals that are pupping in their thousands on remote coasts and islands as we speak.

Thank you again for your interest in Scotland Outdoors. We look forward to tempting you into exploring even more of what Scotland has to offer in the months ahead.

Finally, if you’re stuck for Christmas ideas, how about a gift subscription to Scotland Outdoors? Please see our subscriptions page for more details.

Richard Rowe, Editor