Helen Todd
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helenrambler.bsky.social
Helen Todd
@helenrambler.bsky.social
1.3K followers 670 following 350 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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helenrambler.bsky.social
Blue skies but a very cold wind in the Pentlands today. Enjoyed the snow! A taste of winter in mid-autumn. ❄️☀️🥾
Woman on an icy path running through moorland beside a wall, all covered in snow. Views of snowy mountains in the far distance A snowy path heading up to hills A view from the Pentlands hills across snowy ground to Bonaly reservoir and beyond to Edinburgh A man in hiking gear on a snowy hill in the Pentlands
November 19, 2025 at 3:58 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
Excellent event at @natlibscot.bsky.social to mark 50 years since the founding of SCRAM. I wasn’t there in 1975, but husband was involved in demos vs Torness nuclear power station, along with many others there today. Much was achieved, but nuclear - power and weapons - still on UK political agenda ☹️
Publicity for an event to commemorate 50 years since the founding of SCRAM, Scottish Campaign to Resist the Atomic Menace
November 18, 2025 at 8:23 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
What a contrast! Wild winter adventures above Glen Feshie in the #Cairngorms today, and then down to a lovely, peaceful and sunny Caledonian pinewood below.
A woman walking up a snowy and icy mountain path through spindrift, with wooded lowlands behind Woman walking on an icy track in snowy moorland on the Cairngorm plateau A track leading downhill through snowy moorland with green, wooded land below Caledonian pinewood in Glen Feshie with a track running through
November 15, 2025 at 8:46 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
Heading home after an interesting day at the Scottish Environment LINK annual congress. Always a good discussion - but so many (familiar) barriers to progress & delivery on nature & climate issues.

Great to catch up with ‘old’ colleagues, and thanks to staff!
@scotlink.bsky.social
A panel discussion at a conference in a hotel room, audience seated around tables
November 11, 2025 at 4:55 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
And including a beautiful poem by Jackie Kay.
Welcome wee one by Jackie Kay O ma darlin wee one At last you are here in the wurld And wi’ aa your wisdom Your een bricht as the stars You’ve filled this house with licht Your trusty wee haun, your globe o’ a heid My cherished yin, my heart’s ain. O ma darlin wee one The hale wurld welcomes ye The mune glows, the hearth wairms Let your life hae luck, health, charm Ye are my bonny blessed bairn My small miraculous gift I never kent luve like this.
November 7, 2025 at 9:13 AM
helenrambler.bsky.social
Weirdly warm walk along the Water of Leith from Balerno today. Peak beech! Still time to catch the last of the autumn colours.
Saw 2 herons, a hint of an otter and no kingfishers.
@wolct.bsky.social
@ramblersscotland.bsky.social
Three pictures of autumnal leaves on trees beside paths running along the Water of Leith in Edinburgh. Mostly russet coloured beech leaves.
November 6, 2025 at 5:04 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
What a fabulous day in the Mamores. Didn’t see a soul all day, walking up from Kinlochleven. Enjoyed autumn colours and the roaring of deer all around.
First photo from Binnein Mor with Ben Nevis behind, almost emerging from cloud.
Woman sitting on a rocky mountain summit, Ben Nevis and other mountains behind. Blue skies with a bank of cloud hiding the summit of the Ben. Autumn scene of mixed woodland above a loch surrounded by mountains, mist lifting from the loch A man walking down a Glen with a sunny wooded hillside behind him A view of a loch between two mountains, a passing cloud just visible above
October 23, 2025 at 7:32 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
Lunchtime broken spectre today, from Sgurr a’Mhaim, Ring of Steall. Quite magical, a day of shifting clouds and glimpsed views.

Now quite shattered after a 9.5 hour day. I’m obviously not as young as I used to be - last did that route 13 years ago, don’t remember it being so tough then!
A broken spectre on a Scottish mountain - a halo effect around the heads of 2 walkers on a cloudy hillside.
October 20, 2025 at 7:40 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
Enjoyed a brisk evening walk today up Salisbury Crags with @kat-jones.bsky.social.
Great views, but shocking erosion, with multi paths everywhere. Perhaps fewer feet would trample it if the Radical Road path was open??
@ramblersscotland.bsky.social
Woman standing on a hill above the city of Edinburgh in late afternoon sunshine. Rocky outcrop and hill (Salisbury Crags & Arthur’s Seat) in Edinburgh, late afternoon. Showing a badly eroded path View across Edinburgh city from Salisbury Crags, with the Castle prominent.
October 16, 2025 at 6:30 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
I’ve got mine already! In fact I used it to cycle home to Edinburgh from the launch in Livingston. It was brilliant (though Livi itself continues to confuse!).
Especially useful as the Union Canal path was full of marathon runners on Saturday so a detour was needed.
Woman (me) holding a copy of the new Spokes West Lothian map, in front of a fence with a big display of the same map.
October 14, 2025 at 4:00 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
Subtle autumnal colours in the Botanics today under cloudy skies.
@thebotanics.bsky.social
A pond in the Edinburgh botanic gardens surrounded by trees and grasses in autumnal colours.
October 13, 2025 at 6:32 PM
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.
October 3, 2025 at 3:25 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
Snow!❄️
Not what we expected on a September trip to Torridon, but a good reminder to prepare the pack for winter.
Great to be out with @redropescot.bsky.social pals. A cold wind, but we got lots of ☀️ too.
Woman on a rocky mountain summit with patches of snow amongst the rocks. View from a mountain across to a loch in a corrie and more mountains beyond. Two people on a rocky mountain, Beinn Eighe in Torridon. Sunny skies. Part of the Beinn Eighe massif, a rocky and steep mountain
September 21, 2025 at 7:35 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
A grand day out for me today in Dundee at the Cycling Scotland conference, on behalf of @spokes.org.uk.
Good to meet new folk as well as ‘old’ colleagues.
Please come and say hello!
#cyclingscotlandconf 🚲
Woman standing behind a conference stall, with leaflets and maps on the table
September 10, 2025 at 9:19 AM
helenrambler.bsky.social
A fantastic time last weekend with Red Rope pals, based in Elphin. Love this part of Scotland - and it was looking particularly lovely with the bonnie blooming heather.
@redropescot.bsky.social
A path winding past purple heather though a glen and next to a burn, with a mountain in the distance. Me standing on a rocky mountain plateau with a view beyond of hills, sea and lochs A distant view of mountains under blue skies from a summit, with the sea in the distance and lochs. The small hill on the right is Stac Pollaidh The mountains of Assynt - Suilven, Quinag and Canisp, taken from Cul Mor, blue skies.
August 27, 2025 at 4:33 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
Funnily enough, just seen this today. Does it work?
Sign: The Ayrshire Coastal Path ‘Be ye man or bairn or wumman, be ye gaun or be ye comin, for Scotland’s pride no Scotland’s shame, gether yet litter an tak it hame’
August 5, 2025 at 10:38 AM
helenrambler.bsky.social
Yes, it’s windy out there in Girvan, South Ayrshire. Quite an exhilarating walk by the sea this morning, good to stay away from buildings today!
#StormFloris @ramblersscotland.bsky.social
A stormy seascape, white waves hitting a pebbly beach, the island of Ailsa Craig on the horizon below a rainbow A man walking on a pebbly beach in full waterproofs, white-capped waves, dark clouds and a harbour wall in the distance
August 4, 2025 at 9:20 AM
helenrambler.bsky.social
Really enjoyed a walk at Loch Leven yesterday, used to visit daily when I worked in Milnathort for @ramblersscotland.bsky.social. It was busy with walkers & cyclists, hard to imagine the path hasn’t always been there. Testament to the hard work of the local path group, landowners, funders.
Me standing by the shore of Loch Leven, hills and woodland behind A woman and a dog walking on a path lined with wildflowers A group of cyclists on a path lined with wildflowers, hills in the distance A meadow of summer wildflowers, with a loch in the distance
July 30, 2025 at 9:53 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
A muggy, hazy walk up Dundreich in the Scottish Borders.
The ‘shooting in progress’ signs at Portmore Loch have been there for years. Not sure they’re useful to the public as I’m sure they don’t shoot 24/7, 365 days/year. Perhaps an on-the-day sign would be best? @ramblersscotland.bsky.social
Three people in shorts heading up a steep grassy hill with farmland and woods in the distance behind under a hazy blue sky Me standing on the grassy summit at a trig point in hazy sunshine A calm loch surrounded by green hills and woods in the Scottish Borders A sign on a fence post saying “Vermin control - Shooting in progress - please adhere to paths - do not wander through woods - we respect your right to roam, please respect our woodland”
July 24, 2025 at 3:59 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
Great turnout at the national demonstration for Gaza in Edinburgh today
#freepalestine #gaza
Photo taken from the middle of a march for Palestine down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh Rally for Gaza outside UK government office in Edinburgh, large gathering of people with Palestinian flags
July 19, 2025 at 1:02 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
Bicycles+☀️+East Lothian bike map from @spokes.org.uk = a great day out! Oh, and add a beer while waiting for the train too.
Man looking at a map at the side of a country road with two bicycles leaning in a signpost. Fields of crops beyond. Me on my bike cycling on a narrow country lane. Blue skies and the sea in the distance behind. Wildflowers in fields, blue sea on the horizon. Man in a beer garden of a pub with two glasses of beer on the table in front of him.
July 9, 2025 at 4:44 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
Bees enjoying pink poppies this morning. *sound on*
July 6, 2025 at 7:56 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
This is a grim, rather extreme example in Dorset, but whenever I’m in England I hate to see permissive access signs. Without rights, permission can always be withdrawn.
@righttoroam.bsky.social
A sign on a post by a path in the countryside saying “Yorkshire Water - Permissive footpath” A sign on a gate in the countryside saying “This path is a public right of way on foot only, but horse riders and pedal cyclists are normally allowed to use it by permission of the freeholders. People using this route do so at their own risk”.
June 28, 2025 at 2:39 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
@scottishcnd.bsky.social and #EdinburghCND members gathering at the Mound in Edinburgh for today’s #FreePalestine march and rally
Group of people holding a banner saying ‘Scottish campaign for nuclear disarmament’ Group of people holding a CND flag in the city centre of Edinburgh with a Palestinian flag in the background
June 28, 2025 at 12:06 PM
helenrambler.bsky.social
Interesting to see this ‘stream engineering’ in Broadhead Clough nature reserve yesterday in West Yorkshire. Presumably to hold back the flow for flood mitigation. Certainly saw evidence of past deluges elsewhere.
Pity they could get a few #beavers in to do the job - great wetland habitat!
A stream running down a gully in a woodland setting. At intervals there are piles of branches across the stream.
June 18, 2025 at 8:38 AM