Ben Dolphin: Life as a countryside ranger in Scotland

Fancy switching up your life, moving to the countryside and becoming a ranger, like Ben Dolphin?

Ben is a countryside ranger in Scotland, an outdoors writer and blogger and he’s just finished his three year term as President of Ramblers Scotland.

(Photo: Ben Dolphin on Ben Vorlich)

He used to working for a bank but a few years ago he got chatting to a fellow walker on the top of a hill and that chance meeting changed the course of his life.

Ben lives in the Lomond Hills in Fife in Scotland – I had planned to meet him for a walk there, but coronavirus put an end to that. So we chatted to each other over Skype instead.

Jo Moseley at Hebden Bridge during her Paddleboard The North challenge. Photo credit: Jason Elliott

(Photo: Ben Dolphin on An Socach in the Cairngorms)

I wanted to find out how and why Ben moved from a corporate career to becoming a countryside ranger and what the job involves. I also wanted to hear what he learnt from hiking all over Scotland over three years with 54 Ramblers Scotland walking groups.

Jo Moseley finishes her 162 mile Paddleboard The North challenge. Photo credit: Frit Sarita Tam

(Photo: Ben Dolphin’s walk with the Helensburgh & West Dunbartonshire Ramblers Scotland walking group)

I hope you enjoy the podcast and Ben’s story. Listen out for his tips for becoming a ranger at the end of the podcast, as well as the relaxing minute of sounds from nature recorded by some of you!

You’ll find Ben on Twitter @CountrysideBen. You can find his blog and YouTube videos here.

If would be fantastic if you could rate, review and subscribe to the podcast – it really helps other people discover it – and please feel free to spread the word to your family and friends!

Thanks!

Liv x

(Photo: Ben Dolphin in one of his YouTube walking videos)

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James Michael Forrest, aka ‘Mountain Man’