0:09:50 > 0:09:57.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22We're on the very edge of the Monadh Liath Mountains, not far from the Cairngorms.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25Indeed, we're only about a mile from the village of Newtonmore.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29I live down in Newtonmore, and every day, when I'm at home,
0:10:29 > 0:10:33I take the opportunity of having a walk up here, over this bit of moorland,
0:10:33 > 0:10:39over this little hill behind us, and down by the River Calder, which is a tributary of the River Spey.
0:10:39 > 0:10:44Taking this little walk every day gives me an opportunity to refresh myself daily,
0:10:44 > 0:10:47to prepare myself for the day ahead.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51But, more important than that, it gives me an opportunity
0:10:51 > 0:10:56to reconnect with this wildland on a daily basis.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03I love this walk for the different resonances at different times of the year,
0:11:03 > 0:11:07the different sensations you can experience with the changing seasons.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11For example, in springtime, crossing the moorland below us here,
0:11:11 > 0:11:17the air is filled with the sound of waders, curlews, oyster catchers, lapwings, redshank, it's fantastic.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21And later on in the year, we can wander up to the summit of the hill,
0:11:21 > 0:11:26look down on hidden Glen Banchor behind Creag Dhu, there,
0:11:26 > 0:11:29and hear the sound of the rutting stags.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33And that wonderfully primeval sound has the capacity to stir you to the very bone.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37It's all about the rhythms of the land, the different seasons.
0:11:37 > 0:11:42And I think it's an aspect of wildland that is so important.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46It's vital that we look after these places.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51Even a little area of wildland like this, only two miles or so from the busy A9.
0:11:51 > 0:11:56I think there are three very good reasons for protecting areas like this.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00One is for the recreational benefits that the hills and mountains can offer us.
0:12:00 > 0:12:05I've spent a lot of time in my life encouraging people to come out and walk and enjoy areas like this -
0:12:05 > 0:12:11to take exercise in the beauty and the grandeur of wildland like this.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15And I think that gives us benefits, not only in physical fitness,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18but also in our mental fitness, in a spiritual sense.
0:12:18 > 0:12:23Because when you come up here you become aware that man suddenly seems quite insignificant
0:12:23 > 0:12:27compared to the longer-lasting reality of the mountains,
0:12:27 > 0:12:30of the woodlands, of the rivers, of the lochs.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34And, thirdly, there's the cultural aspect of wildland.
0:12:34 > 0:12:40You know, this wildland wasn't always empty. This glen wasn't always empty.
0:12:40 > 0:12:45And I can take you a walk up there and show you the remains of 200 years ago.
0:12:45 > 0:12:51Indeed, just below us here, there was once, 1,000 years ago, a Roman Catholic seminary.
0:12:51 > 0:12:56It's hard to believe nowadays because the area's quite empty and quiet.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58But there are all these cultural things
0:12:58 > 0:13:02that have led to the music and song that we have today in Scotland.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06And it all stems from this wildland.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09And, you know, it's so easy to lose areas like this.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13For every person like me who loves these places and works hard to protect it,
0:13:13 > 0:13:17there are ten people who want to develop it in any number of ways.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27On a wildland walk like this, variety is the name of the game.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30Variety, contrasts, biodiversity.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34And one of the great bonuses is, if it's wild and windy on the summit,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37it's usually nice and calm and peaceful down here by the river.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Well, that's my wildland walk experience.
0:13:47 > 0:13:52It's a lovely combination of moorland, hilltop and a wonderful river like this.
0:13:52 > 0:13:57But you don't have to live in the Scottish Highlands to enjoy the wildland experience.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00If you live in Edinburgh, you can go into the Pentlands.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02If you live in Glasgow, you can go into the Campsies.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06You can appreciate most of these things that I've been talking about.
0:14:06 > 0:14:11The important thing is that you enjoy it, you appreciate it and you treasure it.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk