Latest news with #McKean
Time Out
16-06-2025
- Time Out
Regional Victoria is home to the best coastal walk in all of Australia, according to a hiking expert
Compared to other Australian states, we feel that Victoria's coastal regions don't get enough praise. Our shores have so much to offer, like world-class beaches, impeccable surfing spots and quaint towns. But there is one part of our coastline that has been getting plenty of attention lately – that is the epic multi-day hike, the Great Ocean Walk. This coastal walk has just been dubbed as the best in Australia, according to hiking enthusiast and author of Great Coastal Walks, Brent McKean – who's completed more than 20 of the country's biggest coastal treks. He's not alone in his assessment, as this hike was recently also named as one of the top 20 best hikes worldwide. While everyone's heard of the popular road trip that goes by the same name, this stunning 104-kilometre coastal walk is arguably more spectacular as you get to experience all the sights up close. McKean says, 'If you were in a car, you wouldn't even know the walk was there. And from the track, you can't see or hear the traffic above.' Just like the famous drive, the Great Ocean Walk hugs the coastline from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles, and can be tackled as a series of day walks or as a multi-day hike that typically takes five to six days to complete. McKean advises, 'You can walk it independently using the public campsites along the way (they all include a dining shelter), or do it self-guided (using a map and an app), catching a shuttle bus to the start of each day's walk, then being dropped back at your accommodation. You can even do it fully guided, where you are dropped off at the start of each day's walk, then afterwards returned to luxury accommodation, where chef-prepared meals – washed down with local wines – await. It's up to you (and your budget!)' The Great Ocean Walk combines beach and bush trails, but one thing stays constant: breathtaking views of the mighty Southern Ocean. Along the way, you'll pass many of Victoria's most iconic sights – from the lush rainforests of Great Otway National Park to the rugged cliffs of Port Campbell – before finishing up at the world-famous limestone stacks known as the Twelve Apostles. McKean's favourite section of the Great Ocean Walk is the 13-kilometre track between Ryan's Den and Devil's Kitchen, which is typically the penultimate day if you're doing the whole route. This moderately challenging stretch winds through coastal scrub to Moonlight Head, then descends to The Gables Lookout – one of Australia's highest clifftop viewpoints – where you can take in sweeping views of the coastline. In winter, you might even spot southern right whales migrating through the waters on their way to Warrnambool. While you can walk the sea-swept stretch from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles year-round, McKean recommends spring (September to November). You won't work up too much of a sweat thanks to the mild temperatures, and you'll get the best chance to spot native wildlife, including kangaroos near Johanna Beach, koalas at Kennett River, and even penguins near the shore at the Twelve Apostles. If you're feeling inspired to hit the trails, you can find our favourite day hikes near Melbourne here, as well as our top walks in Melbourne here. See you on the tracks!
Time Out
15-06-2025
- Time Out
This is Australia's best coastal walk – according to someone who's done them all
In Australia, you're never more than 1,000 kilometres from the coast – so it's not rare to feel the sea calling you. Mother Nature might summon you for a swim in one of our nation's beautiful beaches. But she could also convince you to spend some time in nature, adventuring along seaside cliffs, across squeaky sands and over slippery rock pools. With so many epic coastal walks covering all three terrains, choosing the absolute best is no easy feat. That's why we passed the baton to one of Australia's top hiking pros – here's what they had to say. The best coastal walk in Australia is the Great Ocean Walk, according to hiking enthusiast and author of Great Coastal Walks, Brent McKean – who's completed more than 20 of the country's biggest coastal treks. While everyone's heard of the popular road trip that goes by the same name, this stunning 104-kilometre coastal walk is arguably more spectacular as you get to experience all the sights up close. McKean says, 'If you were in a car, you wouldn't even know the walk was there. And from the track, you can't see or hear the traffic above.' Just like the famous drive, the Great Ocean Walk hugs the coastline from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles, and can be tackled as a series of day walks or as a multi-day hike that typically takes five to six days to complete. McKean advises, 'You can walk it independently using the public campsites along the way (they all include a dining shelter), or do it self-guided (using a map and an app), catching a shuttle bus to the start of each day's walk, then being dropped back at your accommodation. You can even do it fully guided, where you are dropped off at the start of each day's walk, then afterwards returned to luxury accommodation, where chef-prepared meals – washed down with local wines – await. It's up to you (and your budget!)' The Great Ocean Walk combines beach and bush trails, but one thing stays constant: breathtaking views of the mighty Southern Ocean. Along the way, you'll pass many of Victoria's most iconic sights – from the lush rainforests of Great Otway National Park to the rugged cliffs of Port Campbell – before finishing up at the world-famous limestone stacks known as the Twelve Apostles. McKean's favourite section of the Great Ocean Walk is the 13-kilometre track between Ryan's Den and Devil's Kitchen, which is typically the penultimate day if you're doing the whole route. This moderately challenging stretch winds through coastal scrub to Moonlight Head, then descends to The Gables Lookout – one of Australia's highest clifftop viewpoints – where you can take in sweeping views of the coastline. In winter, you might even spot southern right whales migrating through the waters on their way to Warrnambool. While you can walk the sea-swept stretch from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles year-round, McKean recommends spring (September to November). You won't work up too much of a sweat thanks to the mild temperatures, and you'll get the best chance to spot native wildlife, including kangaroos near Johanna Beach, koalas at Kennett River, and even penguins near the shore at the Twelve Apostles. If you're feeling inspired to hit the trails, you can find more of our favourite hikes and trails in Australia here. See you on the tracks!
Scotsman
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
The Scottish amateur theatre directors retiring after 30 years at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers 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... They were two friends who set out to change the face of amateur theatre at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the 1990s. Now the directors of theatre production company Arkle are to retire after 30 straight years of Fringe performances. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rob McKean and Michael Mulligan are to close the company with a final swansong of two shows - selected by each of them as their former Fringe favourites - at this year's festival. The pair set up the organisation in 1996 after meeting at another local club, Edinburgh People's Theatre. Mr McKean said: 'Arkle started as the result of a couple of bottles of wine in a cottage in the north-west Highlands. We'd both been involved in Edinburgh People's Theatre and back then, there was a set way of doing shows. It was box sets, it was two acts and we realised that we wanted to do something different, we didn't want to do shows in a set format. 'Also we wanted to do it without a committee and a club around it. Back then, people could only act for one club. There was no crossover, that's changed now. So we thought we'd try to do something simple for the Fringe - a short show and see how it went.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Their first show was Womerang, by Sue Townsend. 'It was great and people asked us 'what are you doing next year?',' Mr McKean said. Rob McKean (centre) and Michael Mulligan (right) with the cast from last year's Fringe show. | Rob Shields 'So we did. All of that was 29 years ago. This is our 30th on the Fringe. Even during Covid, we did some radio-style productions on Zoom, so we didn't miss a year. But after 30 years of doing it, it is time to stop.' Mr Mulligan added: 'Rob retired last year and I turned 70 in March of this year. These are factors which made us think it was time to stop after 30 years. Seventy is not the same as 40. A lot of people don't appreciate the sheer amount of work that goes on to do this. Also, it is getting staggeringly expensive. I see the future as a lot of what I call 'pop-up theatre'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He added: 'But the time to finish something is when you're still enjoying it.' Arkle's 2010 production of a Midsummer Night's Dream. | Arkle The company's second show was A Midsummer Night's Dream, which they are to reprise this year, alongside The 39 Steps, as their final performances. 'We've done what we set out to do,' said Mr McKean. 'Amateur theatre - we prefer to call it unpaid, as we have always tried to do professional level productions - has changed a lot over the last 30 years. There's a lot more crossover between the clubs, we help each other. All of that has developed. Mr Mulligan also runs the Royal Scots Club on Abercromby Place as a venue during the Fringe, both for Arkle and for other amateur clubs putting on shows. He plans to continue to do so next year.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Spring into Swing book sale begins at Blasco Library
The Friends of the Erie County Library are preparing for one of their most exciting sales of the year. The Swing into Spring book sale will take place in the Admiral Room of the Blasco Library on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Local students donate to newly opened McKean food pantry A wide variety of gently used books, CDs, puzzles and more are available featuring this year's theme, which is 'Gardening, Crafts and Cooking.' Additionally, the organization will be collecting donations of books, CDs, DVDs and puzzles. PA Game Commission reminds residents to leave young animals alone 'All the money raised here goes to support library programs so it's really important that we have support from the community and the community has been great and it all comes back to the community to the families and kids and adults as well,' said Kathleen Horan, coordinator for small sales for the Friends of the Erie County Library. Horan said they are expecting hundreds of people to attend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Scotsman
29-04-2025
- Scotsman
Edinburgh pub owner allowed to keep licence after violent assault against patron
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now An Edinburgh pub owner who violently assaulted a patron he blamed for a campaign of harassment against staff has been allowed to keep his licence. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, 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... Murray McKean, who owns and manages The Tourmalet pub on 25 Buchanan Street, was convicted of assault after confronting the barred patron who he said had engaged in an 18 month campaign of harassment against the venue's staff. Police sergeant Barry Mercer told councillors the altercation occurred at 10pm on April 15 last year in the pub's smoking area, where the barred patron was standing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad According to Mercer, McKean, 57, went outside to confront him, being heard to shout by a witness, '200 yards, 200 yards and me and you will sort it out' before kicking the barred patron, knocking him over. Google Reviews says: 'Great pub. Good for a pre game pint. Just don't go to the toilet. They are rank rotten.' Address: 25 Buchanan St, Edinburgh EH6 8SQ | Google Streetview The patron then stood back up, after which McKean said 'let's f****** go, you f****** deserve it', shoved him and kicked his right leg, and then struck his head three times, after which the patron fell again. Police were called, and arrested McKean after reviewing CCTV footage at the pub. He was convicted on January 10 and was fined £300 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. The council was also notified on January 14 – within the required 28 day period. Mercer said McKean was off duty when the altercation took place, and also that he was not under the influence of alcohol. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad His licensing solicitor, Alistair Macdonald, told councillors that he had known McKean for 'many years', and that the publican was 'seeing red' when the attack occurred. McKean, who also operates the Ventoux pub on Brougham Street, told councillors: 'I made a mistake I deeply regret. I understand that I've brought it on myself.' He further said that the barred patron had harassed and attacked staff at The Tourmalet repeatedly over an 18 month period after he was barred, being arrested by police twice. In one incident, he said the patron attacked a member of the bar's staff soon after they had left work, requiring their hospitalisation and six stitches on their forehead. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In another, he said a member of staff had his shirt ripped off his body by the patron. SNP councillor Catherine Fullerton, who represents Sighthill/Gorgie, told McKean: 'What surprised me was that there was no alcohol involved. You were sober, you would expect an attack like that to involve alcohol. 'Surely continuous nuisance or gross provocation should be dealt with by the police, especially in your line of work.' He replied, saying: 'We certainly called in 2022, and several times afterwards. He seems to have the ability to disappear before the police come out. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Every time he's been passing our bar, banging on the windows, we always call the police. There's been multiple occasions, and our first actions were obviously to call the police on those five or six occasions.' Councillors on the city's licensing board voted to add an endorsement to McKean's personal license by a vote of four to one, with Cllr Fullerton dissenting to say that the council should take no action on the matter. The endorsement does not limit McKean's ability to act as a licensed person to authorise or supervise the sale of if he receives two more endorsements within five years, he will be required to attend a licensing hearing.
