An account of a day saved by the The kindness of strangers has won last month’s walk report competition on Walkhighlands. Haslertom will receive a £100 voucher from Scottish outdoor retailer Highlander. Also catching the judges’ eyes was an engaging write up, with great photos, of an autumnal multi-day hike in the Highlands. Tropicallama receives a £50 Highlander voucher for Affric Kintail Way in Late October which he hiked in 2023. Congratulations to both winners and thanks to everyone who posted. To be in with a chance of winning April’s competition simply post a walk report on the Walkhighlands forum.
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Our picks: 10 great walks with CalMac ferries
Every journey starts a story Every visit to one of Scotland’s islands is a true adventure. The Hebrides are renowned for some of the most spectacular coastal and mountain landscapes in Europe. Imagine standing on a rugged coastline, overlooking a vast sandy beach, the wind rich with the scent of the abundant machair flowers. Where could be a better place to explore on foot? Whether you’re taking in the panoramic views from the hilltops, striding out across the sands or pausing to watch an otter catch fish, the island’s natural beauty will capture your heart. You’ll uncover endless layers of…
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Munros by bus and Californian sunshine are walk report winners
There were plenty of great walk reports posted in February to keep everyone entertained and inspired. Walk report of the month and winner of a £100 Highlander voucher was to BeinnStob for “Hiking with the free bus pass” – a great round up of Munros completed, pints sipped and buses caught. Californian sunshine clinched it for the runner up prize. A £50 voucher is on its way to gmayle82 for High Sierra Trail – A Week in the Wilderness – wonderful photos from a week’s hiking. Thanks again to everyone who posted in February. Each month £150 of Highlander vouchers are up…
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Hillwalkers needed for Munro Brain Power challenge
Following his brain tumour diagnosis, Glenn Campbell set himself the challenge of climbing all 282 Scottish Munros. A Walkhighlands user himself, Glenn is now asking hillwalkers to join him by taking on a Munro on Sunday 10 August. The informal event will hopefully see as many individuals and teams reach the summit of a Munro on Brain Power Day 2025 to raise awareness of brain tumours and funds for more research. Glenn said, “I’m really excited about this, not least because 10th August will be two years since successful surgery to remove most of my incurable brain tumour. Claire and…
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Mountaineering Scotland issue advice on crampons and micro spikes
Mountaineering Scotland is urging hillwalkers and climbers to improve their understanding of winter equipment for use in icy conditions on hill paths and more technical terrain. At the end of last winter, they asked hill-goers for their thoughts on using crampons and other traction devices like micro spikes in the winter mountains. With over 1,300 respondents, the survey highlighted that while many experienced walkers and climbers understood the appropriate use of micro spikes and crampons, a notable portion of less experienced hikers were unaware of the critical differences to when and where they are appropriate to use. Key Survey Findings: Micro…
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Walkers urged to fight cuts to local access funding
Ramblers Scotland is calling on walkers to urgently email local councillors to ensure upcoming budgets safeguard investment in walking, paths and outdoor access. The charity says that most Scottish councils have squeezed the money they spend on walking throughout the past decade. Long-term budget cuts have led to fewer staff to support access, complaints about blocked paths increasingly going unanswered, and insufficient funds to maintain popular trails. A new webpage has been launched at ramblers.org.uk/accessbudgets to help walkers find and email their local councillors. Ramblers Scotland director Brendan Paddy said: “Right now, councils across Scotland are setting their 2025/26 budgets. It’s vital that…
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UPDATE: All four lynx have now been recaptured
UPDATE 10/1: Two further lynx were spotted in the area this morning. These additional lynx were also recaptured this evening. UPDATE 9/1: The [original] two lynx have been successfully recaptured by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), who run the nearby Highland Wildlife Park. Working alongside Police Scotland, experts from the wildlife conservation charity humanely trapped the cats overnight. They are now being cared for in quarantine facilities at Highland Wildlife Park before being transferred to Edinburgh Zoo. The charity has condemned the illegal release as “highly irresponsible” and said it is likely the lynx would have died in…
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Scottish Avalanche Information Service daily reports begin
Daily Avalanche Reports for the 6 areas – Lochaber, Glencoe, Creag Meagaidh, Southern Cairngorms, Northern Cairngorms and Torridon regions – will be issued daily by the Scottish Avalanache Information Service (SAIS) from tomorrow, Thursday 12th Dec 2024. Some reports and the SAIS Blogs (useful for snow cover reference) have already been issued. The Scottish Avalanche Project began in 1988 as an avalanche forecasting service funded by the Scottish Sports Council and operating in 2 areas, Glencoe and the North Cairngorms. This ran for 2 winters, with the addition in 1989-90 of Lochaber and a weekend pilot scheme on Lochnagar. After this the…
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Wildlife charities accuse NatureScot of undermining protection of birds of prey on grouse moors
A decision by Scotland’s governmental conservation agency NatureScot to dilute the new grouse moor licensing scheme introduced in July has been slammed by wildlife and environmental charities. Scotland’s parliament had passed legislation requiring grouse moors to operate under a licensing scheme, to act as a deterrent to the illegal persecution of birds of prey. If raptors were being poisoned or shot in acts of wildlife crime, the estate on which these crimes occurred could then potentially lose its licence. Under the scheme launched in July, the licenses covered entire estate landholding, so that if raptor persecution took place anywhere on…
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Islay Wildlife and a Highlands Intro win monthly prizes
October saw lots of great walk reports posted on the Walkhighlands forum. Retelling experiences from Scotland, the rest of the UK and beyond, the prize judges loved reading them all. Walk report of the month and winner of a £100 Highlander voucher was EmmaKTunskeen for “First trip to Islay” – a lovely report showcasing the wildlife on the island and a nice reminder that although we are about to head into winter, spring is only round the corner. The £50 Highlander voucher is heading to jfefleming for “Start as you mean to go on: An introduction to the Highlands” which…
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