The Mountaineering Council of Scotland have fought back today against calls for Scotland’s mountains to have continental style waymarking.

The debate began an article in the Herald newspaper where journalist Iain MacWhirter called for the routes on the Munros and other peaks to be waymarked. In interviews on BBC Radio Scotland and Reporting Scotland on BBC1, MCofS Chief Officer David Gibson rejected the suggestion, asking;

“Why is MCofS against waymarking of routes up Scottish mountains? Let’s make it clear from the outset, MCofS aims to encourage and support folk who wish to enjoy the mountains, be they hill walkers or climbers. We provide free mountain safety & navigation resources on this website and with the support of the Scottish Government we also fund the Mountain Weather Information Service.”

“We want to ensure that people understand the risks involved in heading into the hills – and how to be as safe as possible through preparation and by acquiring basic navigation skills. Our position is based on an understanding of the relationship between mountaineering incidents – mountain rescue call outs – and their cause.”

“Scotland’s mountains offer a fabulous range of different experiences for people of all ages and abilities. Being self-reliant – having necessary basic skills – is the only way to enjoy these experiences as safely as possible.”

“The argument in favour of waymarked paths is that their provision would obviate the need for folk to have map and compass skills and encourage more people to get active. MCofS believes map and compass skills are absolute basics for anyone heading for the mountains and that they can save your life.”

“The MCofS believes that waymarking would encourage people to venture beyond their capabilities and get into difficulties. So what are the problems with waymarking? ”

“Scotland’s weather, poor visibility, wind, rain, frost, and snow fall at pretty much any time of the year can all remove, damage or cover waymarks. ”

“What is the inexperienced hill walker supposed to do in these circumstances? Who decides where to place waymarks? How far apart? What type of waymark design for the different types of mountain geology and flora we have in Scotland? Who maintains them? Who is liable when the waymark isn’t where it should be and folk get lost, injured or worse?”

There was a lively discussion on the radio, which is available on BBC i-player.

Walkhighlands agrees with the principal of making the countryside accessible to everyone, but like the MCofS believes that waymarking is impractical and undesirable on the mountains and is more suited to lower level routes. This view has been widely shared in a discussion on the website’s forum. However the radio phone-in showed that there is a wide range of opinion on this controversial issue.

Links: Mountaineering Council of Scotland

Following reports last week that Planners were recommending refusal, the application to site a wind farm on Pressendye has now been formally rejected by the Local Authority. Aberdeenshire Councillors who made the decision were cheered by anti-wind farm campaigners who had argued that the turbines would have an unacceptable impact on the sensitive area which overlooks the Cairngorms National Park. Pressendye, which is a Graham popular with hill walkers, is an excellent viewpoint over Donside and lower Deeside.

Sgurr nan Ceannaichean

Reportedly, the following Munros, all currently with a height of 915m, were measured: Ben Vane, Beinn Teallach and Sgurr nan Ceannaichean. The Corbett, Sgurr a’Choire-bheithn, currently measured as 913m, in Knoydart was also surveyed. In order for the Munro list to be changed the Ordnance Survey has to verify the new measurements.

Apparently the Munro Society plans to reveal all at a press conference to be held at 14.30pm on 10 September 2009 at the Kincaid House Hotel in Milton of Campsie announced. Watch this space for developments.

Ben Lawers Property Manager Helen Cole pictured with the stone.

The ancient carvings were discovered by rock art enthusiast George Currie. The art is similar to other prehistoric pieces found in the area, consisting of concave depressions known as cup marks or cup and ring marks, which are carved upon rocks. The purpose of the artworks is still unknown.

The newly-discovered rock is unusual because it has more than ninety cup marks and at least four cup and ring marks. A number of linear grooves can also be seen, with some still showing the individual blows of the craftsman’s stone pick. This is a much higher concentration of the markings than is normally found.

Derek Alexander, archaeologist for the National Trust for Scotland, said:

“This is an exciting find as it shows that there remains undiscovered prehistoric rock art to be found in the Scottish hills. More surprising are the quantity and variety of the symbols displayed on this boulder.

“Through both targeted research by professional archaeologists and the work of dedicated amateurs like George Currie we now know that Ben Lawers forms one of the major concentrations cup and ring marks in the Highlands, which suggests it was a very significant landscape in prehistory.”

Last March, four Mountain Rescue Teams, search and rescue dog handlers, and the Stornaway Coastguard helicopter were involved in a search for missing walker, John Mulgrew. Mr Mulgrew, aged 62 from Uddingston, and an experienced hill walker of 20 years, had been climbing Sgurr na Sgine, a Munro on the south Glen Shiel ridge, when he became badly lost in appalling weather.

The alarm was raised by his wife when he failed to return and the search began, co-ordinated by the Police. Eventually Mr Mulgrew was found, barely conscious, lying near a stream. Following the rescue, Mr Mulgrew, a golf coach, made a full recovery and has raised money through various events including a pro-am golf tournament. He will return to the area on Tuesday 18 August to present a cheque and thank his rescuers.

Michael Tunney, who has been raising money over the summer for Mountain Rescue and the Police treatment centre that helped him to walk again following a mountain fall, is due to appear on STV’s The Hour on Monday 16 August 5 – 6pm.

Michael, known as Bio-man to Walkhighlands’ Forum members, nearly died after a horrific mountain fall. He will recount the exciting tale and also talk about his efforts to raise £30,000 by climbing the Scottish peaks over 4000 feet this summer. Not only did Michael complete this gruelling challenge, just weeks after being warned by doctors that it could be too much for his re-built body, he climbed a good number of Munros and other peaks on the way. A number of Walkhighlands users met and supported Michael during his effort.

Michael will be on the STV tea-time programme with Kenny Harris from Oban Mountain Rescue Team and his son, also Michael, who witnessed the accident and rescue.

Michael is still raising money and has assembled an impressive selection of raffle prizes including a round of golf at Gleneagles, numerous bottles of single malt whisky, meals out, and even a session with a sports physiotherapist! To buy raffle tickets and read more about Michael’s accident, recovery and fund raising visit his amusing blog.