walkhighlands

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Re: The Highlands don't need or want parking charges!

Much if not all public transport is privatised and public transport in sparsely populated areas will always lose money so no private company will take it on unless they have to (which is sort of what happens with rail franchises I think) and is why the service is so infrequent. A loss maker has to ...
by EBowman
Wed Feb 07, 2024 9:19 pm
 
Forum: General discussion
Topic: The Highlands don't need or want parking charges!
Replies: 70
Views: 6849

Re: The Highlands don't need or want parking charges!

I don't drive, so this doesn't affect me. However, I would have thought that better public transportation links would be better than encouraging traffic snakes winding through the hills. The fewer the cars, the better IMO, but only if there are public transport alternatives. Just my two cents.
by EBowman
Tue Feb 06, 2024 9:25 pm
 
Forum: General discussion
Topic: The Highlands don't need or want parking charges!
Replies: 70
Views: 6849

Re: Lightning forecast

I agree that checking the forecast and avoiding areas prone to lightening makes sense. In addition to that I have an app on my phone that plots lightening strikes in real time. I can set a circle around a location and the app will alert me if there is a detected lightening strike within the radius o...
by EBowman
Mon Jul 03, 2023 1:59 pm
 
Forum: General discussion
Topic: Lightning forecast
Replies: 21
Views: 2941

Re: ChatGPT's advice on the Arran Route.

I am a neuroscientist who has been following neural networks since the 1980's. I hope everybody understands that ChatGBT has no actual knowledge, social sensitivity, or inherent ethical system (at least for now, and to be fair OpenAI does warn people about ChatGBT's limitations during login). When i...
by EBowman
Sun Apr 09, 2023 7:18 pm
 
Forum: General discussion
Topic: ChatGPT's advice on the Arran Route.
Replies: 8
Views: 1021

Re: Campervans

Seems to me the issue isn't campervans (which I admit I loathe), but the idea that every visitor or visiting group must be in their own vehicle. A little more public transport would go a long way.
by EBowman
Tue Aug 23, 2022 2:55 pm
 
Forum: General discussion
Topic: Campervans
Replies: 139
Views: 20543

Re: Survey on the environmental impact of slow travel

Jeez - ask for some help and everybody turns into a snide expert on surveys. No doubt [eople would be arguing with the definitions of 'slow travel' if one were offered in the survey... Anyway, for those of you genuinely interested in a definition: 'Slow travel is an approach to travel that emphasize...
by EBowman
Tue Apr 05, 2022 4:59 pm
 
Forum: General discussion
Topic: Survey on the environmental impact of slow travel
Replies: 15
Views: 2351

Re: Midges mid June Scotland this year

I am from the US, where biting flies and mosquitos literally kill livestock. I thought people were engaging in crass hyperbole about Scottish midges until I had the misfortune of walking into a cloud of those infernal bloodsuckers. In any case, Smidge, which is nearly as good as DEET IMO but with fe...
by EBowman
Wed Jun 09, 2021 7:46 pm
 
Forum: General discussion
Topic: Midges mid June Scotland this year
Replies: 36
Views: 7027

Re: Good all-rounder hillwalking camera?

I have a Panasonic Lumix bridge camera (DMC-FZ38). It's not something that fits in your pocket, and the weight is more than a compact camera (but less than a DSLR). The zoom is reasonable, it does a decent job on most wide angle shots, and it does well when used in macro mode. The newer versions are...
by EBowman
Tue Aug 20, 2019 8:45 pm
 
Forum: Gear and Equipment talk
Topic: Good all-rounder hillwalking camera?
Replies: 12
Views: 5105

Re: Highland Tourism Visitor Levy (Tourist Tax)

So, we're all in agreement then.... :lol: While I don't mind paying more to help the Highlands keep up with visitor demand, visitor wear and tear, and the needs of the local people, I hadn't considered that as proposed it is not means-tested. There must be a fairer way by taxing the activities that ...
by EBowman
Tue Aug 20, 2019 8:13 pm
 
Forum: General discussion
Topic: Highland Tourism Visitor Levy (Tourist Tax)
Replies: 68
Views: 10609

Re: Eagle in trouble, Crathie area (Eastern Cairngorms)

Saddened and angry to see this! The poor bird will probably starve to death. I'd urge everyone to sign the new ban grouse shooting petition that's going around. Tragic and infuriating. What kind of miserable excuse of a human being does this kind of thing? Can you provide a link to the petition? I ...
by EBowman
Thu Aug 15, 2019 8:03 pm
 
Forum: General discussion
Topic: Eagle in trouble, Crathie area (Eastern Cairngorms)
Replies: 10
Views: 2277

Highland Tourism Visitor Levy (Tourist Tax)

FYI - apparently the Highland Council is considering a tourist tax - see BBC story in Scotland section, which provides a link to the Council's online consultation questionnaire. On the one hand, as a visitor I understand the need to invest in general Highland infrastructure, the social needs of the ...
by EBowman
Thu Aug 15, 2019 7:53 pm
 
Forum: General discussion
Topic: Highland Tourism Visitor Levy (Tourist Tax)
Replies: 68
Views: 10609

Re: PLB - The perennial discussion.

The thing that tipped the balance for me to decide to buy a PLB was an incident in which a person drowned near where I routinely walk. The part of the coastline does not have mobile phone reception. Imagine the frustration of coming across somebody who needs help, knowing there is a relatively inexp...
by EBowman
Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:19 pm
 
Forum: Gear and Equipment talk
Topic: PLB - The perennial discussion.
Replies: 21
Views: 5135

Re: Sling for camera

Have a look at the Peak Design camera straps/slings, they also have what is called a capture clip, which can be used on a backpack strap or on a belt. I can second that. I use a clip (see Peak Design web site ) attached to the shoulders straps of my backpack. Having the weight of the camera around ...
by EBowman
Wed Sep 26, 2018 4:59 pm
 
Forum: Gear and Equipment talk
Topic: Sling for camera
Replies: 7
Views: 1663

Re: Clegs.

They're out in force in Fife.

FWIW two years ago I was bitten and got the classic bullseye rash (‘erythema migrans') typical of Lyme's disease. It came up within hours. My GP gave me antibiotics just in case, but at any rate I loath those little pests.
by EBowman
Sun Jul 08, 2018 9:01 pm
 
Forum: General discussion
Topic: Clegs.
Replies: 39
Views: 10098

Re: Scottish Government approves Lomond camping ban

I admit I am new to this debate, having come from the US. However, it seems odd to me that prohibitions and permits are being proposed without tackling the real problem, which seems to me is the idea that going into the wild is about getting drunk. In many US parks alcohol is simply banned. Obviousl...
by EBowman
Mon Feb 01, 2016 8:40 pm
 
Forum: General discussion
Topic: Scottish Government approves Lomond camping ban
Replies: 64
Views: 22506

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