Monthly Archives: July 2011

Three Peaks challenges place Ben Nevis in endangered top ten

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Helen Webster

Travel magazine, Wunderlust, has included Ben Nevis on its list of 10 worldwide destinations in need of greater care. The magazine says that the popularity of challenges featuring the highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland, Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis is harming the three mountains. Wanderlust says the high number of people completing the national three peaks has resulted in litter, erosion and night time disturbance to local communities for all three of the mountains which it has placed on its list of endangered destinations. Wunderlust has called for the number of entrants to official challenges to be…

Posted in Nature

Graffiti at the Granite Hill

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Helen Webster

A unique artistic opportunity is on offer for local people and visitors to Cairnsmore of Fleet National Nature Reserve, in Galloway this Saturday, 23 July. Inspired by the sights and sounds of the magnificent upland reserve near Gatehouse of Fleet, people are being invited to have a go at graffiti art, and create their own paintings. The colourful pictures will then be displayed on an external wall at the entrance to the visitor centre, for future visitors to admire. The free event is hosted by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), who manage the reserve, and renowned local wildlife artist Keith Brown,…

Posted in Uncategorized

Ben Nevis footpaths need you

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Helen Webster

Over 100,000 people climb Ben Nevis annually and some of the footpaths are feeling the strain. Friends of Nevis is offering the chance for walkers and climbers to put something back by helping with footpath repairs this summer. Following the success of similar work parties in April and May, Friends of Nevis is looking to put together teams of 4 – 8 volunteers at a time to work on Ben Nevis with footpath specialist Martin McCrorie. The work parties will be held over a number of days in August around the level of Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe (the halfway lochan)…

Posted in Nature, News

Munro summit proposal ends in rescue

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Helen Webster

A man's romantic plan to climb to the top of Ben Lomond and propose to his girlfriend at sunset came to an abrupt end when exhaustion caused the group to call out the Mountain Rescue Team. The Lomond Mountain Rescue Team reported that four people were making the evening ascent of the popular Munro peak when one of them started feeling unwell and was too exhausted to continue. The volunteer Mountain Rescue Team was mobilised shortly after midnight and the group of three men and one woman were found on a ridge about 500m from the summit. Having been given…

Posted in News

Mull walks prove popular with web users

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Helen Webster

The Scottish walking website, Walkhighlands has added another batch of walks on the Isle of Mull and they are already proving very popular with internet and smartphone users. The site now offers detailed descriptions, complete with free OS Explorer mapping and GPS downloads, for 45 routes on the island. The routes range from routes on Mull’s only Munro, Ben More and other hillwalks, to coastal scrambles, easier beach walks and strolls to historic sites. Walkhighlands founder Paul Webster said, “We’ve been surprised at how popular our Mull routes are proving to be. It seems that visitors to Mull and locals…

Posted in Walkhighlands news

Government U-turn sees coastguard stations saved

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Helen Webster

The coastguard stations at Stornoway on Lewis (frequently involved in mountain rescues) and in Shetland will remain open around the clock after a U-turn by UK government ministers. However, the Forth and Clyde bases are still set for closure. The plans had been to retain the 24 hour base in Aberdeen, but to close one of either Shetland or Stornoway and reduce the hours of operation of the other. All three of these northern stations will now remain in operation 24 hours a day. Scottish MSPs from both the SNH government and Labour opposition criticised the closure of the Forth…

Posted in Uncategorized

Win Black Isle beer with Walkhighlands

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Helen Webster

Walkhighlands has a mixed case of 20x500ml bottles of organic beer to give away, to celebrate the opening of the brand new brewery building at the Black Isle Brewery. The Black Isle Brewing Company is a small intensely independent organic brewery in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. Its mission is to produce a range of top quality organic beers packaged in recycled materials. The barley and hops used are grown on organic farms, without artificial fertilisers or herbicides. The folks at Black Isle Brewery believe that their beer is the best for both you and the environment, but for…

Posted in Walkhighlands news

Torridon walking festival launched

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Helen Webster

A new festival has been added to the bulging line-up of Scottish walking festivals. The Torridon Walking Festival will run for the first time this year between 1st and 3rd October and offers a varied programme of walks aimed at beginners all the way through to experienced walkers. If you’ve always put off tackling some of the harder routes such as Liathach perhaps now is the chance to do it in the company of an experienced guide. There will also be a selection of lower level walks, the option of an overnight trip to a bothy, a photography walk and…

Posted in News

TGO Challenge report wins online prize

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Helen Webster

The latest monthly prize for the best trip report on Walkhighlands has been awarded for a heartfelt account of the gruelling Scottish coast to coast TGO Challenge. The walker’s website received well over a hundred walk reports in June ranging from amusing tales of short family outings to epic backpacks. A surprise were two great reports from Conachair on St Kilda coming in in quick succession! The monthly competition is sponsored by online gear retailer, Webtogs, and £30 of Webtogs vouchers were awarded to runner-up Ray MacKay for the sheer enthusiasm in his account of his first trip into the…

Posted in News, Walkhighlands news

Dave Macleod to reveal climbing secrets of Ben Nevis

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Helen Webster

Top international climber Dave MacLeod and the John Muir Trust will lead a guided walk into the corries of the North Face of Ben Nevis on Sunday 24 July as part of the countdown to the London 2012 Olympics. The chance to explore the climbing history of Britain’s highest mountain in the company of one of Britain’s leading climbers is part of a series of sporting and cultural events taking place across the UK to celebrate the ‘One Year to Go’ countdown to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. During the walk the exciting climbing secrets of the mountain will be…

Posted in News