Monthly Archives: September 2012

Chris Bonington tour dates released

Posted on September 29, 2012 by Helen Webster

Chris Bonington will be talking about his 60 year mountaineering career in Inverness on 4th November as part of a six date British tour. Chris Britain's best known mountaineer and one of the most successful expedition leaders in history. He started climbing at the age of 16 and has been on 19 Himalayan expeditions, including 4 to Everest. He is renowned for having made many first ascents in the Alps and all the greater ranges of the world. This autumn Chris will be appearing at just six venues presenting a brand new ‘life and times’ talk, covering his sixty years…

Posted in Uncategorized

Walkers warned not to disturb seal pups

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Helen Webster

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is people out walking to keep their distance from grey seal pups. The pups are common at this time of year in parts of Scotland and contact with humans can cause the youngsters' mothers to abandon them. Grey seal pups are born from the end of this month (September) until mid-December. The main concentrations are in Orkney, south-east Scotland and the Inner and Outer Hebrides with smaller colonies in Shetland, and along the north and north-east coasts of Scotland in particular. The young can’t immediately venture into the sea after birth, but stay on the foreshore…

Posted in Nature, News

Urgent action planned to save the wildcat

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Helen Webster

A range of national actions to save the Scottish wildcat look set to be agreed over the next six months. The move follows the first-ever meeting of a diverse group of land management, research and conservation organisations at Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) Battleby conference centre, near Perth, on Friday 14 September. The Scottish Wildcat Conservation Action Group includes representatives from SNH (chair); Forestry Commission Scotland; Cairngorms National Park Authority; Scottish Wildcat Association; Royal Zoological Society of Scotland; Scottish Gamekeepers Association; National Museum of Scotland; University of Oxford, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit; Highland Foundation for Wildlife, and the National Trust for…

Posted in Nature

RSPB offers reward after dead eagle found

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Helen Webster

RSPB Scotland has issued an appeal and a reward for information, following the discovery of the body of a golden eagle on Deeside. The bird, fitted with a satellite transmitter, was found on 5 May 2012, after signals sent by the transmitter indicated that the bird had not moved for several days. The body was found, lying face down, with its wings folded, under a tree branch, close to a lay-by on a quiet country road near Aboyne, and was seized as evidence by officers from Grampian police. The carcass was then taken for a post mortem at the Scottish…

Posted in Nature

Police name walker who died on Ben Nevis

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Helen Webster

The police have named the walker who fell to his death on Ben Nevis on Friday as Andrew Tedder. Mr Tedder was 49 and from Emley in Yorkshire and believed to work in insurance. The accident happened at about 10pm on 21 September in a fall from the main path on Ben Nevis into a gully during a descent of the mountain. Lochaber Mountain Rescue was involved in the search and recovery operation.

Posted in News

5k award for Three Lochs Way

Posted on September 23, 2012 by Helen Webster

One of Scotland’s newest long distance routes, the Three Lochs Way has been given a £5k boost by charity, the Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs. The Helensburgh and District Access Trust, who thought up and maintain the trail, has been awarded the grant towards a package of improvements planned for the route which links Balloch to Inveruglas. Commenting on the award George Boyd, Vice-President of the Friends said: “We are delighted to award the Access Trust what is our largest single grant for any project in recent years and it is very encouraging that this has enabled the…

Posted in News

Walker dies in Ben Nevis fall

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Helen Webster

A walker has died after falling into a gully from the main tourist path on Ben Nevis. The accident happened at about 10pm on Friday 21 September. The male walker slipped and fell from the main path, sustaining fatal injuries. Lochaber Mountain Rescue was involved in the search and recovery operation. The police are not disclosing further details until the man’s next of kin has been informed. As is usual in these situations a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Posted in News

Highland Council to remove No Overnight Parking signs

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Helen Webster

Highland Council says that it will start removing the 'no overnight parking' signs from roadside lay bys that it is responsibile for following a committee decision yesterday (Thursday 20 September). Transport Scotland has already committed to removing approximately 50 notices from trunk roads. There has been some general discussion about the legality of the signs in the last few years and the latest move by Highland Council comes after lobbying by Andy Strangeway. Mr Strangeway, from East Yorkshire, is a regular visitor to the Scottish Highlands, in 2007 he completed his aim to sleep on all of Scotland’s 162 islands…

Posted in Access issues, News

Softshell Jackets

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Phil Turner

This review is really a companion piece to my previous Trousers for Winter review, and much of the characteristics that make softshell an ideal material for winter trousers is relevant to jackets. Modern softshell jackets generally consist of a windproof, water-resistant outer and a fleece or brushed inner lining. There are endless combinations of fabric weights and construction, with the thinnest comparable in warmth to a 100 weight microfleece under a simple Pertex windshirt. This combination is nice and breathable compared to a waterproof hardshell jacket, but relies on the durable water repellent coating on the outer face to keep…

Posted in Gear reviews, Jackets

Stornoway Police appeal for missing walker

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Helen Webster

Police in Stornoway are concerned for the welfare of a missing foreign man who was visiting the area and thought to have been on a walking and camping trip. Tamas Gador, (thought to be in his mid twenties), of Hungary was visiting the Stornoway area over the weekend but was reported missing to Police on Wednesday 19 September after he failed to return to pre-booked accommodation after a nights camping. Tamas Gador is described as 6′ in height, of slim build, neck-length dark hair, with a beard (but no moustache). He was last seen wearing a bright green waterproof jacket,…

Posted in News