Yearly Archives: 2013

National Trust counts costs of recent storms

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Helen Webster

The National Trust for Scotland is still counting the costs of last week's ferocious winds, as the Met Office once again issues yellow warnings for high winds over the weekend. Properties in the charity's care all over the country sustained damage in the severe weather that raged all over Scotland over Wednesday night and into Thursday last week. Expert conservation staff are still counting up the costs of the clean-up which is expected to be approaching £75,000 across the country, if not more. Trees were uprooted, roofs damaged, and in one case, torn off and paths were washed away. Amongst…

Posted in Nature, News

Wind farm threatens Cairngorms National Park says MCofS

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Helen Webster

Plans to create a wind farm on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park are being opposed by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS). The Nathro Hill wind farm, proposed for a site near Brechin, would be the largest wind farm in Angus and would affect views into the national park and from it. The developers had welcomed announcements that both the Ministry of Defence and RSPB Scotland had withdrawn their objections following assurances, but an addendum to the plan has not addressed the MCofS objections. The MCofS objection was lodged on the grounds that the proposed development of 17…

Posted in Access issues, News

Scottish avalanche forecasts start today

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Helen Webster

Avalanche forecasts for selected areas of the Scottish mountains start today (Thursday 12 December). Throughout the winter the sportscotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) will issue daily reports on the avalanche dangers in the most popular mountain areas, allowing mountaineers, ice climbers and off-piste skiers to make informed choices about where and whether to go. It means a dedicated band of avalanche experts going out every day, whatever the weather, to carry out assessments of the snow conditions in the Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Lochaber, Glen Coe and Creag Meagaidh. For the first time this year, they will also provide a…

Posted in Access issues, News

Scottish Winter Mountains on BBC tonight

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Helen Webster

The BBC's new documentary “One Wild Winter in the Scottish Mountains” will be shown tonight (Wednesday December 11) at 9pm on BBC 1 Scotland. The show will focus on the 2012 winter on Scotland’s peaks. “The Scottish Mountains are Britain's biggest playground. Every winter thousands of people want to experience them at their most magnificent. In an age of mobile technology, many of these adventurers carry cameras. The size and quality of modern day cameras allow people to capture extraordinary images thousands of feet up. Tales of triumph and of tragedy are captured in the most immediate and intimate way.…

Posted in News, Walkhighlands news

Storm damage shuts Bennachie Centre car park and trails

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Helen Webster

Forestry Commission Scotland is warning visitors to the Bennachie Centre, in Aberdeenshire, that the main Bennachie car park and all trails starting from it are currently closed due to severe wind damage. The Commission team in the north east is engaging contractors to help clear the damage but it is likely to be the end of this week, at least, before it is reopened. Dan Cadle, the Commission’s Recreation Forester (South) said: “Unfortunately the storm has hit many of our sites and we are trying to get any fallen trees and other debris cleared as soon as we can. “We…

Posted in Access issues

Chris Townsend to be BMC hillwalking ambassador

Posted on December 8, 2013 by Paul Webster

Outdoors writer and photographer Chris Townsend has been announced as the first ‘hill-walking ambassador’ at the British Mountaineering Council (BMC). Chris Townsend – who is renowned for his long distance walks as well as his widely respected gear reviews and books – walked more than 15,000 miles on 12 huge epic walks. He is also the author of 15 books as well as being the writer/photographer for Walkhighlands’ own guides to the Southern Upland Way and the Annandale Way. More recently Chris was the star of the ‘Cairngorms in Winter’ documentary film shot by Terry Abraham, which featured at the…

Posted in Access issues, Nature, News

Last chance to win custom OS maps

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Paul Webster

There are just a few days left in the Walkhighlands competition that gives you the chance to win one of five Ordnance Survey Custom Made maps. The bespoke OS Explorer Map or OS Landranger Maps take just a few minutes to create. Available as both a folded map (complete with your own cover photo) or flat for wall-use, Custom Made maps are an ideal way to personalise your outdoor adventures or as a unique and thoughtful gift for a special occasion. For you chance to win, fill out the form below; you will then be given an additional (optional) bonus…

Posted in Walkhighlands news

Clachaig Winter Lectures set for February

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Helen Webster

The dates have been announced for next year's winter lectures at the Clachaig pub in Glencoe. The four lectures, held at 8pm every Tuesday in February, will kick off with Andy Nelson on 4 February. Andy is an IFMGA Mountain Guide and Deputy Leader of Glencoe Mountain Rescue. He is active in the mountains every day; guiding privately, training military personnel and as part of the Glencoe MRT (usually at night!). He will talk about ways to prepare for a winter walk or climb and how to pre-empt or overcome some of the challenges you may face so you can…

Posted in News

Winter hillwalkers reminded of need to learn winter skills

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Paul Webster

Having the correct skills for Scotland's winter mountains is as important as having the correct equipment, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland have warned. With winter now firmly established, the body representing Scotland’s hillwalkers and climbers is advising would-be hill-goers that it’s not enough just to fork out lots of money for the latest foul weather gear and mountaineering equipment. “Ice axes and crampons are an essential part of kit for winter,” said MCofS Safety Adviser Heather Morning. “But they can be a liability rather than a lifesaver if you don’t know how to use them. “Every winter brings its toll…

Posted in News

TV Vote Success for Caledonian Forest project

Posted on November 29, 2013 by Paul Webster

Conservation charity Trees for Life is celebrating today following the announcement that it has won £50,000 of Lottery funding for a pioneering project to help restore Scotland’s ancient Caledonian Forest and protect its rare wildlife from extinction, while benefiting hundreds of disadvantaged people from the Inverness region. The conservation charity’s plan to create a new volunteer training programme at its Dundreggan Conservation Estate near Loch Ness was successful in yesterday’s finals of the People’s Millions public vote. Trees for Life’s Executive Director Alan Watson Featherstone said: “This is fantastic news for our work to save the Caledonian Forest and its…

Posted in Nature