Highlighting a new initiative to make a clean sweep of Britain's three highest peaks, Ben Nevis conservation officers have called on climbers and walkers to treat the mountain with the respect it deserves. After an especially busy summer season, rangers and volunteers from the John Muir Trust, which manages Scotland's highest and most popular mountain, have had to remove a huge collection of items left behind, including tents, tarps, sleeping bags, stoves, abandoned camps, disposable barbecues and items of clothing. Now, Mountain Training Instructor Richard Pyne, with the support of the Mountain Training Association, has organised the Real Three Peaks…

The John Muir Trust has welcomed the resounding two to one support for wild land protection expressed in responses to the Scottish Government’s planning consultation exercise launched in May. Of over 150 submissions to the Scottish Planning Policy consultation document expressing an opinion on wild land, well over 100 back the Scottish Government’s proposal to strengthen protection for 43 core areas of wild land as mapped by Scottish Natural Heritage. Those supporting wild land protection include individuals, environmental and other charities, outdoors organisations, businesses (which included Walkhighlands, some landowners, property agents, and the Federation of Small Businesses), local authorities, community…