Monthly Archives: May 2014

Survey to save rare Scottish bird

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Helen Webster

One of Scotland's rarest birds will be the subject of a national survey to see how the population is faring after years of decline. In Scotland, choughs are only found in a small area of the south-west, with a remarkable 90% of the birds making their home on the island of Islay. A member of the crow, or corvid, family, choughs primarily feed on insects and larvae and in particular those that are found in the dung of cattle. A team of surveyors has now begun work to chart the fortunes of the charismatic birds, known for their striking red…

Posted in Nature

Scottish Government rejects call for more National Parks

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Helen Webster

At a time when Scotland is celebrating the contribution of a great Scot, John Muir, to the worldwide National Park movement over 100 years ago, the Scottish Government has been criticised by some conservation bodies for placing roadblocks in the way of the creation of more National Parks. In recent weeks the Scottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP) and The Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS) have stepped up their calls for more National Parks to be considered as part of a push to protect more of Scotland’s outstanding landscapes and to provide an economic boost to some…

Posted in Access issues, Nature

Walker dies in Ben Alder fall

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Helen Webster

A hillwalker died on Saturday after falling more than 1000ft from Ben Alder. Daniel Leaf aged 55 from Edinburgh, fell from from The Prow on Ben Alder. Other members of the walking party he was with raised the alarm and he was taken off the mountain by a Royal Navy search and rescue helicopter. It is understood that Mr Leaf left a wife and son.

Posted in News

Lower ferry fares promised for Clyde and Hebrides routes

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Helen Webster

Lower ferry fares will be introduced on the remaining routes in the Clyde and Hebrides in October 2015. Road equivalent tariffs (RET) have been operational on routes to the Outer Hebrides, Coll and Tiree since 2008. Following the success of these routes, which coincided with a boom in tourism to the Outer Hebrides the scheme was rolled out to include Islay, Colonsay and Gigha in 2012 and Arran is set to be included later this year. Announcing the roll out to the remaining Clyde and Hebrides routes, Transport Minister Keith Brown said the roll out would involve a further 14…

Posted in Access issues

Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team celebrates 50 years

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Paul Webster

Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion a number of events are being planned across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to give the public in Grampian an insight into the team's work in 2014 and to help raise vital funds for the charity. The first event is their annual sponsored 23 km walk from Glen Tanar Estate on Saturday 7th June. Places are still available for those who wish to join the walk or members of the public can sponsor people through Just Giving at www.justgiving.com/aberdeenmountainrescue/raisemoney. Every walker will get a free beanie hat,…

Posted in News

The rise and rise of the long distance trail

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Cameron McNeish

Apologies to those who have read the following story before but it does illustrate how times and attitudes have changed in Scotland. Back in the late seventies I was invited to attend a press conference in Glasgow to launch a guidebook to the West Highland Way. The route hadn’t been officially opened but the publishers Constable had produced a guidebook, written by a chap called Tom Hunter. The publishers also brought John Hillaby with them. Hillaby was a science writer-cum-long-distance-walker who had written Journey Through Britain, an excellent account of walking between Land’s End and John O’Groats, even though it…

Posted in Access issues, Features, Magazine

Mountaineers object to Glen Affric wind farm plan

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Helen Webster

Plans to build a wind farm above the renowned Highland landscape of Glen Affric will have severe effects on some of Scotland's most cherished views and will damage the local economy, according to the body that represents hillwalkers and climbers. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) has objected to a proposal to build seven 119.5m (392 feet) wind turbines on the slopes of Beinn Mhor above Tomich, just south of the famous glen. In its objection to the planning application by wind farm development company WPD, the MCofS has told Highland Council: “The proposal would severely impact on the important…

Posted in Nature

Dan Duxbury on course to complete 44 day Munro round

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Helen Webster

Dan Duxbury is currently on track to complete a continuous self-propelled round of the Munros in 44 days and is due to finish next Tuesday. If successful, this will be the 2nd fastest round of Munros after Stephen Pyke’s 40-day round in 2010. He is tracking his progress on Walkhighlands where you can watch the remaining red balloons on his Munro map quickly turning to blue as he summits each one. Dan is also fund-raising for John Muir Trust and Cumbrian Wildlife Trust via his challenge. Today (Friday 23 May) Dan is tackling Slioch and then heading 7 miles further…

Posted in News

Rab Strata Women's Hoodie

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Helen Webster

Price: £150 Weight: 380g (size 12) Super comfortable, warm yet breathable not as warm as other insulated jackets due to increased breathability This synthetic insulated jacket has been my constant companion on hillwalks for the last three months and I’ve yet to find a serious fault with it. Designed to be worn when active in cold conditions, it is more versatile than a fleece, providing both more warmth and breathability and can be in a wider range of conditions than a traditional down or synthetic insulated jacket so I’ve been comfortably wearing it all day in winter and spring Scottish…

Posted in Gear reviews, Jackets

Walkers asked to look out for missing woman

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Helen Webster

Walkers have been asked to look out for a missing woman who may be hill walking in the Scottish Highlands. Linda Good was last seen on camera heading north on the M74 near Lockerbie on Mon 19th. Police say she may have been heading to the Cairngorms or Glen Nevis. Linda is a 37 year old white woman, 5ft 8in tall with dark brown shoulder length hair. She may have been wearing a sporty, white fleece top and has connections in the Strathaven area. She is driving a sky blue Ford Fiesta, registration number YG59 UGW. Anyone with information is…

Posted in News