Yearly Archives: 2018

Gear review: Berghaus Fast Hike Trousers

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Paul Webster

Recommended Price: £95 Weight: 320g I’ve been testing these lightweight trousers over the last three months. Whilst they are not the lightest I’ve worn, they seem extremely robust – showing not even the slightest signs of wear so far; the very lightest trousers are likely to wear out much faster. The Fast Hike Trousers are well tailored and not cut as baggy as many walking trousers – so do try them on to ensure you don’t end up with a pair too tight on the thighs; they are available in mens and womens and a variety of lengths as well…

Posted in Gear reviews, Magazine, Trousers

Our Wonderful Access Legislation That Almost Wasn’t

Posted on January 14, 2018 by Cameron McNeish

Cameron McNeish looks back at an unlikely event that ensured the success of our much lauded Scottish access legislation. ACCESS campaigners in Scotland have been celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, probably the most significant piece of legislation to affect all those who enjoy Scotland’s countryside. The Act secured the traditional rights and freedoms of all of us in Scotland to access land, coast and inland water, provided we do so responsibly. An accompanying code of practice, the Scottish Access Code, sets out those responsibilities for access users and land managers alike. Most hillwalkers are…

Posted in Access issues, Features, Magazine

North to the Future

Posted on January 13, 2018 by Karen Thorburn

I walked through Edinburgh’s West End after yet another late night in the office. First one in and last one out again. On crossing Shandwick Place, I kept my head down and avoided eye contact with other pedestrians but allowed myself sideways glances into bustling restaurants, brightly lit with festive decorations and bursting with office workers enjoying Christmas parties. The city around me was alive and buzzing yet I no longer felt a part of it. My Christmas was effectively cancelled by the deadline looming before me at work and the pressure to deliver on schedule. Any free time I…

Posted in Features, Magazine

15 years of Access Rights celebrated

Posted on January 11, 2018 by Helen Webster

Outdoor personalities, politicians and access campaigners came together at the Scottish Parliament last night to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the passing of the nation’s world-class access legislation. Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham and Richard Lochhead MSP were among the 100 guests at Ramblers Scotland’s Celebrating Scotland’s Outdoors event to mark 15 years of the pioneering Land Reform (Scotland) Act. Following many years of campaigning by Ramblers Scotland and others, the 2003 Act secured rights of access to most of Scotland’s land and inland water for walkers, cyclists, horse-riders, canoeists and other non-motorised users – provided those rights are exercised responsibly.…

Posted in Access issues

Scotland: Be Part of It

Posted on January 10, 2018 by Helen Webster

A few years back we shared a short film called Isolation, made by Mathieu Bernat & David Guersan. Through Creative Studio Unfazed, David has now teamed up with Jamie Farquharson to make a new short homage to Scotland’s Highlands – Scotland: Be Part of It. You can watch it below, with footage from plenty of great locations; be sure to press the button bottom right (next to Vimeo) to watch in full screen. The filmakers can both be followed on Instagram: David Guersan and Jamie Farquharson. Sound Mix : Arthaud Versaveaud Voice : Malcolm Urquhart Music : Timeless by Caleb…

Posted in Magazine

Worn Wear Tour offers to repair gear

Posted on January 9, 2018 by Helen Webster

Patagonia’s Worn Wear Tour is coming to Scotland and offering free repairs on outdoor clothing including Goretex as well as teaching people how to fix their own gear and in turn reduce their impact on the planet. The Worn Wear initiative encourages customers to extend the lifetime of their garments. The Patagonia repair team onboard will offer free repairs on any brand of clothing, on a first come, first served basis. The tour will also educate people on how to keep snow and outdoor gear in good condition for multiple seasons and will teach skills such as patching, re-waterproofing shells…

Posted in News

Film Festival Returns to Peebles

Posted on January 4, 2018 by Helen Webster

The Peebles Outdoor Film Festival returns at the end of January with another feast of adventure films, speakers and hands-on sessions. Special appearances by renowned explorer Benedict Allen – who hit the headlines recently following his ‘rescue’ from Papua New Guinea – record-breaking ocean adventurer Olly Hicks, celebrated ultra-runner Jasmin Paris, Scottish winter climbing superstar Greg Boswell and adventure filmmaker Paul Diffley will be among the highlights when the festival is held at the Eastgate Theatre over the weekend of 26-28 January. Feastival organisers say that tickets are already selling fast for many of the sessions, with Benedict Allen –…

Posted in News

Banff Film Tour kicks off in Scotland

Posted on January 4, 2018 by Helen Webster

Scotland will host the first UK screenings from this year’s Banff Mountain Film Festival tour. The tour kicks off in Edinburgh on 13 January, Glasgow on 14 January, Inverness on 31 January and 1 February, Stirling on 2 February and Pitlochry on 3 February. The Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling is a new venue for the tour this year. The tour’s films are chosen from hundreds of films entered into the prestigious Banff Mountain Film Festival, which takes place every year in the Canadian Rockies. With two different programmes of short adventure films to choose from, the tour features today’s…

Posted in Uncategorized

Review: Women’s Rab Xenon X Jacket

Posted on January 3, 2018 by Helen Webster

RRP: £170 Weight: 300g (size 10) Rab have updated their synthetic isulated Xenon jacket and I’ve been trying it out for last few months as the weather has turned colder. The insulation is Primaloft Gold Active and I’ve found the warmth for weight ratio to be excellent. Although the jacket feels thin when you first put it on, the combination of wind resistance and insulation has proved an equal to my current lighter down jacket without having to worry about it getting wet in our Scottish climate. The Pertex Quantum outer fabric provides a good wind barrier and feels comfortably…

Posted in Gear reviews, Jackets, Magazine

Walkhighlands Walk & Write Workshop 10 March

Posted on January 2, 2018 by Helen Webster

Following the success of the last Walk and Write day in November, WalkHighlands has again teamed up with Linda Cracknell to offer another outdoor writing workshop. The day will be based in Pitlochry from 10.30am-4pm Saturday 10th March 2018 and costs £60 including lunch. Award-winning author Linda Cracknell will lead a day workshop intended to stimulate and refresh your skills for writing inspired by landscape and walking, whether it’s for WalkHighlands reports, articles, or even for fiction with fully-realised settings. No prior writing experience is necessary. The day will include a short walk with guided note-taking activities followed by an…

Posted in News, Walkhighlands news