Allt Duine windfarm inquiry announced

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Helen Webster

Scottish Government has announced a Public Inquiry into an application to build 31 125-metre turbines at Allt Duine in the Monadhliath mountains. Mrs Jill Moody DipTP MRTPI, an inquiry reporter, will conduct the process and report back to the Scottish Government. Anyone who previously objected or commented on the planning application for the Allt Duine windfarm is entitled to give evidence as long as they notify the reporter within the allowed timescale. The Allt Duine proposal has proved more controversal than many windfarm applications because of its situation on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park and because of the…

Posted in Access issues, Nature

West Highland Way repairs planned

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Helen Webster

Repair work to a pedestrian tunnel on the West Highland Way is expected to start next week. The tunnel, which crosses the A82 on the section between Inverarnan and Crianlarich, has been blocked at times which caused a section of the long distance route to be washed away and has also been difficult to pass due to the high volume of water. Work is scheduled to start on Wednesday 13 June and a temporary bridge will mean the West Highland Way will remain open to walkers. However there may be some slight delays when material is being laid at the…

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Quinag Route Advice

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Helen Webster

The John Muir Trust which owns Quinag, in Assynt, and has been doing a lot of path and conservation work on the estate in the last few years, wants to advise walkers that they should avoid taking a direct route across the peat at the very start and follow a new section of path on a rocky ridge. A sign has been placed at the bottom. The purpose of the new route is to help habitat restoration. A map can be seen here. The Trust also advises that there is a danger of rocks being dislodged taking an ascent north…

Posted in Access issues, Nature, News

Path Order means Speyside Way extension will go ahead

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Helen Webster

Scottish Ministers have confirmed the Path Order which will allow the Speyside Way extension to be constructed across Kinrara Estate immediately south of Aviemore. The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) took the unusual step of pursuing the legally enforceable Path Order because the Kinrara Estate fundamentally opposed the proposed route over its land. Before the new section of Speyside Way can be completed planning permission has to be obtained and a funding package put together, something the CPNA described as “challenging”, however the CPNA also said it was determined to press ahead to make the route happen on the ground.…

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Molly the Collie conquers the Corbetts

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Helen Webster

Last Sunday (3 June) 5 year old Molly, a Collie from Aviemore, completed her final Corbett, probably making her the first canine to climb all the Corbetts. Having had her original plans blown off course by bad weather on 13 May, Molly finally sumitted Garbh Bheinn with her proud owner Anne Butler and other canine and human companions. They were met at the summit by Hamish Brown whose own Shetland Collie, Kitchy, became the first recorded canine to finish the Munros in the 1960s. A full report of the day by Doogz, together with some stunning photographs, can be found…

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A Shot in the Park open for entries

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Helen Webster

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and lots of events are happening in the park to commemorate the occasion. As part of the celebrations, the National Park has launched its Shot in the Park photography competition. The winning entries will be used by the National Park in promotional activities. Photographs taken anywhere in the national park between 26th May and 23rd September can be uploaded for judging on the National Park photo competition website. The Park is asking people to submit photographs of any aspect of the national park. There are four…

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Ben Nevis abseil posts removed

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Helen Webster

The eight abseil posts leading down from the Carn Mor Dearg arête into Coire Leis on the north side of Ben Nevis have been removed. The majority of the poles had fallen into disrepair and were unsafe to use. The highest abseil post provided a useful navigation aid and is to be replaced by a two metre high cairn that will be constructed in the same style as the other navigation cairns which currently exist across the summit plateau. This cairn will mark the top of the obvious descent line into Coire Leis in poor visibility. The cairn will be…

Posted in Access issues, News

Clean up planned for Scottish Mountains

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Helen Webster

The fifth annual Big Spring Clean, which forms part of the Ski Club's Respect the Mountain campaign, returns on Saturday 16 June and this year will offer new activities such as mountain biking and an eco-walk to add to the fun of the day. Volunteers will also be tackling the damaging litter left on the slopes by mountain users at Cairngorm Mountain, the Nevis Range, and Glenshee. Last year 44 sacks of rubbish were collected across all three resorts by skiers, walkers and dedicated litter pickers. All sorts of unusual items were found amongst the general litter and waste including:…

Posted in Nature, News

Discover Loch Leven on 10 June

Posted on June 2, 2012 by Helen Webster

RSPB and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) are joining forces on June 10th for a free, fun-filled day at Loch Leven national nature reserve. This year, RSPB's Open Day is running in conjunction with Loch Leven Discovery Day to be bigger and better than ever, with free buses running between the two sides of the loch. This family day has an action-packed programme of free events, from pond-dipping, bushcraft, facepainting, willow-weaving, bird-watching, aquatic displays, beat the black grouse goalie, story-telling, guided walks, and all kinds of kids’ activities. RSPB will also officially launch their newly named, refurbished visitor centre and improved…

Posted in Nature, News

20 new Scottish woods created for Jubilee

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Helen Webster

From Stornoway to Stirling, and from Dunbeith to Dalbeattie, 20 new native woods will be created across Scotland to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The woods are part of a UK-wide project to create 60 Diamond Woods across the country, one for each year of The Queen's reign. Each Diamond Wood will be at least 60 acres in size. In total the Diamond Woods in Scotland will cover more than 2,500 acres (1,000 hectares), forming a collective area of woodland nearly four times the size of Holyrood Park in Edinburgh. 1.5 million native trees will be planted within the 20…

Posted in Nature