Cameron McNeish at Skye Book Festival

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Helen Webster

Mountaineer and broadcaster Cameron McNeish will be appearing at the Skye Book Festival on Friday July 29th. Cameron will be presenting an illustrated talk, along with fellow film maker Richard Else, about the BBC 2 documentary The Skye Trail, a 70-mile backpacking route from the tip of the Trotternish Peninsula to Broadford. The event takes place in the Aros Centre in Portree on the Isle of Skye at 7.30pm and admission is free. The event will also be the launch of the book which accompanied the BBC programme and signed copies will be available. The Skye Book Festival is a…

Posted in News

Tyndrum gold mine application resubmitted

Posted on July 23, 2011 by Helen Webster

Gold mining plans at Cononish near Tyndrum are back on track following the resubmission of the planning application 15 July. The application has been amended following refusal of planning permission by the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority in August 2010. Gordon Watson, Director of Planning and Rural Development at the Park Authority said: “I can confirm we have received a new planning application from Scotgold Resources Limited to operate a gold mine near Tyndrum. This revised application follows extensive pre-application discussions between the National Park and Scotgold to address the concerns associated with the previously refused application.…

Posted in Nature

Deaf-blind grandad completes Ben Nevis climb

Posted on July 22, 2011 by Helen Webster

Michael Anderson – a 70 year old father of three from Larbert – yesterday became the first deaf and fully blind climber to reach the summit of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. Michael completed the climb to raise funds for the charity DeafBlind Scotland – and to celebrate his 70th birthday. The gruelling ascent was completed in just under 18 hours, with every step of the way guided by a group which included Michael’s daughter Fiona and her partner Nina, Arran mountain guide Lucy Wallace and guidebook and Walkhighlands author Phil Turner. During the ascent, two of the party went…

Posted in Uncategorized

New Jura ferry takes to the waves

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Helen Webster

The Jura Direct Passenger Ferry funded by Argyll and Bute Council is running once again between Tayvallich and Craighouse until the end of September. This is the only direct access from the mainland to Jura and can deliver you to the heart of the island in less than an hour. Tayvallich is in Argyll off the Oban to Lochgilphead road. The first view of Jura from the ferry is the distinctive outline of the Paps of Jura. The jagged scree clad skyline, with gentler slopes below, all changing tone and hue as the light varies, is a paradise for artists…

Posted in News

Three Peaks challenges place Ben Nevis in endangered top ten

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Helen Webster

Travel magazine, Wunderlust, has included Ben Nevis on its list of 10 worldwide destinations in need of greater care. The magazine says that the popularity of challenges featuring the highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland, Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis is harming the three mountains. Wanderlust says the high number of people completing the national three peaks has resulted in litter, erosion and night time disturbance to local communities for all three of the mountains which it has placed on its list of endangered destinations. Wunderlust has called for the number of entrants to official challenges to be…

Posted in Nature

Graffiti at the Granite Hill

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Helen Webster

A unique artistic opportunity is on offer for local people and visitors to Cairnsmore of Fleet National Nature Reserve, in Galloway this Saturday, 23 July. Inspired by the sights and sounds of the magnificent upland reserve near Gatehouse of Fleet, people are being invited to have a go at graffiti art, and create their own paintings. The colourful pictures will then be displayed on an external wall at the entrance to the visitor centre, for future visitors to admire. The free event is hosted by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), who manage the reserve, and renowned local wildlife artist Keith Brown,…

Posted in Uncategorized

Ben Nevis footpaths need you

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Helen Webster

Over 100,000 people climb Ben Nevis annually and some of the footpaths are feeling the strain. Friends of Nevis is offering the chance for walkers and climbers to put something back by helping with footpath repairs this summer. Following the success of similar work parties in April and May, Friends of Nevis is looking to put together teams of 4 – 8 volunteers at a time to work on Ben Nevis with footpath specialist Martin McCrorie. The work parties will be held over a number of days in August around the level of Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe (the halfway lochan)…

Posted in Nature, News

Munro summit proposal ends in rescue

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Helen Webster

A man's romantic plan to climb to the top of Ben Lomond and propose to his girlfriend at sunset came to an abrupt end when exhaustion caused the group to call out the Mountain Rescue Team. The Lomond Mountain Rescue Team reported that four people were making the evening ascent of the popular Munro peak when one of them started feeling unwell and was too exhausted to continue. The volunteer Mountain Rescue Team was mobilised shortly after midnight and the group of three men and one woman were found on a ridge about 500m from the summit. Having been given…

Posted in News

Mull walks prove popular with web users

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Helen Webster

The Scottish walking website, Walkhighlands has added another batch of walks on the Isle of Mull and they are already proving very popular with internet and smartphone users. The site now offers detailed descriptions, complete with free OS Explorer mapping and GPS downloads, for 45 routes on the island. The routes range from routes on Mull’s only Munro, Ben More and other hillwalks, to coastal scrambles, easier beach walks and strolls to historic sites. Walkhighlands founder Paul Webster said, “We’ve been surprised at how popular our Mull routes are proving to be. It seems that visitors to Mull and locals…

Posted in Walkhighlands news

Government U-turn sees coastguard stations saved

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Helen Webster

The coastguard stations at Stornoway on Lewis (frequently involved in mountain rescues) and in Shetland will remain open around the clock after a U-turn by UK government ministers. However, the Forth and Clyde bases are still set for closure. The plans had been to retain the 24 hour base in Aberdeen, but to close one of either Shetland or Stornoway and reduce the hours of operation of the other. All three of these northern stations will now remain in operation 24 hours a day. Scottish MSPs from both the SNH government and Labour opposition criticised the closure of the Forth…

Posted in Uncategorized