Eight English Youth Hostels to close

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Helen Webster

The YHA in England and Wales has announced that eight Youth Hostels will close at the end of the 2011 season. The hostels earmarked for closure include three in the Lake District, Derwentwater, Helvellyn and Hawkshead, one on the North York Moors at Osmotherley, and also the hostels in Salisbury, Arundel, Totland and Newcastle. In announcing the decision the YHA said, “Closing a Youth Hostel is never easy and YHA does understand the impact this decision will have, particularly for members and guests who enjoy close links and have strong loyalties with this particular hostel. We are working closely with…

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Fife buzzard believed poisoned

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Helen Webster

Fife Police are investigating the suspected poisoning of a buzzard, reports the Fife Partnership against Wildlife Crime, which includes Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). The raptor was found by a member of the public close to Lewes Wood on the Montquhanie Estate near Cupar. Fife Police has confirmed that the bird has been sent for post-mortem examination to confirm the cause of death and identify the nature of any poison that may have been used. PC Ian Laing, Wildlife and Environmental Crime Co-ordinator, said: “Fortunately, Fife has not experienced raptor poisoning as much as other areas, but this case is a…

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National Park seeks Access Forum members

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Helen Webster

It’s all change at the Cairngorms Local Outdoor Access Forum as it reaches its sixth year. The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) is keen to hear from volunteers who can make a positive contribution to outdoor access in the Cairngorms National Park by becoming a member of the Forum. The Forum plays a vital role in advising the CNPA and others on matters to do with outdoor access, sculpting and shaping future projects to deliver wide ranging benefits to communities and visitors alike whilst respecting the land, the wildlife and the culture of the Cairngorms National Park. Paul Corrigan, Convener…

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Loch an Eilein access restriction

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Helen Webster

The path round Loch an Eilein, on the Rothiemurchus Estate, near Aviemore, will be partially inaccessible to visitors during half term due to essential thinning work being carried out in the forest from 9th February to 23rd February 2011. The effect of this will be that the only access to Loch an Eilein will be through the car park or from Inshriach. The Estate is asking mountain bikers to be very careful when arriving at the car park and advising that there may be more people walking on the paths than usual. Rothiemurchus Rangers expressed their regret at the timing…

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Glencoe voted most romantic landscape

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Helen Webster

Glencoe has been voted Scotland's most romantic landscape in a poll organised by the John Muir Trust and Walkhighlands. Visitors to Walkhighlands, Scotland’s busiest outdoors website, were asked to vote from a shortlist of beauty spots across Scotland. Glencoe was a clear winner, attracting 19 per cent of the vote, followed by Sandwood Bay and Glen Affric. John Hutchison, chairman of the John Muir Trust, the UK’s leading wild land charity, said: "The John Muir Trust’s vision is that wild land is protected and that wild places are valued by all sectors of society. "This was a very light-hearted poll,…

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Nevis Range founder given top mountain award

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Helen Webster

Lochaber mountain rescuer, and the founding face behind Nevisport, skiing on Aonach Mor, and Nevis Radio, Ian Sykes, has become the fourth recipient of the Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture. This prestigious annual award recognizes and celebrates the achievements and accomplishments of one inspiring individual and their outstanding contributions to Scotland’s mountains, encompassing sport, theatre, art, photography, film and literature. It was set up in 2008 by the Highland Mountain Culture Association Ltd, organisers of the Fort William Mountain Festival, and is sponsored by Rio Tinto Alcan through the Scottish Community Foundation. Previous winners include: Jimmy Marshall (2010),…

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MCofS Bursary deadline looms

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Helen Webster

Are you planning a climbing trip or expedition between April 2011 and end of March 2012? If so, you might want to consider applying for a bursary from the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS). However the deadline for bursary applications is approaching fast, as applications have to be received by the end of February. Applicants must be members of the MCofS. The MCofS supports a wide range of disciplines at any venue in the world: * The MCofS will support traditional style expeditions * The MCofS will support pure rock or pure ice climbs in less remote settings but which…

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Mountain Rescue wins VAT fight

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Helen Webster

It appears that UK mountain rescue teams have won their fight to be able to reclaim the VAT spent on kit. Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury,told the House of Commons that money had been put aside to help MRTs with the cost of VAT. The money will be available from April this year and a detailed statement is expected from the Government in the near future. Mountain Rescue, which is funded through donations in England and Wales and receives funding from the Scottish Government in Scotland as well as donations, has to pay VAT on new kit such…

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Search and Rescue privatisation in tatters

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Helen Webster

The Government has confirmed that plans to privatise the Search and Rescue service (SAR) throughout Britain have been suspended. As reported on Walkhighlands on 26 January, the Royal Bank of Scotland pulled out of the consortia bidding to run the privatised service following allegations that commercially confidential information had possibly been leaked to one of the companies taking part in the bid. Ministry of Defence (MOD) police are now investigating this allegation. The Government now say that the preferred supplier consortia, Soteria, will not be used. Transport Secretary Philip Hammond, issued a statement to Parliament saying: “In mid December, the…

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Body found on Ben Nevis

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Helen Webster

Police have confirmed that the body of missing hill walker Hyder Ali Manir from Worcester was found in the area of Ben Nevis on the afternoon of Sunday 6 February 2011. Mr Manir, aged 20, had been reported missing to Fort William Police on Sunday 30 January 2011 by his cousin, when he had failed to return from climbing Ben Nevis. His cousin had had left him some distance from the snow-covered summit and turned back while Mr Manir continued. Over 900 man hours and eight Mountain Rescue Teams from Lochaber, RAF Kinloss and RAF Valley, Cairngorm, Torridon, Dundonnell, Assynt…

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