Call for Government to protect landscape

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Helen Webster

Scotland’s leading environmental and heritage organisations have thrown down the gauntlet to the Scottish Government, challenging it to renew its obligations to conserve, protect and enhance the nation’s landscapes. An alliance of organisations has signed an open letter to the Scottish Government calling for reaffirmation of commitments contained in the European Landscape Convention, and greater progress towards meeting them. The letter, dated 10 January 2011, calls for a clear indication from the Scottish Government that: •A system of monitoring and proofing all new relevant legislation, policy and guidance will be carried out to ensure compliance with the Convention. •Scotland’s Landscape…

Posted in Nature

Colin Prior evening in Perth

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Helen Webster

The internationally renowned Centre for Mountain Studies at Perth College UHI is celebrating its 10th anniversary. To commemorate this notable milestone, Colin Prior, Scotland’s top landscape photographer, will give a special presentation, “Mountains of Inspiration” at Perth Concert Hall on Wednesday 19 January 2011. There is a reduced price of £5 for MCofS members. Colin Prior has established an international reputation in his career as a freelance professional photographer. He has received critical acclaim for his images, including many panoramic mountain scenes from ranges around the world. The audience can also enjoy hearing from Dr Thomas Moore, Perth College UHI…

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Winter lectures kick off in Aviemore

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Helen Webster

The MCofS winter lecture series starts next wednesday (12 Jan) at the Mountain Cafe in Aviemore. The first speaker is Nick Carter who is guaranteed to provide an entertaining and thought provoking evening’s entertainment. The talk starts at 8pm, meals available at 7pm (£10) booking essential for the meals call the Mountain Cafe direct on 01479 812473. Alongside the usual popular venues of the Clachaig Inn, Glencoe and the Mountain Cafe, Aviemore, TISO will be hosting a series of 7 lectures across its stores. Buff are also supporting the 2011 series; all participants will be invited to enter their name…

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Outdoor world rails against Monadhliath windfarm

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Helen Webster

Anger is building in the outdoors’ world following the recent approval of the plans for Dunmaglass Wind Farm in the Monadhliath. The wind farm is set to be built in one of Scotland’s wildest areas following approval by the Scottish Government; Energy minister Jim Mather is also responsible for tourism which many feel may be damaged by such plans. The decision has attracted a chorus of disapproval from conservation organisations, professional writers and increasingly popular outdoors bloggers, and there is talk of a protest being organised – a ‘Wake for the Wild’. Both the John Muir Trust and the Mountaineering…

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Avalanche transceiver training park opens in Glencoe

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Helen Webster

A training park where skiers, climbers and walkers can practice with an avalanche transceiver is due to be opened in Glencoe on 8 January by Hamish Macinnes. The use of transceivers is a proven safety tool for those who go to the hills in winter. For the climber the hill walker and the off piste skier the training park, to be sited at Glencoe Mountain ski centre, will be a valuable training aid. Case studies confirm that practice search preparation time is significantly shortened with access to such dedicated training sites. Advanced skills such as deep and multiple burials can…

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Minimal Impact advice launched

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Helen Webster

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) has launched a booklet of advice for mountaineers on how to have a minimal impact on the landscape. The advice provides a one stop shop introduction to pretty much all issues to do with mountaineering practice to help people reduce their impacts while out doing anything in the hills, including walking. As well as general advice on the best ways to reduce erosion, what to do with food waste, where and how to go to the toilet, and walking with dogs, there is specific information about camping, rock climbing, cairns and memorials, and winter…

Posted in Access issues, News

Downhill skiing centre for Ben Wyvis?

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Helen Webster

An MSP has urged the Scottish Government and private investors to look again at the plans for a ski centre on Ben Wyvis. Easter Ross, Liberal Democrat MSP, Jamie Stone was involved in the plans of the local Council to support the development of a ski centre on the mountain north of Inverness, in the 1980’s. The plans included a mountain rack railway to be linked to an interchange with the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh main railway line. At the time the plans were not pursued as no public sector capital investment was forthcoming and no private developers came…

Posted in Nature

Mountains of cash for NTS appeal

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Helen Webster

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) are amazed at the generosity of donors who have proved their passion for protecting Scotland’s mountains by raising the most money ever throughout 2010. The NTS says that in these cash-strapped times an amazing £140,000 was raised last year for its Sole Trading appeal. The Sole Trading appeal raises money specifically to support its upland property. Funds raised go directly towards repairing paths on some of Scotland’s most walked mountains. The Trust owns 46 of the country’s Munros and 394 miles of mountain paths, many of which are at altitudes over 2500ft at its…

Posted in Access issues, Nature, News

Webtogs sponsors Walkhighlands Walk Reports

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Helen Webster

Walkhighlands is happy to announce that award-winning online retailer Webtogs is the new sponsor of the monthly Walk Report competition. Every month Walkhighlands will have £90 worth of Webtogs vouchers to give away to the users who submit the best ‘Walk Reports’ on Walkhighlands! Get out with your camera and get writing stories from your adventures in our countryside. The lucky winner will receive £60 in vouchers to spend at Webtogs on gear of your choice, and there will be £30 each month for the runner-up. Entries will be judged on both the quality of photographs and the written account…

Posted in Walkhighlands news

Monadhliath windfarm approved

Posted on December 29, 2010 by Helen Webster

The Scottish Government has approved the building of a large-scale wind farm in the Monadhliath hills south west of Loch Ness. Developer, Renewable Energy Systems (RES) have been given permission to construct 33 turbines, 120 metres high, at Dunmaglass, just south of Farr, and about 15 miles south of Inverness. The Dunmaglass estate is owned by property developer Sir Jack Arnold Hayward, former chairman of Wolverhampton Wanderers listed by the Sunday Times as the 125th richest person in Britain, and is popular as a shooting estate. The wind farm plans have been controversial from the start, with objections from the…

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