Mark Beaumont launches film festival

Posted on October 14, 2010 by Helen Webster

Round the World Cyclist Mark Beaumont, who this year also cycled 13,080 miles from Anchorage, Alaska to Ushuaia in Southern Argentina (climbing Mount McKinley and Aconcagua – the two highest peaks in the Americas – en route), took time out yesterday (13 October) to launch the 8th Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival at the International Climbing Arena at Ratho. The Festival which runs from 21-24 October 2010 has a fantastic programme packed full of extreme climbers, global adventurers and inspiring films. Mark will deliver his first Edinburgh lecture about his cycling and mountaineering journey through the Americas. Another highlight will be…

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Path work on Quinag

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Helen Webster

The John Muir Trust has recently completed work on a section of new path on Quinag in the Northwest Highlands. The new path is being created to join the Spidean Coinich slab route to the shoulder which has a hard and sustainable surface. The Trust hopes that the new route will provide an attractive alternative to the trudge across peat hags that some walkers are taking from the stalker’s path lower down and therefore prevent further erosion. Stone has been harvested from boulder fields up the mountain and carried by helicopter bags to the new path site. The new section…

Posted in Nature, News

Winter walking safety talks

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Helen Webster

The Scottish charity, Mountain Aid, has announced dates for some of its winter walkling safety talks. Mick Tighe, mountain guide and former member of Lochaber MRT, will present illustrated talks on winter hillwalking safety, offering advice and guidance for anyone wishing to extend their hillwalking activities into the winter months. These talks are completely free and are open to everyone. Mountain Aid says that this year’s talks will be different from last years so repeat visitors are welcome. The talk dates organised so far are as follows: Monday 15th November, Edinburgh Tuesday 16th November, Dundee Wednesday 17th November, Cupar Thursday…

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Walkhighlands expands into Galloway

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Helen Webster

We’ve now launched our coverage of Galloway, with 70 walks taking in the coast, hills, towns and villages of Galloway. Our coverage extends from the Mull of Galloway – the southernmost point of Scotland – all the way along the beautiful Solway Firth coastline to Annan near the border with England. Inland, we’ve routes in the rugged hills including The Merrick and all the other Corbetts in the area, as well as walks around the areas towns and villages, lochs, forests and wildlife reservers. Further routes will follow, particularly in the eastern parts around Thornhill and Moffat. As usual, each…

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MBA looks back on successful year

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Helen Webster

Over the course of 2009-10, the Mountain Bothy Association (MBA) has invested considerable resources in training their volunteers who maintain open shelters throughout the wilder parts of Great Britain. Many of those volunteers undertook work on 56 of the MBA’s shelters which are available for use by walkers on a no-charge basis. Presenting the Association’s Annual Report for 2009-10, MBA Chairman John Arnott said: “Our work party volunteers are the cornerstones of the Association and this year contributed 1,130 working days to the renovation and maintenance of our bothies. We regard the safety of our volunteers as paramount and, whilst…

Posted in Access issues, News

Loch Leven hosts goose spectacle

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Helen Webster

One of Loch Leven’s greatest wildlife spectacles will be in the spotlight on 24 October, with an event run by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) staff. With the dawn, thousands of pink-footed geese rise from their night-time roosts on the loch shore, providing a dramatic, one-of-a-kind scene for spectators. About 20,000 pink-footed geese winter at Loch Leven National Nature Reserve, arriving from their breeding grounds in Iceland and Greenland in the autumn and remaining until spring. The pink-footed goose is a medium-sized, grey goose, with a dark head and neck, a pink bill and pink feet and legs. Loch Leven is…

Posted in Nature, News

Man's body found in Kintail mountains

Posted on October 11, 2010 by Helen Webster

The body of a man has been recovered by the Kintail Mountain Rescue Team from Beinn Fhada near Morvich on Sunday (10 Oct). The remains were found near the Bealach an Sgairne on the mountain. The Stornoway Coastguard helicopter assisted the team with the task. The Police have yet to name the dead person. A search has been ongoing for walker Stewart Sutherland who has been missing in the area since 20 September, and the police are also looking for another two men believed to be missing in the Highlands. Skye Mountain Rescue Team and the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter were…

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New bridge for Bracklinn Falls

Posted on October 10, 2010 by Helen Webster

Six years after major floods swept away the historic bridge at Bracklin Falls near Callander, a new structure is today being inched into position. The new bridge, which is made from copper and wood, is being carefully manhandled into position using people power as location of the gorge means it is impossible to get a crane to the site. The woodland surrounding the site also meant that the bridge had to be built on site as helicopters could not be used. The new bridge will mean that a popular circular walk at the Falls will once again become possible. Since…

Posted in Access issues, News

Scotland wide call for action on landscape

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Helen Webster

Individuals and organisations across Scotland are being called upon to take practical steps to help shape the future of the country’s landscapes. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has today (8 October) published a ground-breaking Landscape Charter for Scotland. The charter was drawn up by the Scottish Landscape Forum (see Notes). It is in keeping with the European Landscape Convention, which affirms the value of the continent’s landscapes to the well-being of its citizens. The charter calls on communities, land managers, developers, local authorities, public bodies and non-government organisations to recognise the responsibilities and opportunities they have to shape the country’s landscapes,…

Posted in Nature

Loch Leven photo competition open

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Helen Webster

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is looking for the public’s best snapshots of Loch Leven. The third annual Loch Leven Photography Competition is looking to showcase Scotland’s largest lowland loch and its countless birds and other spectacular wildlife. Loch Leven National Nature Reserve is home to a host of spectacular sights, from the stunning scenery of the loch itself, dotted with islands and surrounded by looming hills, to the crawling, swimming and swooping array of wildlife it supports. Visitors to the loch often bring their cameras along to capture the quiet persistence of tufted ducks and teals dabbling for food, huge…

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