Environment groups strongly welcome new report on deer management in Scotland

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Helen Webster

Environmental charities have welcomed today’s publication of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee’s Report on Deer Management in Scotland. The Scottish Wildlife Trust, John Muir Trust and RSPB Scotland fully endorse the key findings of the report, including that the current system of deer management is failing to protect important habitats, and that Scottish Natural Heritage appears to have insufficient resources to enforce legislation. The charities also welcome a key recommendation to establish an independent working group to provide clear advice on the way forward for deer management in Scotland. Dr Maggie Keegan, Head of Policy, Scottish Wildlife…

Posted in Nature

Tours Guides repair Skye footpath

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Helen Webster

Resilient tour bus drivers who braved high winds and hail showers have completed urgent path repairs at one of Skye’s busiest scenic spots. Staff from Rabbie’s Trail Burners spent two days working on badly-needed repairs to the Quiraing route, which attracts thousands of people each year. The Quiraing in Staffin is part of the Trotternish Ridge, which was formed by a series of ancient landslips, and has become a hugely popular location for Hollywood films and various commercials in recent years. Despite very tough weather conditions at the exposed site, seven hardy Rabbie’s drivers and office workers dug out a…

Posted in Access issues, Nature, News

John o’ Groats Trail now on Walkhighlands

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Helen Webster

A new long distance trail linking Inverness and John o’ Groats has been developed and is now featured on Walkhighlands at this link: John o’ Groats Trail guide. The challenging route is 235.5km long and is split into 14 stages and there is accommodation and public transport at or near most of the stage ends. The Trail will provide a vital missing link for Land’s End to John o’ Groats walkers. The route was devised by Jay Wilson, who lives at Berriedale. It’s an unofficial route but Jay and an enthusiastic group of volunteers have been busy adding waymarks, stiles…

Posted in Magazine, News, Walkhighlands news

Undercover Osprey reveals itself as an Award winner

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Helen Webster

A juvenile Osprey that appears to be in ‘stealth mode’ has been revealed as the overall winner of the Scottish Nature Photography Awards 2016. Photographer Gordon Rae, from Lockerbie in Dumfries and Galloway, took the shot at Rothiemurchus near Aviemore. The judging panel – Andy Hall, Richard Shucksmith and Niall Irvine – chose Undercover Osprey as their overall winner from categories covering wildlife, landscape, environmental, botanical and abstract subjects, awarding Gordon the title Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year 2016. Gordon said: “My winning image came by chance one morning when the light was in my favour really early on.…

Posted in Photography

Skills for the Hills Day in Glasgow this weekend

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Helen Webster

The great outdoors comes indoors this weekend as outdoor organisations get set for a major exhibition in Glasgow aimed at encouraging people to make the most of Scotland’s hills and mountains. Skills for the Hills, organised by Mountain Aid, working with Mountaineering Scotland, will take place on Saturday at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Halls. Some 40 leading outdoor organisations will be taking part, with a mix of exhibitions, talks and demonstrations aimed at helping and encouraging people of all levels of experience, from newcomer to experienced mountaineers. The event will be opened by Mountain Aid patron and outdoor writer and broadcaster…

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Torridon Mountain Rescue Team appeal for funds to complete new base

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Helen Webster

After 40 years operating out of a large cupboard in the local Youth Hostel, the Torridon Mountain Rescue Team is to begin building a new base this month. The team said that “We are fortunate that the National Trust for Scotland has made available to us an ideal site, at the foot of our most spectacular mountain, Liathach, next to the Loch Torridon Community Centre and the Torridon Medical Centre (see plan below). “We are greatly indebted to St John Scotland who are funding the major part of the build cost. Nevertheless, we estimate that we need to raise another…

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Our pick: Outlander filming locations

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Helen Webster

We know that many of you watch the TV series Outlander… so by popular request, our latest pick is of walks in locations featured in the two series of the historical and time-travel drama. Glen Coe The very first scenes of the first episode of Outlander were shot in Glen Coe – one of Scotland’s most iconic locations; the glen features in the credits. The glen has a dark real-life history too, being the setting for the massacre of the MacDonalds in 1692. Glencoe village lies at the foot of the glen, which is justly famed for its superb walking…

Posted in Features, Magazine, Our picks

Southern Uplands Could Hold New Modern Wilderness for Scotland

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Helen Webster

Festival speaker encourages communities to review benefits of allowing land to return nature and creating iconic destinations. A national rewilding expert is proposing that one of Scotland’s first modern wildernesses could be created in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders. The idea will be included in a talk by David Balharry, Scotland Director of Rewilding Britain, at Wild Film Festival Scotland in Dumfries on 26 March. David is presenting a long term vision for between 200km2 and 600km2 of the old Ettrick Forest to be returned to its wild state and asking if this approach can offer better opportunities…

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Ben Dolphin named Ramblers Scotland president

Posted on March 11, 2017 by Helen Webster

Journalist, blogger, countryside ranger and Walkhighlands columnist Ben Dolphin has been named President of Ramblers Scotland, the representative body for Scottish walkers. He follows in the footsteps of the late conservationist Dick Balharry, award-winning broadcaster Cameron McNeish and most recently Dr Andrew Murray, who was the Scottish Government’s first Physical Activity Champion. Ben is a West Lothian Council ranger and well known in the Scottish outdoor scene for writing for both Walkhighlands and Outdoor Enthusiast magazine, as well as for his blogs, photos and videos on his own Benvironment website. He was elected to the honorary position at Ramblers Scotland’s…

Posted in Magazine, News, Walkhighlands news

Public vote for Sutherland peatland restoration funding bid

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Helen Webster

RSPB Scotland is asking for public support to secure funding from the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) to restore an important site in the Flow Country, the Dyke plantation near Forsinard in Sutherland. The project is one of five nature projects in the running for EOCA funding, with the final decision being made by public vote between 9th and 23rd March on the EOCA website. The Dyke plantation was planted with non-native sitka spruce and lodgepole pine trees some thirty years ago and the trees have caused significant damage to the peatlands on which it was planted, and which forms…

Posted in Nature