Full nest for Perthshire ospreys as third chick hatches

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Helen Webster

The nesting pair of ospreys at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve near Dunkeld have hatched their third chick of 2016. Volunteers at the reserve got their first glimpse of the chick just after 1pm today (Monday 23 May). It follows the first chick which hatched on the afternoon of Wednesday 18 May and the second, which came in the early hours of Friday 20 May. The nesting ospreys have continued to bring back salmon and trout to feed their growing brood. The webcam trained on the nest and supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery…

Posted in Nature

Tick Tock its that time of year again

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Helen Webster

With winter hardly gone from the mountains, mountain safety experts are advising walkers and climbers: “Tick the Munros – just don’t let the Munros tick you!” Those perennial pests of the Scottish hills and countryside are back. And while the physical and mental health benefits of hill walking are well known, walkers should still be aware of an almost invisible danger. Ticks are small arthropods (related to spiders and scorpions) and are common in vegetated areas in the Scottish hills. They are particularly suited to mild damp climates and therefore thrive on the west coast mountain regions of Scotland. Aside…

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Highlands – Scotland’s Wild Heart begins on BBC tonight

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Helen Webster

A new 4 part BBC series begins tonight at 9pm on BBC1 Scotland (later on iplayer). “Highlands – Scotland’s Wild Heart” is narrated by Ewan MacGregor and will paint a dramatic portrait of his homeland’s wildlife. With spectacular photography and incredible behaviour, the series showcases the Highlands “as never before”. Here’s a preview of some of the landscapes and wildlife that will feature in the series… Watch the trailer:

Posted in Nature, News

Entries open for Mountain Writing Competition

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Helen Webster

The excitement and intensity of mountaineering has always inspired great writing – and now the Mountaineering Council of Scotland is looking for authors to blend their writing skills with their mountain experience for its long running literary competition. Entries are now open for the MCofS annual Mountain Writing Competition, which seeks out the best writing – prose or poetry, fact or fiction – to emerge from the climbing and walking scene. And, with more and more people taking art in outdoor activities, there should be no shortage of climbers and walkers ready to put their experiences into words and share…

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Weekend avalanche forecasts continue for Caingorms and Lochaber

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Helen Webster

Due to recent heavy snowfall, high accumulations of snow and low temperatures on the mountains, the SportScotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) will continue to provide a forecast for the Northern Cairngorms and Lochaber this weekend. SAIS said there was currently the potential for avalanches on steep east-facing slopes. The SAIS told the BBC “Late winter snow conditions above 1,000m (3,280ft) on north through east to south facing slopes in the Cairngorms and Ben Nevis and Aonach Mor areas may present a hazard. Additionally, isolated snow fields remain on north to east aspects above 750m (2,460ft) in most areas and will…

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Walkers warned to prepare for winter in Scotland’s mountains this May Bank Holiday

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Helen Webster

May Bank Holiday is approaching fast, but the high mountains of Scotland are still hanging onto winter after an unseasonably cold spring. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) and British Mountaineering Council (BMC) are joining forces to recommend hill walkers north and south of the Border be prepared to deal with late-lying snow conditions when they head for the Scottish hills this weekend. This spring has been unseasonably cold, with a northerly airstream and accompanying cold conditions affecting the whole of Scotland. This has resulted in some of the best skiing and winter climbing for several years. It looks like…

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Hen Harrier Sightings Wanted

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Helen Webster

The public is being asked to report any hen harrier sightings this year by the ‘Heads Up for Harriers’ project group. Run by the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW Scotland), this is one part of the effort to help rare hen harriers. Hen harriers frequent many Scottish moors, where their acrobatic aerial courtship displays are a tell-tale sign of breeding activity. But their distribution and numbers are still restricted in some areas. A number of causes, including illegal persecution, land use changes and predation, have resulted in a reduction in hen harrier numbers, to the point that the…

Posted in Nature

Celebrating the John Muir Way’s second anniversary

Posted on April 17, 2016 by Helen Webster

Celebrations for the second anniversary of the John Muir Way are running throughout this week with events across the Central Belt. The festivities, taking place from 16-24 April, honour the famous Scottish American environmentalist’s birthday and his namesake trail. Ian Ross, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) chairman, said: “Many people have enjoyed walking and cycling the John Muir Way since it opened in 2014, with over 60,000 visitors a year. It’s a wonderful resource for people of any ability or fitness. You can walk a mile along the route near where you live – or walk the entire 134 miles. The…

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Scottish avalanche forecasts end daily service

Posted on April 17, 2016 by Helen Webster

The Scottish Avalanche Information Service has reached the official end of its daily forecasting for the winter. However due to the amount of snow still around forecasts will be issued for next weekend in Lochaber and North Cairngorm. Further details can be found at the SAIS website.

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Deaf-blind walker seeks guides for epic Scottish hike

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Helen Webster

Deaf and blind walker Michael Anderson will be tackling a 215 mile charity hike this May and is appealing for walkers to help him along the way. In 2011 Michael successfully tackled Ben Nevis with the help of some Walkhighlands users and is hoping hillwalkers will support both his trek and charity this time around. Michael is calling his trek from Iona to St Andrews “Michael’s Way” and is raising money for Deafblind Scotland. Michael said, “The name Michael’s Way was dreamt up because I have very different ways of doing things. I have to run with a guide and…

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