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…

Posted in News

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.

Posted in News

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…

Posted in News, Walkhighlands news

First osprey egg laid at Loch of the Lowes reserve

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Helen Webster

The female osprey nesting at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve near Dunkeld has laid her first egg of the season. The egg was laid at 12:52am this morning (12 April 2016). Charlotte Fleming, Perthshire ranger for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: “LF15 has given us an anxious wait this year, however we’re delighted that she has laid her first egg. With any luck numbers two and three won’t be far behind. “There were a number of changes in her behaviour including high pitched calling and constant fidgeting that made us sure she was about to…

Posted in Nature

New Camasunary bothy now open

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Helen Webster

Volunteers from the Mountain Bothy Association have now completed work on a new bothy at Camasunary on the Isle of Skye. The building, which is now open for visitors, is on the east side of the bay at Camasunary about 1km from the previous MBA maintained bothy. The MBA are very grateful to the owner, Alan Johnson, without whose generosity there would now have been no basic accommodation available in the area, and to 59 Commando Squadron Royal Engineers who constructed the building as a community project. The bothy was fitted out in memory of Neil (Bell) Mackenzie who lost…

Posted in News

Work parties – possible restrictions on use of bothies

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Helen Webster

Intending users of bothies maintained by the Mountain Bothy Association should be aware that maintenance work will be taking place at a number of bothies over the April- June period. Inevitably, this will mean that there will have to be restrictions on use at some, but not all, of these bothies while the work is being undertaken, and intending users should be prepared to camp while this essential maintenance is taking place. As much information as possible will be posted on the Association’s website www.mountainbothies.org.uk but it is not, of course, possible to be totally precise in advance about how…

Posted in Access issues

Ben Lomond path temporary closure tomorrow

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Helen Webster

The main path up Ben Lomond – one of the most popular of the Munros – will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday March 30th). The closure will be for one day and is to allow the delivery of stone by helicopter. There will be ground personnel onsite during the works to prevent access, on grounds of public safety. This is part of the preparation for the path upgrade works that are planned to start in May and is part of a wider project called ‘The People and the Mountains Project’ funded by Heritage Lottery Fund Scotland in partnership with the Loch…

Posted in Access issues, News

First Aviemore Adventure Film Festival to be held 22-24 April

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Helen Webster

The Aviemore Adventure Film Festival is a weekend long festival which will be held for the first time from 22-24 April. With a line-up of events for the outdoor enthusiast & adventurers including talks from top climbers and mountaineers, mountain bikers, back country skiers and filmmakers, together with film screenings from outdoor athlete, the festival offers something for everyone, from armchair adventurers to weekend warriors. The Festival will kick off on Friday 22nd April with the screening of the inspiring Scottish film “Transition” following young competition climber Natalie Berry as she starts off on her climbing career – transitioning from…

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Strathfarrar Summer Access starts 31 March

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Helen Webster

The summer access arrangements for Strathfarrar will begin on 31 March this year. Strathfarrar has a locked gate and only a certain number of cars are allowed into the Glen each day. There are no restrictions on pedestrian access or taking a pushbike beyond the locked gate and wild camping is allowed within the terms of the Scottish Access Code but you cannot park overnight in the Glen. There will be no vehicular access all day on Tuesdays and on Wednesday mornings. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) negotiates access along the private road with the landowner on behalf of…

Posted in Access issues, News