John Muir Way officially opens this Easter

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Helen Webster

A festival of events celebrating the life of conservationist John Muir kicks off today (Thurs 17 April) and will include the official opening of the new long distance walking route the John Muir Way on Easter Monday. The new trail which runs between Helensburgh and Dunbar and echoes John Muir’s own personal journey growing up in the east coast town of Dunbar before travelling to the west coast of Scotland where he set sail for life in America. Although John Muir left Scotland at the age of 11, it was here that his love of nature was developed. He was…

Posted in Access issues, News, Walkhighlands news

Strathfarrar summer access

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Helen Webster

The summer access arrangements for Strathfarrar began last week. 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 on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) negotiates access along the private road with the landowner on behalf of walkers and climbers and this year’s opening…

Posted in Access issues, News

Extra WH Navigation Course dates

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Helen Webster

As the planned four Walkhighlands/MCofS Navigation Courses for 2014 booked up within days, a further two courses will be held in the Ochils in July. Each course will begin with an hour of work indoors and then the rest of the day will be spent on practical navigation skills on the hill. The course will be run by Heather Morning, Mountain Safety Officer at the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and are aimed at anyone who wants to learn how to navigate for hillwalking or to brush up existing knowledge. The courses are very friendly and will also provide a chance…

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RSPB announce reward as bird of prey deaths rise to 16

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Helen Webster

UPDATE 4 APR: Reward has now been increased to £10,000 following pledge by anonymous donor. RSPB Scotland is offering a £5000 reward for information after tests revealed that 16 dead birds of prey found in Ross-shire had been poisoned. The 12 red kites and 4 buzzards were found to the south east of Conon Bridge during a single week in March. Duncan Orr-Ewing, Head of Species and Land Management for RSPB Scotland said: “This appalling incident highlights the very real threat illegal poisoning poses to fantastic species like red kites. The vulnerable Black Isle population in particular has been repeatedly…

Posted in Nature

Cash award success for Skye and Trossachs path projects

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Helen Webster

Footpath projects in the Trossachs and on the Isle of Skye have won the public vote to secure funding from the European Outdoor Conservation Association. The Skye project won the Alpine category of the awards, and will give cash to the John Muir Trust to pay for repairs to the path up the iconic mountain, Bla Bheinn. Chris Goodman, the John Muir Trust Footpath Manager said: “The breath-taking view from the summit and the relatively straightforward access attracts thousands of people to Bla Bheinn each year. “The pressure of footfall combined with the high rainfall here has created serious erosion…

Posted in Access issues, Nature

Wildlife watching and events planned for Beinn Eighe reserve

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Helen Webster

The visitor centre at Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve in Wester Ross opened its doors this week enabling visitors to see the first results of a two-year upgrade. Owned and managed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) the reserve is a stunning mix of mountain and woodland which rises from the beautiful Loch Maree to the top of the Beinn Eighe ridge. It is one of Scotland’s wildlife hotspots and is home to golden eagle, pine marten, red deer and otter to name a few. Last year SNH started bringing live images of wildlife into the centre using remote cameras, and…

Posted in Nature, News

Scots Pine returning to Ben Lawers

Posted on March 29, 2014 by Helen Webster

The iconic Scots Pine is making a return to the lower slopes of Ben Lawers thanks to the combined efforts of the National Trust for Scotland, some local young naturalists and small group tour operator Rabbie’s. Local children from the Killin Green Team planted 15 individually protected Scots Pines at Cragganester on the Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve which is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. Around 50 trees will be in place by the end of the project. Ben Lawers Property Manager Helen Cole said: “It is fantastic to have the next generation of conservationists helping…

Posted in Nature

Isle of May opens for the season

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Helen Webster

The first puffins have already started to arrive at the popular Isle of May national nature reserve, as it gears up for visitors this year, beginning 3 April. The island is renowned for its bird populations, its seals, its history and its carpets of flowers. The reserve, at the mouth of the Forth, has a boat service from Fife and East Lothian during the visitor season. David Pickett, the Isle of May reserve manager, said: “The Isle of May is a wonderful place to see seabirds and seals – and it’s certainly the best place in Scotland to see puffins.…

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2014 Mountain Writing Competition open for entries

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Helen Webster

Writers with a taste for the high life are being sought by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland for its long running literary competition. The MCofS Mountain Writing Competition 2014 seeks out the best in mountain writing, whether fact or fiction, prose or poetry. Entries should have some connection with mountains and mountaineering, rock or ice climbing, walking or ski-mountaineering, and winners will receive a cash prize and the chance to see their entries in print in the Scottish Mountaineer, the quarterly MCofS magazine which goes out to its more than 12,000 members. The first placed winners in prose and poetry…

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Loch Lomond camping ban may be extended

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Helen Webster

The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority is to consider further measures to deal with antisocial behaviour and pressure from high visitor numbers which may include more wild camping bans. Wild camping on the east side of Loch Lomond between Drymen and Rowardennan during the summer months is currently banned under a byelaw introduced in 2011. The ban was enforceable with a £500 fine and regular Police and ranger patrols were implemented as well as other measures such as an alcohol ban. The Park Authority has now issued a report which shows that experience in the East Loch…

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