Mountaineers object to Glen Affric wind farm plan

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Helen Webster

Plans to build a wind farm above the renowned Highland landscape of Glen Affric will have severe effects on some of Scotland's most cherished views and will damage the local economy, according to the body that represents hillwalkers and climbers. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) has objected to a proposal to build seven 119.5m (392 feet) wind turbines on the slopes of Beinn Mhor above Tomich, just south of the famous glen. In its objection to the planning application by wind farm development company WPD, the MCofS has told Highland Council: “The proposal would severely impact on the important…

Posted in Nature

Dan Duxbury on course to complete 44 day Munro round

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Helen Webster

Dan Duxbury is currently on track to complete a continuous self-propelled round of the Munros in 44 days and is due to finish next Tuesday. If successful, this will be the 2nd fastest round of Munros after Stephen Pyke’s 40-day round in 2010. He is tracking his progress on Walkhighlands where you can watch the remaining red balloons on his Munro map quickly turning to blue as he summits each one. Dan is also fund-raising for John Muir Trust and Cumbrian Wildlife Trust via his challenge. Today (Friday 23 May) Dan is tackling Slioch and then heading 7 miles further…

Posted in News

Rab Strata Women's Hoodie

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Helen Webster

Price: £150 Weight: 380g (size 12) Super comfortable, warm yet breathable not as warm as other insulated jackets due to increased breathability This synthetic insulated jacket has been my constant companion on hillwalks for the last three months and I’ve yet to find a serious fault with it. Designed to be worn when active in cold conditions, it is more versatile than a fleece, providing both more warmth and breathability and can be in a wider range of conditions than a traditional down or synthetic insulated jacket so I’ve been comfortably wearing it all day in winter and spring Scottish…

Posted in Gear reviews, Jackets

Walkers asked to look out for missing woman

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Helen Webster

Walkers have been asked to look out for a missing woman who may be hill walking in the Scottish Highlands. Linda Good was last seen on camera heading north on the M74 near Lockerbie on Mon 19th. Police say she may have been heading to the Cairngorms or Glen Nevis. Linda is a 37 year old white woman, 5ft 8in tall with dark brown shoulder length hair. She may have been wearing a sporty, white fleece top and has connections in the Strathaven area. She is driving a sky blue Ford Fiesta, registration number YG59 UGW. Anyone with information is…

Posted in News

Bringing Scottish ancient woodland back from the brink

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Helen Webster

Thousands of hectares of ancient woodland that have been planted with non-native trees and impacted by invasive species such as rhododendron will be brought back from the brink through a once in a lifetime project, generously funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Woodland Trust Scotland has launched the exciting project with partners RDI Associates Ltd to work with woodland owners in two priority areas in the north of Scotland, the Great Glen and Three Firths, and the Cairngorms and Hinterland. 1,600 hectares of planted ancient woodland in each area will be in a process of restoration by the end…

Posted in Nature

Meeting aims to safeguard dinosaur isle

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Helen Webster

Local people on Skye are being invited to become voluntary wardens to help safeguard vulnerable fossil sites in a bid to tackle the problem of reckless collecting. Skye is known as the ‘dinosaur isle’ due to its rich heritage of fossil sites, particularly from the Jurassic period, around 200 million years ago to 145 million years ago. And though most people follow Scotland’s Fossil Code, there are still examples of people damaging these sites by collecting fossils in an irresponsible and therefore unacceptable way. A public meeting tonight Tuesday (20 May) will be held at Tigh na Sgire, Portree, at…

Posted in Access issues, Nature

Moray Walking Festival planned for midsummer

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Helen Webster

The Moray Walking Festival is planning over 40 walks, events and activities for all ages and abilities and runs from 19 to 23 June. From the foothills of the Cairngorms to Moray’s award winning coastline you can enjoy long summer days exploring, coastal, hill, forest, river and town walks. One of the highlights will be a talk by Cameron McNeish on Saturday 21 June 2014. The festival organisers say, “have a look at our guided walks with a flavour of whisky, shortbread and seafood, awe-inspiring sights of osprey, dolphins and red squirrels and a real feel of Moray’s cultural and…

Posted in News

Walk on the Wild Side to showcase nature writing

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Helen Webster

Nature writing will be the theme of a book day planned for Grantown on Spey in the Cairngorms National Park on Saturday 31 May. Walk on the Wild Side is a day of talks and new book launches by wildlife authors and those whose writing is strongly influenced by the natural world, both in the Cairngorms and further afield. Writers appearing are Jim Crumley, Mike Cawthorne, Derek McGinn, John Murray, Ruary Mackenzie Dobbs, Linda Cracknell and Sara Maitland. The day which runs from 10 am until the late evening costs £20 including some refreshments or tickets for each of the…

Posted in Nature, News

Free Upland Bird Training Days

Posted on May 17, 2014 by Helen Webster

Do you spend time on Scotland's high mountains? Are you interested in the birds that you see and hear while you are up there? The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is offering free training to hillwalkers and climbers, to help improve knowledge and enjoyment of upland birds and hopefully increase the number of people recording their sightings to the BTO. The training days will be held on Saturday 24th May near Fort William, on Sunday 25th May in Glenshee and on Sunday 8th June at Cairngorm near Aviemore. During the day you will improve your identification skills and learn more…

Posted in Nature, News

Lost world open day to celebrate 25 years of conservation

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Helen Webster

Moray-based conservation charity Trees for Life is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a special celebration open day at its acclaimed Dundreggan Conservation Estate in Glenmoriston to the west of Loch Ness on Sunday 25 May 2014, from 10.30 am – 5.00 pm. Members of the public are warmly invited to attend the free event and to join BBC presenter and Trees for Life Patron Vanessa Collingridge for a day of activities at this renowned biodiversity hotspot, as the charity marks a quarter century of restoring the ancient but endangered Caledonian Forest in the Scottish Highlands. A programme of entertainment includes…

Posted in Nature, News