Real Three Peaks Challenge aims to clean up

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Helen Webster

Highlighting a new initiative to make a clean sweep of Britain's three highest peaks, Ben Nevis conservation officers have called on climbers and walkers to treat the mountain with the respect it deserves. After an especially busy summer season, rangers and volunteers from the John Muir Trust, which manages Scotland's highest and most popular mountain, have had to remove a huge collection of items left behind, including tents, tarps, sleeping bags, stoves, abandoned camps, disposable barbecues and items of clothing. Now, Mountain Training Instructor Richard Pyne, with the support of the Mountain Training Association, has organised the Real Three Peaks…

Posted in Nature, News

Rare whale stranded on St Kilda

Posted on September 19, 2013 by Helen Webster

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS), has reported that a rarely-seen Sowerby's beaked whale and calf became stranded in the shallow waters of Village Bay, Hirta last week. The 5m long adult female and 1.5m long calf were seen in distress just before 11am on Thursday 12 September. Staff from the NTS and defence contractor QinetiQ immediately attempted to refloat the animals but, despite their quick response and strenuous efforts, were unable to successfully move the mother before it passed away. The calf freed itself without assistance and was last seen swimming out to open water. It is, however, unlikely…

Posted in Nature

Overwhelming public support for wild land protection

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Helen Webster

The John Muir Trust has welcomed the resounding two to one support for wild land protection expressed in responses to the Scottish Government’s planning consultation exercise launched in May. Of over 150 submissions to the Scottish Planning Policy consultation document expressing an opinion on wild land, well over 100 back the Scottish Government’s proposal to strengthen protection for 43 core areas of wild land as mapped by Scottish Natural Heritage. Those supporting wild land protection include individuals, environmental and other charities, outdoors organisations, businesses (which included Walkhighlands, some landowners, property agents, and the Federation of Small Businesses), local authorities, community…

Posted in Nature, News

Wild North Assynt Festival

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Helen Webster

The Assynt community will be hosting a varied festival this October including a number of guided walks and events giving visitors and locals the chance to explore the unique landscape. The Festival kicks off on Friday 4 October with a food tasting event, craft fair and guided walk. During the course of the festival the John Muir Trust will be showing off the work and amazing scenery of Quinag, there will be a workshops on astronomy photography and sculpture, heritage trails including a walk at Clachtoll, a torchlight parade and ceilidh to round off the festival which finishes on Tuesday…

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Walkhighlands pledges support for JMT

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Helen Webster

Walkhighlands has increased its support for the conservation charity, the John Muir Trust, by becoming a Silver Corporate Member. In addition to publicising relevant JMT campaigns and donating outdoor gear for fundraising, Walkhighlands has donated £500 this year for the Trust’s work to preserve wild land. Paul Webster from Walkhighlands said, “We pledged to donate at least £1000 to conservation and mountain safety this year, and we hope to be able to do more in the future. Silver Corporate Membership of the John Muir Trust is one way we can support the fantastic work of the Trust to which we,…

Posted in Walkhighlands news

Highlands up for Countryfile award

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Helen Webster

The Highlands have been shortlisted in the, Britain’s favourite holiday destination, category in the BBC Countryfile Magazine awards for 2013. Now in their third year, the awards are a celebration of our countryside and its people. The 2013 awards were launched in the August and feature 10 categories, from conservation projects and best heritage site to countryside writers and the finest nature reserves. Countryfile is now asking the public to vote for their rural favourites. Full details can be found on the website, or you can email your votes to [email protected]. Voting closes on 30 September 2013.

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Work starts to complete Loch Leven trail

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Helen Webster

Work has started on the final section to complete the circular Loch Leven heritage trail in Kinross-shire. At the moment walkers can only get three quarters of the way round the Loch to the RSPB centre at Vane Farm. There is only a very limited bus service in the summer to return people to the start, the alternative being a dangerous walk on a busy road. Following the raising of £800,000, and after negotiations with local landowners the final 6.5km of trail is being built and is expected to open next spring. This final section, which will close the gap between…

Posted in Access issues, News

National Tree for Scotland consultation

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Helen Webster

The Scottish Government has announced that it will ask the public to make the final decision on choosing a national tree for Scotland. Rory Syme from the Woodland Trust Scotland said: “An official national tree would be a fantastic legacy of the Year of Natural Scotland, providing recognition of the role that native trees have in shaping the nation’s landscape and identity. “Scots pine will undoubtedly be a favourite, but many other species, such as rowan and aspen, have a rich heritage of their own and could be considered candidates. “Alex Hamilton deserves a great deal of credit for getting…

Posted in Nature

Life saving advice on river crossings

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Helen Webster

The arrival of autumn provides great opportunities for stunning days out in the Scottish hills, with the gradual change of the mountain flora to its autumn colours. But autumn also heralds its own risk in the hills. The increased rainfall, especially noticeable after the dry summer, can result in some normal burn and river crossings becoming impassable. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) has issued the following warning to walkers and has reduced the price of their DVD on making safe river crossings. “Even a burn you crossed earlier in the day can have risen to dangerous levels by afternoon,…

Posted in News

Volunteers clock up over 1200 days working on Bothies last year

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Helen Webster

2012 saw no let-up in the amount of work undertaken by the Mountain Bothies Association to renovate and maintain unlocked shelters in the remote parts of Great Britain. Three new buildings were adopted during the year, although two others were handed back to their owners. Two well- known Scottish bothies received major refurbishment and improvements were made to many other buildings. Presenting the Report, Association Chairman John Arnott said: “2012 was a very successful year for the Association. We took on new buildings at Dryfehead in the Scottish Borders, Cruib on the Island of Jura, and Lluest Cwm Bach in the…

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