Lyrics from the Landscape – Iona Lane

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Helen Webster

Intrigued by the name of her new album, Helen Webster caught up with modern folk-singer, songwriter and storyteller Iona Lane to find out how the Scottish landscape inspires her music. Congratulations on your debut album and the high praise it’s been receiving. It’s called Hallival after the mountain on the Scottish island of Rum and you’ve said that a lot of the songs stem from walks you have done thanks to Walkhighlands, can you describe how walking and the landscape inspires you and your music? Thank you so much, it’s been an amazing journey so far and it’s wonderful to…

Posted in Features, Magazine

Glen Etive road closed until 2nd December

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Helen Webster

Highland Council have advised that they are carrying out emergency drainage works around Dalness House, Glen Etive. The works are programmed from today, Monday 14 November 2022 until Friday 2 December 2022. Due to available road widths and to protect the operators on the site, the road will be closed for the duration of these works. Emergency services will have access at all times. Residential access will be permitted. This means that the usual routes to Munros – including Ben Starav and its neighbours – and the Corbetts in lower Glen Etive are all inaccessible for the next 3 weeks.

Posted in Access issues, Magazine, News

Gear Review: Dried Backpacking Meals

Posted on October 28, 2022 by Helen Webster

Tasty, nutritious, filling food is as important as weather and scenery to the enjoyment of overnight camps. Exploring some long distance Scottish routes this year while researching a new guidebook has seen us try a number of dried camping meals alongside our “go to” staples of instant mash, cup-a-soups, noodles and couscous. We tried a selection of meals from most brands including meat and vegan, main meals, breakfast and dessert options where available. The selection included brands that dehydrate the whole meal (said to preserve flavour), meals where ingredients are dried separately and then combined, and freeze drying which prolongs…

Posted in Camping, Features, Gear reviews, Magazine

Climb every mountain

Posted on August 26, 2022 by Helen Webster

Northwest Highlands athlete pushes himself to the limit to raise funds for the Martin Moran Foundation… To climb a Munro (a Scottish mountain over 3,000 feet high) is a major achievement for most of us. But Lochcarron’s Robin Downie did ten times more than that in less than a day – he recently completed the inaugural Martin Moran Round by climbing almost 30,000 feet in 20 hours, 51 minutes, covering a distance of 86km. To put what he did in perspective, that’s the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest and running two marathons, over some of the most rugged and remote mountains…

Posted in Magazine, News

Walkers urged to check for deer stalking before Heading for the Scottish Hills

Posted on August 2, 2022 by Helen Webster

Scotland’s Nature Agency, NatureScot, is urging hillwalkers to check online for deer stalking information before setting out during the busiest part of the season. NatureScot manages the Heading for the Scottish Hills website, which provides details on deer management on estates up to late October to help walkers avoid disturbing stalking. Scotland offers fantastic hillwalking, but summer and autumn are also important for deer stalking on the open hill, with most activity taking place from August onwards. This management controls the grazing pressure on natural habitats, not only contributing to the rural economy, but helping protect woodlands and restore them…

Posted in Access issues, Magazine, News

Gear Review: Trail Shoes

Posted on June 21, 2022 by Helen Webster

Outside of the snowy season, more and more walkers are opting for trailshoes over boots these days. With lower weight and increased flexibility comes more comfort… though the low rise compromises waterproofing. As usual, we’d recommend trying on in a shop rather than buying online, as fit is the most important factor with footwear. Many people find they are wearing a size too small, which can’t be fixed; if the shoes are big enough you can easily adjust with footbeds/socks/lacing. All weights are per pair; the women’s shoes were tested by Helen and the men’s by Paul, so be careful…

Posted in Footwear, Gear reviews, Magazine

Gear Review: Alpkit Ranger Ventile Jacket

Posted on May 23, 2022 by Helen Webster

Recommended Price: £349.99Weight: 720g (women’s size 10) Originally developed in the late 1930s, clothing made of Ventile is said to have saved the lives of countless RAF pilots who ditched into the sea. A very tightly woven cotton, it was created to be cool and practical when worn in the cockpit but warm and impenetrable when it came into contact with water. Later used both during the first ascent of Everest in 1953 and by Sir Ranulph Fiennes to cross the Arctic, it has continued to be championed especially by polar travellers, but largely fell out of favour as other…

Posted in Gear reviews, Jackets, Magazine

Lynx to Scotland research – “Not now, but not never”

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Helen Webster

There is sufficient appetite from a diverse cross-sector of rural stakeholders to examine whether potential barriers to a trial reintroduction of Eurasian lynx to Scotland can be overcome, says the first detailed study into the social feasibility of the species’ return. The research, commissioned by the Lynx to Scotland project, spent a year consulting a wide range of national stakeholders and local communities in the Cairngorms National Park and Argyll. It was organised by charities SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, Trees for Life and Vincent Wildlife Trust. Previous research suggests the Highlands has enough habitat – and roe deer, the animal’s…

Posted in Magazine, Nature

First eagle nest camera feed in the UK opens at Loch Garten

Posted on April 1, 2022 by Helen Webster

In what has been hailed as a first for the UK, a new live camera feed at RSPB Scotland’s Loch Garten Nature Centre is giving visitors an up-close look at Scotland’s largest bird of prey. A pair of white-tailed eagles, Shona and Finn, have established a nest in the vast landscape of the Cairngorms Connect partnership, of which RSPB Scotland is part, with their activities beamed live to the Loch Garten Nature Centre at the charity’s Abernethy nature reserve. Using methods successfully trialled in other countries including Estonia and Latvia and under special license from NatureScot, experts from Wildlife Windows…

Posted in Magazine, Nature, News

Riverwoods – an Untold Story

Posted on February 23, 2022 by Helen Webster

Riverwoods is a stunning new feature-length documentary made by Scotland: The Big Picture that tells of how salmon – Scotland’s King of Fish – is vital not just to anglers but as a key part of the forest ecosystem. And how we need to restore our depleted landscapes to secure a future for our threatened wild salmon. The film is about to embark on a free screening tour around Scotland from March to April – at venues from Wick to Peebles; just book your place to see this beautiful film and the vital story it tells.. Three years in the…

Posted in Magazine, Nature, News