Mountaineering Scotland issue advice on crampons and micro spikes

Posted on January 29, 2025 by Paul Webster

Mountaineering Scotland is urging hillwalkers and climbers to improve their understanding of winter equipment for use in icy conditions on hill paths and more technical terrain. At the end of last winter, they asked hill-goers for their thoughts on using crampons and other traction devices like micro spikes in the winter mountains. With over 1,300 respondents, the survey highlighted that while many experienced walkers and climbers understood the appropriate use of micro spikes and crampons, a notable portion of less experienced hikers were unaware of the critical differences to when and where they are appropriate to use. Key Survey Findings: Micro…

Posted in Magazine, News

Walkers urged to fight cuts to local access funding

Posted on January 27, 2025 by Paul Webster

Ramblers Scotland is calling on walkers to urgently email local councillors to ensure upcoming budgets safeguard investment in walking, paths and outdoor access. The charity says that most Scottish councils have squeezed the money they spend on walking throughout the past decade. Long-term budget cuts have led to fewer staff to support access, complaints about blocked paths increasingly going unanswered, and insufficient funds to maintain popular trails. A new webpage has been launched at ramblers.org.uk/accessbudgets to help walkers find and email their local councillors. Ramblers Scotland director Brendan Paddy said: “Right now, councils across Scotland are setting their 2025/26 budgets. It’s vital that…

Posted in Access issues, Magazine, News

UPDATE: All four lynx have now been recaptured

Posted on January 8, 2025 by Paul Webster

UPDATE 10/1: Two further lynx were spotted in the area this morning. These additional lynx were also recaptured this evening. UPDATE 9/1: The [original] two lynx have been successfully recaptured by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), who run the nearby Highland Wildlife Park. Working alongside Police Scotland, experts from the wildlife conservation charity humanely trapped the cats overnight. They are now being cared for in quarantine facilities at Highland Wildlife Park before being transferred to Edinburgh Zoo. The charity has condemned the illegal release as “highly irresponsible” and said it is likely the lynx would have died in…

Posted in Magazine, Nature, News

Kinloch Hourn road closure periods

Posted on December 18, 2024 by Paul Webster

The minor road to Kinloch Hourn on the edge of Knoydart is set to have restricted access over the next few months. The road closure notice begins on 21 December 2024 and will remain in effect until Thursday 1 May 2025. However, the closure notice will only be enforced during specified periods and times – usually open weekends and at lunchtimes as well as early morning and evening. The latest closure times can be found on the SSE website – go to this page and then click on ‘Project Updates’

Posted in Access issues, Magazine, Walkhighlands news

Scottish Avalanche Information Service daily reports begin

Posted on December 11, 2024 by Paul Webster

Daily Avalanche Reports for the 6 areas – Lochaber, Glencoe, Creag Meagaidh, Southern Cairngorms, Northern Cairngorms and Torridon regions – will be issued daily by the Scottish Avalanache Information Service (SAIS) from tomorrow, Thursday 12th Dec 2024. Some reports and the SAIS Blogs (useful for snow cover reference) have already been issued. The Scottish Avalanche Project began in 1988 as an avalanche forecasting service funded by the Scottish Sports Council and operating in 2 areas, Glencoe and the North Cairngorms. This ran for 2 winters, with the addition in 1989-90 of Lochaber and a weekend pilot scheme on Lochnagar. After this the…

Posted in Access issues, Magazine, News

Our pick – walking Scotland’s cities

Posted on December 1, 2024 by Paul Webster

Looking for a break from the stresses of Christmas shopping? Here’s our updated guide to the best of Scotland’s eight cities – or is it nine? Edinburgh Scotland’s capital has recently been voted one of the world’s most beautiful cities, and with its combination of stunning architecture spanning the centuries and its dramatic landscape, it’s the perfect city to explore on foot. We feature routes that explore the wonders of both the medieval Old Town and the Georgian New Town, but be sure not to miss areas like Dean Village, or the Botanic Gardens. The Water of Leith provides a…

Posted in Features, Magazine, Our picks

Wildlife charities accuse NatureScot of undermining protection of birds of prey on grouse moors

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Paul Webster

A decision by Scotland’s governmental conservation agency NatureScot to dilute the new grouse moor licensing scheme introduced in July has been slammed by wildlife and environmental charities. Scotland’s parliament had passed legislation requiring grouse moors to operate under a licensing scheme, to act as a deterrent to the illegal persecution of birds of prey. If raptors were being poisoned or shot in acts of wildlife crime, the estate on which these crimes occurred could then potentially lose its licence. Under the scheme launched in July, the licenses covered entire estate landholding, so that if raptor persecution took place anywhere on…

Posted in Magazine, Nature, News

Common Ground: Coinneach Rankin

Posted on November 5, 2024 by Paul Webster

After three series exploring the wild side of Scotland, BBC Alba’s Dàna series returns to our screens this week. This time the team will be heading further afield, for adventures from the mountains of Norway to the sunny coastline of Spain. The first episode of Dàna | Europe’s Wild Side will premiere on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer on Wednesday 6 November at 8.30pm. Watch live or on demand (in Gaelic with English subtitles): Dàna | Europe’s Wild Side on BBC iPlayer. This week we caught up with presenter Coinneach Rankin as part of our Common Ground series of short…

Posted in Common Ground interviews, Features, Magazine

Common Ground: Ilona Turnbull

Posted on September 1, 2024 by Paul Webster

In our Common Ground series of short interviews, we aim to find out what makes our fellow outdoor enthusiasts tick, the experiences we all share and their hopes for the future. Our latest interviewee is Ilona Turnbull, who grew up in Australia but has already completed both the Munros and Corbetts since she moved to Scotland. Can you begin by telling us a bit about yourself and your background? I’m both a non-executive Director for HR, Governance & Equality at Mountaineering Scotland and a lawyer / Company Secretary at a large life insurance company in Edinburgh. I also have an…

Posted in Common Ground interviews, Features, Magazine

Common Ground: Grant Moir

Posted on June 6, 2024 by Paul Webster

In our Common Ground series of short interviews, we aim to find out what makes our fellow outdoor enthusiasts tick, the experiences they share and their hopes for the future. Our latest interviewee is Grant Moir, the Chief Executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, the UK’s largest National Park. Can you begin by telling us a bit about yourself and your background? I grew up in Scone just outside Perth and went to Aberdeen University (mainly to be close to the mountains and for the Dons season ticket) to study geography and history. Having the Cairngorms within an hour…

Posted in Common Ground interviews, Features, Magazine