Communities in the Cairngorms and Skye are celebrating major National Lottery investment which will see large areas of landscape along with many historic and natural attractions rejuvenated, celebrated and protected. Thanks to a major grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Tomintoul and Glenlivet Landscape Partnership will use the rich natural heritage of the region to encourage more visitors and so help sustain fragile local communities including Tomintoul, the ‘Highest Village in the Highlands’. On Skye, Scotland’s first ever Ecomuseum, which is a pioneering community-led initiative, will be extended and improved thanks to funding awarded today. Cabinet Secretary for the…

More than 120 tonnes of stone and path-building materials have been airlifted by helicopter to a remote island to allow Scottish Wildlife Trust contractors and volunteers to repair the paths. The worn paths on Handa Island reserve off the west coast of Sutherland are being repaired to allow visitors to safely experience one of Europe’s most important seabird colonies and enjoy spectacular views from the island. Handa Island reserve is owned by Scourie Estate and managed in partnership with the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The island is a summer haven for around 70,000 breeding seabirds including puffins, guillemots and razorbills. Reserves…

Hillwalkers are being warned that major quarry blasting work will temporarily close the route to Ben Lui from Glen Lochy on Thursday 8 September. Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) says that there will be an organised quarry blast on the 8th September 2016. The precise location in Succoth near Dalmally can be seen on this map. It is expected to be carried out at approximately 12 noon, however there may be some variation between 11am and 1pm. FCS is asking hillwalkers not to attempt to walk near this area for their own safety.The blast will be close to the main hillwalking…

A major refurbishment of Ruigh Aiteachain bothy, in Glen Feshie, in the Cairngorms is now underway. This has been planned for some time and will see some big improvements to the bothy. The work is being undertaken by the Glen Feshie Estate and will involve a partial rebuilt of the building. As a consequence the bothy is now unavailable for use whilst work is carried out by professional contractors. The Estate hopes to have the bothy open again towards the end of September.