With lambing season well underway, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Ramblers Scotland and land management organisations, Scottish Land & Estates and NFU Scotland, are asking dog walkers to be aware of vulnerable young lambs when they're out walking over the Easter holiday weekend. At this time of year, dogs chasing sheep are a particular danger to pregnant ewes and lambs. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code has the following advice for dog walkers: – Don’t take your dog into a field where there are lambs – or calves or other young animals. Walk through a neighbouring field or in the land next…

The summer access arrangements for Strathfarrar began last week. Strathfarrar has a locked gate and only a certain number of cars are allowed into the Glen each day. There are no restrictions on pedestrian access or taking a pushbike beyond the locked gate and wild camping is allowed within the terms of the Scottish Access Code but you cannot park overnight in the Glen. There will be no vehicular access on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) negotiates access along the private road with the landowner on behalf of walkers and climbers and this year’s opening…

The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority is to consider further measures to deal with antisocial behaviour and pressure from high visitor numbers which may include more wild camping bans. Wild camping on the east side of Loch Lomond between Drymen and Rowardennan during the summer months is currently banned under a byelaw introduced in 2011. The ban was enforceable with a £500 fine and regular Police and ranger patrols were implemented as well as other measures such as an alcohol ban. The Park Authority has now issued a report which shows that experience in the East Loch…

Edinburgh University Mountaineering Club (EUMC) has put out an urgent appeal for donations to repair Glen Licht House. The hut, which is nestled among the Five Sisters of Kintail, is normally available to individuals and clubs by advance booking. Unfortunately, Glen Licht House’s roof was badly damaged in a storm last winter and the building is now falling apart. The EUMC is looking to raise both awareness of the issue and money to help repair it. The Club says that as well as essential structural repairs, they will also be able to improve the house’s interior with a better stove,…

A new access gate near Pattack Falls – enabling walkers to reach a new bridge over the River Pattack – has enabled improvements to be made to the route of the East Highland Way. The new stretch uses a track and a path to avoid what used to be an unpleasant 2km stretch of road-walking on a busy, twisty section of the main A86 road; it is the latest in a series of changes which have reduced the road walking on the route by around 13km in total. Kevin Langan, who devised the route (as well as writing the guidebook),…

Forestry Commission Scotland's Aberdeenshire team is appealing to members of the public to help keep a popular walker's car park open, by reporting incidents of fly tipping. Dan Cadle, the Recreation Forester in the area, said, “Over the last month we have had repeated dumping of fly tipped material in our Tyrebagger car park – in total about 6 tipper loads of house-hold and building trade waste. “We have reported it to Police Scotland and they are already following up on leads, and we are also passing them CCTV camera pictures of dumpers at the site. “Every time that we…

The 2014 bothy maintenance season is about to get into full swing and whilst the Mountain Bothies Association (MBA) aims to keep disruption to a minimum, it is warning that some bothies may have to be closed for a short period or that space at some may be restricted. The MBA asks that walkers should check the maintenance programme on the MBA website and to be prepared to camp. It also says that work party dates can change, sometimes at short notice so it is worthwhile checking before setting off on a trip. Major work is to be carried out…