Just in time for the next icy blast and snowfall, the Scottish Avalanche Information Service will start producing daily forecasts from Thursday 16 December. The five areas covered by the hazard warnings are Lochaber, Glencoe, Creag Meagaidh, South Cairngorm and North Cairngorms. The Service has been producing weekend forecasts for Lochaber and the Northern Cairngorms for the past few weeks due to the early heavy snowfall. As well as viewing the forecasts on the internet, the forecasts are available as text alerts by subscription, and the website is also mobile friendly so it views well on smartphones. Last year the…

With ice forming over the lochs in some of Scotland’s national nature reserves, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has issued a wide appeal to those enjoying the frozen outdoors to play safe. Last winter a group of visitors were seen running across frozen Loch Kinord in Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve. Reserve manager, Catriona Reid, said she is concerned some may try it again. She said: “It’s great to see people getting out to enjoy Scotland’s stunning winter landscape, and national nature reserves are magical places to visit in these conditions. Muir of Dinnet is a real winter wonderland with…

The National Trust for Scotland is aiming to celebrate the 155th anniversary of the birth of Sir Hugh Munro by climbing every Munro by 16 October. A team of staff and volunteers from conservation charity will take to the hills on Friday 5 November at Ben Lawers. Teams of staff and volunteers from the charity have pledged to summit every Munro owned by the charity, in time for Sir Hugh Munro’s 155th birthday on 16 October 2011, spreading the word about the charity’s vital countryside conservation work. The Trust owns and cares for 46 of Scotland’s 284 Munros, at locations…

The winter access arrangements for Strathfarrar will begin on Monday 1 November. If you want to take cars into the glen on or after that date you need to phone the MCofS office (01738 493 942) during weekday office hours to obtain the combination for the padlock and provide your name, car registration number and dates of when you will be going. There are no restrictions on pedestrian access or taking a pushbike beyond the locked gate. The MCofS negotiates access along the private road with the landowner on behalf of walkers and climbers, more details including the summer access…

The Scottish stag stalking season has now come to an end. This year, in addition to the Hillphones recorded message system, a new website was trialled aimed at giving walkers and climbers up to date access information. If you used the site, called Heading for the Scottish Hills, and run by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), it would be really helpful if you could provide any feedback which will be used to improve the website. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland, which was a partner in the trial, has expressed disappointment that many estates did not post detailed stalking and access information,…

Four car parks in the Trossachs area will be subject to short term closures to allow essential maintenance to take place. The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park says that the following car parks will be affected on various dates throughout October and November: * Loch Lubhair will be closed for three days starting 25 October * Loch Lubnaig (S) will be closed for three days from 3 November * Loch Lubnaig (N) will be closed all day on 8 November * Venachar (N) will be closed for two days from 11 November The National Park says these dates…

Over the course of 2009-10, the Mountain Bothy Association (MBA) has invested considerable resources in training their volunteers who maintain open shelters throughout the wilder parts of Great Britain. Many of those volunteers undertook work on 56 of the MBA’s shelters which are available for use by walkers on a no-charge basis. Presenting the Association’s Annual Report for 2009-10, MBA Chairman John Arnott said: “Our work party volunteers are the cornerstones of the Association and this year contributed 1,130 working days to the renovation and maintenance of our bothies. We regard the safety of our volunteers as paramount and, whilst…

Six years after major floods swept away the historic bridge at Bracklin Falls near Callander, a new structure is today being inched into position. The new bridge, which is made from copper and wood, is being carefully manhandled into position using people power as location of the gorge means it is impossible to get a crane to the site. The woodland surrounding the site also meant that the bridge had to be built on site as helicopters could not be used. The new bridge will mean that a popular circular walk at the Falls will once again become possible. Since…