Magazine

Outdoors groups demand urgent rethink over “kneejerk” Perthshire parking bans

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Paul Webster

Walkers and mountaineers are calling for Perth & Kinross Council to urgently reconsider its “disproportionate” decision to ban parking on nine of its rural roads. The local authority introduced sweeping new parking restrictions across about 60 miles of roads on 22 August, without prior consultation with the outdoor community. Ramblers Scotland and Mountaineering Scotland have united to condemn the move, which makes it much harder to visit several of the area’s best-known beauty spots, including Glen Lyon, Loch Tay, Loch Tummel and the iconic Munro, Schiehallion. As well as affecting walkers and climbers, the restrictions will stop families, dog-walkers, picnickers,…

Posted in Access issues, Magazine, News

Outdoors for all – Nathan Francis

Posted on August 26, 2020 by David Lintern

David Lintern speaks to Scottish hillgoer and microbiologist Nathan Francis Please introduce yourself I am Nathan, a microbiologist by day, and struggling to admit I’ve now entered my forties. I was born and raised in Fife but now living on the outskirts of Edinburgh at the foot of the Pentland hills. I was initially just a hillwalker but camping, bothying and mountain biking have been added to my outdoor activities along the way. I mostly keep to Scotland, but I’ve also branched out to England, Wales, Iceland and a few Alpine trips. What’s your favourite Scottish hill/place and why? My…

Posted in Features, Magazine

Outdoors for all – Zahrah Mahmood

Posted on August 24, 2020 by David Lintern

David Lintern speaks to Scottish hillgoer and accountant Zahrah Mahmood, aka the Hillwalking Hijabi Please introduce yourself Hello, my name is Zahrah Mahmood, I’m a Scottish Pakistani Muslim from Glasgow. During the week I work as a Chartered Accountant and most of my adventures are saved for the weekends or annual leave! What’s your favourite Scottish hill/place and why? Oh that’s so hard to choose! I absolutely love Glencoe, but how can you not? The Lawers range is also one of my favourite places to hike. The views are just awe inspiring, especially as you’re driving in. It fills you…

Posted in Features, Magazine

Outdoors for all – Nav Bakhsh

Posted on August 23, 2020 by David Lintern

In the first of a short series of interviews covering race in the outdoors, David Lintern speaks to Scottish hillgoer Nav Bakhsh, founder member of Boots and Beards hillwalking group. Please introduce yourself My name is Nav Bakhsh, I am a father of 4 boys from Glasgow and one of the founders of Boots & Beards. What’s your favourite Scottish hill/place and why? There are so many favourites ones to choose from, but would have to say Conic Hill, as that was my first ever hill walk and that’s when I fell in love with my new hobby. How did…

Posted in Features, Magazine

Gear review: Osprey Daylite 13l pack

Posted on August 23, 2020 by Helen Webster

Recommended price: £45 (£50 for print colour shown)Weight: 500g (as reviewed) A surprisingly spacious, comfortable, reliable pack for summer days when no winter kit is required. Osprey have updated their daylite pack with some added features, new colour options and a kids version. I’ve been using this one on a variety of day walks and found the single main compartment can easily hold a lighterweight set of waterproofs, first aid kit, insulated top, and food. There’s a sleeve at the back of this section that can take a tablet or small laptop and an externally accessed pouch for up to…

Posted in Gear reviews, Magazine, Rucksacks

Hostelling at risk

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Gregor Barclay

There’s a crisis brewing for Scotland’s hostels. The COVID-19 pandemic has cut a swathe through the tourism industry and the hostel sector has been particularly badly hit. Along with his partner Helen, Gregor Barclay owns and runs Saddle Mountain hostel in the Great Glen. The forward bookings began to dry up in mid-February. We were then closed between late March and mid-July because of lockdown, losing a large chunk of our income for what is a limited season. The Scottish Government allowed tourist accommodation to reopen from 15th July onwards. However, the requirement for guests to physically distance from each…

Posted in Features, Magazine, News

Golden eagles breed at Highlands rewilding estate for first time in 40 years

Posted on August 13, 2020 by Paul Webster

A pair of golden eagles has successfully reared a chick in an artificial nest at Trees for Life’s flagship Dundreggan rewilding estate in Glenmoriston between Loch Ness and Skye – marking the first known return of the spectacular birds of prey to breed at the Highlands site in 40 years. The eagle chick flew from the nest for the first time last week – some five years after a Trees for Life team and renowned conservationist Roy Dennis MBE of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation set up an eagle nest or eyrie at a prime location to entice the birds…

Posted in Magazine, Nature

Gear review: Vaude Alpstein 200 DWN quilt

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Paul Webster

Recommended Price: £330 (but check prices online)Weight: 595g including stuffsack An ultralight sleeping bag or quilt has been on my gear test wish list for longer than I can remember. Lifting of lockdown restrictions mean I’ve finally a proper chance to get out and try the Alpstein 200, a summer sleeping bag / quilt from Vaude. The Alpstein design is interesting, quite different from any sleeping kit I’ve used previously. The foot end is fully enclosed, like a sleeping bag, up as far as the backs of my knees. The rest of the design is then open, though there’s a…

Posted in Camping, Gear reviews, Magazine

‘Tak it Hame’ call for hillwalkers to remove litter left by others

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Paul Webster

Mountaineering Scotland is asking hill walkers and climbers to help keep Scotland’s hills and mountains clear of litter and to ‘Tak It Hame’ – removing not just their own litter, but any they find left by others. Tak It Hame 2020 is being launched as coronavirus lockdown eases and the lifting of travel restrictions has seen much publicity about littering and ‘dirty camping’ in some of Scotland’s most popular beauty spots. It had been planned to relaunch the anti-litter campaign in early spring to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Mountaineering Scotland. But due to the Coronavirus lockdown, that was…

Posted in Access issues, Magazine, Nature, News

Quarandreaming the Cairngorms

Posted on July 20, 2020 by David Lintern

David Lintern returns to the centre for his first post lockdown overnighter. After dark confinement, air and space and the colours of summer. Down in the glen, the first blaeberries, voluptuous purple bell heather and the vivid yokes of bog asphodel line the path. Further up, fresh juniper, birch and pine shoots wave skinny young arms in praise of a warm breeze. Topping out, there are fluorescent green flushes with rust oxide hearts, sharp edged newly bolted deer grass, fluffy head-nodding cotton grass, clusters of dusky white, purple and pink Orchids. It’s an outdoor festival, a landscape in motion. The…

Posted in Features, Magazine