Mountain Aid is returning with another Skills for the Hills Day to be held at Stirling University on 7 March. The day will bring together hillwalkers, climbers, and outdoor organisations for a full programme of inspiring talks, practical sessions, and outdoor activities. Learn first aid, watch a demonstration of search and rescue dogs, learn about navigation and mountain weather. “Skills for the Hills is about equipping people with knowledge while celebrating the fantastic community that supports outdoor recreation in Scotland,” said a spokesperson for Mountain Aid. “With expert talks, practical workshops, search and rescue dog demonstrations, and exhibitor stands, the…

A wide-ranging community discussion on the potential reintroduction of lynx to northern Scotland is being launched this month by the Lynx to Scotland partnership. Dozens of events in Highland and Moray will offer information and gather local views on the benefits and concerns that would come with the species’ return.  Lynx to Scotland is a partnership between charities SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, Trees for Life, and The Lifescape Project. Since 2020 it has been assessing whether and how lynx could return to the Highlands through a carefully managed reintroduction process. The partnership says a reintroduction needs to be broadly accepted,…

The 2025 ThinkWINTER campaign focusses on planning and preparation as the key to enjoying Scotland’s hills and mountains this winter. As winter returns to Scotland’s majestic mountains, mountain safety organisations have launched the annual joint ThinkWINTER campaign, reminding outdoor enthusiasts that mountain conditions can change rapidly — and planning and preparation is key to having winter adventures and coming home safe. Whether you’re hiking, climbing, running, mountain biking or ski touring, ThinkWINTER encourages everyone heading into the hills to check the mountain weather and avalanche forecasts, have appropriate clothing and footwear, carry the necessary equipment, and ensure they have the…

This year the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) will start its daily avalanche reports from Thursday 11 December. As usual, these will cover the six area of Lochaber, Glencoe, Creag Meagaidh, Southern Cairngorms, Northern Cairngorms and Torridon. With snow cover currently on many Scottish mountains, SAIS will, in the meantime, monitor conditions and future weather patterns in collaboration with Met Office meteorologists. SAIS says, “Generally snow cover is expected to be superficial but more significant accumulations are likely in the Northern mountain ranges of Torridon and the Cairngorms. Be alert to deeper unstable accumulations in localised steep wind sheltered places.…

Scotland’s long-awaited overhaul of farming subsidy fails to replace “invaluable” lost funding for paths and public access, a leading walking charity has warned.  It had been widely expected that the Scottish Government’s new draft Rural Support Plan would roll out new post-Brexit subsidies for funding outdoor access infrastructure, including the nation’s tens of thousands of miles of paths.   Ramblers Scotland says it was “shocked” to discover that the Scottish Government’s emerging Rural Support Plan contains no replacement for the vital Improving Public Access (IPA) scheme – which previously invested around £2 million a year into paths, bridges and signage before being suspended…