The Glen Esk Green Cow, a large papier-mache bovine which was reported missing last week has been returned safe and well to a field in the Angus Glen. Although the owners suspect that the cow as stolen there was no note or other evidence about the mystery of the cow’s disappearence and Henderson family have thanked everyone who assisted with the search and eventual return of the cow.

The Glen Esk Green Cow, a popular fixture in the Angus Glen, appears to have been stolen. The large green papier-mache cow was last seen on 17 September when tourists were noticed taking photos of it. In appealing for helping tracing the animal, the Green Cow’s owners, the Henderson family, have issued the following statement: “For several years now, the Green Cow has grazed happily in the most isolated field in Glen Esk. She was brought there by John Henderson, an Edinburgh financier, who took pity on the animal’s plight when he found her parked miles from any pasture in a…

An appeal has been mounted to find a family wanting to move to the tiny Hebridean island of Canna. Islanders on Canna, which is owned by the National Trust for Scotland, are advertising for a family to fill the three-bedroom MacIssacs Cottage, which is currently being restored. “MacIssacs has been empty for more than 20 years,” said Deb Baker, Secretary of Canna Community Association, “but thanks to a generous donation from several members of its Patron’s Club, the Trust is in the process of transforming the cottage into a welcoming family home. “The cottage is typical of many properties on…

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority has launched a recruitment drive to find Volunteer Rangers to help look after the National Park and to ensure visitors have a great experience when they arrive. The Volunteer Rangers will have the opportunity to work on a number of activities including helping out at Visitor Centres, delivering events, helping visitors at popular sites including village centres and working on environmental projects, such as wildlife monitoring. Speaking about the new role, Mike Cantlay, Convener of the National Park Authority said, “We have the largest professional Ranger Service in Scotland but with an…

Five writers have been shortlisted for the prestigious mountain literature award, the Boardman Tasker Prize. This year’s shortlist includes a novel from New Zealand, works of philosophy, autobiography and mountain history as well as recent drama. The trust was established to promote literature by providing an annual award to authors of literary works, the central theme of which is concerned with mountains. The annual £3000 prize commemorates the lives of Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker and is given to the author or co-authors of an original work which has made an outstanding contribution to mountain literature. The following summary of…

Experience Inchcailloch, a very special island in Loch Lomond, on Saturday 4 or Sunday 5 September in the company of some of the characters who used to live and work there: the boatman, the minister who brought his flock across from the mainland each Sunday, the farmer who worked the land and mourners at a funeral. Join National Park Rangers and Drymen Community Theatre in an exciting recreation of life on this secluded island. Performances start at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm on Saturday and 12.30pm and 2pm on Sunday. The event is free but there is a charge of £5…

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland are running a subsidised summer Mountain Leadership course to train members of hillwalking and mountaineering clubs to lead groups in the hills. Normally costing £470, the subsidy brings it down to just £320. The training course is run on a 1:6 ratio and is for a maximum of 12. This price includes food and accommodation, use of equipment , instruction and travel to each days training, you just have to get yourself to Glenmore Lodge. This award is for club members who wish to lead hill-walking parties in mountainous terrain in summer conditions. A commitment…

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) has launched a competition for one member to win a pair of tickets to see the Chris Bonington lecture at Dunfermline on Friday September 24th. Details of how to enter the competition, along with the question, can be found at the MCofS website. To enter the competition you have to be an individual member of the MCofS or a member of one of the MCofS’s member clubs. The closing date for entries is midday on Friday 10th September. MCofS Membership Development Officer Mike Dales said, “This is a great opportunity for one of our…

The new website with deer stalking information for walkers has been officially launched by Cameron McNeish today. The new service will supplement the existing ‘Hillphones’ service. This alerts hillwalkers and climbers about locations at which red deer stalking takes place through regularly updated phone messages from 1 July to 20 October. The new pilot website covers 13 estates in the Hillphones and Blackmount areas with more expected to be added this month. Hillphones is coordinated and managed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) and participating estates and covers popular mountain areas in Scotland. It was…