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MBA looks back on successful year

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

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Posted in Access issues, News

Loch Leven hosts goose spectacle

One of Loch Leven’s greatest wildlife spectacles will be in the spotlight on 24 October, with an event run by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) staff. With the dawn, thousands of pink-footed geese rise from their night-time roosts on the loch shore, providing a dramatic, one-of-a-kind scene for spectators. About 20,000 pink-footed geese winter at Loch Leven National Nature Reserve, arriving from their breeding grounds in Iceland and Greenland in the autumn and remaining until spring. The pink-footed goose is a medium-sized, grey goose, with a dark head and neck, a pink bill and pink feet and legs. Loch Leven is

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Posted in Nature, News

Man's body found in Kintail mountains

The body of a man has been recovered by the Kintail Mountain Rescue Team from Beinn Fhada near Morvich on Sunday (10 Oct). The remains were found near the Bealach an Sgairne on the mountain. The Stornoway Coastguard helicopter assisted the team with the task. The Police have yet to name the dead person. A search has been ongoing for walker Stewart Sutherland who has been missing in the area since 20 September, and the police are also looking for another two men believed to be missing in the Highlands. Skye Mountain Rescue Team and the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter were

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Posted in News

New bridge for Bracklinn Falls

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

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Posted in Access issues, News

New plea for missing walker

A renewed plea for help finding Stewart Sutherland, missing in the Kintail area since 20th September, has been made. Stewart’s car was left at the car park which used to be used for the Falls of Glomach, near Morvich. Stewart is 52 years old, six foot tall, of slender build with light brown, greying hair, and he may have been wearing dark blue waterproof and trousers. He is assumed to have been walking in the Beinn Fhada area or the Glen Affric hills. Police and Mountain Rescue searches have so far failed to find any sign of the missing man.

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Posted in News

Wainwright memorial lecture date

This year’s Wainwright Memorial Lecture will be given by long-distance walker John Merrill – the first person to walk around the entire coastline of Britain, covering 6,824 miles in ten months. The lecture will be held at Rheged near Penrith, Cumbria, on Saturday 9 October 2010 at 6 pm. Tickets are available direct from Rheged (01768 868000) and cost £12 each (£8 to Wainwright Society members). A two course meal is also available before the lecture.

Posted in News

Scottish nature tourism worth £1.4bn

Nature-based tourism is worth at least £1.4bn a year to the Scottish economy and supports the equivalent of 39,000 full time jobs. Walking and landscape enjoyment nets £900 million for Scotland each year. These are some of the findings in a new report commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Wildlife tourism brings in £127m and is the main driver behind more than one million trips to Scotland each year. Activities include bird watching, whale watching, guided walks and practical conservation holidays. Among the contributors is dolphin watching on the east coast, which generates at least £4m a year to the

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Posted in News

Plea for walkers to pick up litter on the Ben

The last volunteer litter pick on Ben Nevis has just taken place, and the John Muir Trust has taken the opportunity to urge all walkers venturing up the Ben to pick up at least one piece of other people’s litter. The organised litter picks will take a break for the next six months while the summit is often snow covered. The clean ups will start up again next year, usually in May, when the snow recedes. The John Muir Trust also issued a statement of thanks to all the volunteers who have come along on Ben Nevis work parties during

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Posted in Nature, News

Cairngorms National Park extended

The Cairngorms National Park suddenly got bigger. Today (4 Oct) the boundary of the National Park was extended to include Highland Perthshire including the settlements of Blair Atholl and Pitlochry. Ramblers Scotland welcomed today’s ceremony. Ramblers Scotland Director, Dave Morris, said, “We are delighted that the Scottish Government has brought the southern boundary of the Park down to Blair Atholl. Outdoor groups have long campaigned for this extension so that the magnificent wild land of Perthshire will be better protected and the local economy of rural communities will be better sustained.”” Dave Morris also indicated how international support was an

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Posted in Nature, News

MCofS tells sportscotland not to ignore walkers and climbers

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) has told sportscotland that it must value hillwalking and climbing and not ignore these activities in favour of competitive sports. The MCofS was responding to a consultation on the future strategy the sports body, sportscotland, which guides the development of sport in Scotland and is a major funder of clubs and societies, including the MCofS. In its response statement the MCofS said, “We agree that sport provides a valuable vehicle for bringing people together and empowering individuals and communities. However, we believe that sportscotland’s strategy should recognise and encourage the many clubs which are

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You should always carry a backup means of navigation and not rely on a single phone, app or map. Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is every walker's responsibility to check it and to navigate safely.