The Kintyre Way, long distance walking route, is set to receive £150,000 over the next three years which will allow upgrading and ongoing publicity work to continue. The funding includes contributions from Scottish Natural Heritage, Argyll and the Islands Leader, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Argyll and Bute Council and the East and West Kintyre Windfarm Trusts. The funds will allow more of the 88 mile route, which runs from Tarbert to Southend, to become off road. Recent improvements mean that most of the route now runs along paths and forestry tracks, however the section from Campbeltown to Machrinhanish still runs…

Lochaber Geopark is offering a chance to follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin during a guided walk to the Parallel Roads in Glen Roy in June and July. The strange ridges on the hillsides of Glen Roy are thought to be the old shorelines of lochs whose water level changed dramatically due to an ice dam which may have been formed by a falling comet. Darwin, who was born 200 years ago, visited Glen Roy in 1838 and after spending 5 days exploring, described it as a, “most remarkable area”. Darwin came to the conclusion that the lines were…

The four Scottish Coastguard search and rescue helicopters that were grounded last week following a fatal crash in Canada, have been given the all clear to fly again. Last week the helicopters, which are based in Shetland and Lewis, and cover a vast area of northern Scotland, often on mountain rescue missions, were grounded to allow for safety checks after the Canadian crash revealed a fault. The Sikorsky S-92 aircraft have been fitted with replacement parts and returned to service following the accident in Newfoundland last week in which 17 people died. During the grounding, emergency cover has been provided…

The BBC report that the hillwalker who had been reported missing overnight in the Kintail area has been found injured by the RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue team. He was unconcious. The walker had failed to return last night from a hike and has now been airlifted to the Belford hospital in Fort William. Three mountain rescue teams, as well as the RAF, coastguard, police and search dogs were involved in the search. An RAF spokesman said “Everything possible was done to get the man to hospital as quickly as possible. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”

The National Trust for Scotland has announced a number of cost saving measures in response to an expected downturn in income this year. On the closure list is the Mountain Visitor Centre at Ben Lawers which is popular as an interpretation centre for the special and fragile habitat on the mountain as well as with walkers setting off on one of the most popular Munros. Also to be closed are Arduaine Gardens in Argyll, Hill of Tarvit Mansion House in Fife, and Leith Hall House in Aberdeenshire. The NTS is seeking external sponsorship or volunteer support to keep a number…

A climber survived with only minor minor injuries after falling 700ft (213m) in Glencoe. The accident happened after a cornice collapsed near Stob Coire nan Lochan on Bidean nam Bian yesterday (Sunday 1 March) afternoon. Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team and an RAF helicopter helped to locate and airlift the man to hospital in Fort William.

SportScotland’s Avalanche Information Service, which has only been available via the internet, can now by received on mobile phones on a paying subscription service. The service will operate for any one or more of the five most popular Scottish mountain areas covered by the Avalanche Information Service reports: North Cairngorms, South Cairngorms, Lochaber, Glencoe and Creag Meagaidh. For £1 per message, a person can subscribe to the service by sending a key word to the number 88020. The relevant area text will be sent out daily at 1800 hours enabling users to adjust their plans if necessary. Having sent the…

The search resumed this morning (Monday 23 February) for missing walker Robin Davies. Mr Davies, aged 48 and from the Inverness area, went walking in the Glenfeshie area with his Yorkshire terrier on Saturday and was reported missing on Sunday after he had failed to return. A search began on Sunday involving police, mountain rescue teams, and a helicopter from RAF Kinloss. This was called off overnight but resumed at first light today. It is reported that Mr Davies was an experienced walker and weather conditions were not particularly poor in the area at the weekend.

Mountain Rescuers started searching at first light today (Thursday 5 January) for two walkers missing overnight on the Cairngorm plateau. The alarm was raised at 8pm last night when the pair failed to return from their hillwalk. Wintery weather conditions last night included below freezing temperatures and heavy snow. Police are coordinating rescue efforts by the Cairngorms Mountain Rescue Team and the RAF helicopter search team. UPDATE: 12:30 The two walkers have now been found safe having spent the night on the hills. The two men, aged 22 and 29, were spotted by the RAF helicopter at approximately 11 am…

A woman from Ireland has died after falling over 200 metres on Cairn Gorm on Saturday 31 January. Theresa Conalty, aged 40, from Country Wicklow, slipped whilst walking with a group in Coire Cas. Whilst visibility was good, it was extremely windy on higher ground and the snow was very hard and icy which would make it difficult to stop even a small slip. Strathclyde Police and the Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team who were training in the area joined with members of the Cairngorm Mountain Ltd Ski Patrol, to assist with the rescue. Ms Conalty was taken down the mountain…