walkhighlands

News

Walkers urged to fight cuts to local access funding

Ramblers Scotland is calling on walkers to urgently email local councillors to ensure upcoming budgets safeguard investment in walking, paths and outdoor access.  The charity says that most Scottish councils have squeezed the money they spend on walking throughout the past decade. Long-term budget cuts have led to fewer staff to support access, complaints about blocked paths increasingly going unanswered, and insufficient funds to maintain popular trails. A new webpage has been launched at ramblers.org.uk/accessbudgets to help walkers find and email their local councillors.  Ramblers Scotland director Brendan Paddy said: “Right now, councils across Scotland are setting their 2025/26 budgets. It’s vital that

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Posted in Access issues, Magazine, News

UPDATE: All four lynx have now been recaptured

UPDATE 10/1: Two further lynx were spotted in the area this morning. These additional lynx were also recaptured this evening. UPDATE 9/1: The [original] two lynx have been successfully recaptured by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), who run the nearby Highland Wildlife Park. Working alongside Police Scotland, experts from the wildlife conservation charity humanely trapped the cats overnight. They are now being cared for in quarantine facilities at Highland Wildlife Park before being transferred to Edinburgh Zoo.  The charity has condemned the illegal release as “highly irresponsible” and said it is likely the lynx would have died in

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Posted in Magazine, Nature, News

Scottish Avalanche Information Service daily reports begin

Daily Avalanche Reports for the 6 areas – Lochaber, Glencoe, Creag Meagaidh, Southern Cairngorms, Northern Cairngorms and Torridon regions – will be issued daily by the Scottish Avalanache Information Service (SAIS) from tomorrow, Thursday 12th Dec 2024. Some reports and the SAIS Blogs (useful for snow cover reference) have already been issued. The Scottish Avalanche Project began in 1988 as an avalanche forecasting service funded by the Scottish Sports Council and operating in 2 areas, Glencoe and the North Cairngorms. This ran for 2 winters, with the addition in 1989-90 of Lochaber and a weekend pilot scheme on Lochnagar.  After this the

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Posted in Access issues, Magazine, News

Wildlife charities accuse NatureScot of undermining protection of birds of prey on grouse moors

A decision by Scotland’s governmental conservation agency NatureScot to dilute the new grouse moor licensing scheme introduced in July has been slammed by wildlife and environmental charities. Scotland’s parliament had passed legislation requiring grouse moors to operate under a licensing scheme, to act as a deterrent to the illegal persecution of birds of prey. If raptors were being poisoned or shot in acts of wildlife crime, the estate on which these crimes occurred could then potentially lose its licence. Under the scheme launched in July, the licenses covered entire estate landholding, so that if raptor persecution took place anywhere on

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Posted in Magazine, Nature, News

Islay Wildlife and a Highlands Intro win monthly prizes

October saw lots of great walk reports posted on the Walkhighlands forum. Retelling experiences from Scotland, the rest of the UK and beyond, the prize judges loved reading them all. Walk report of the month and winner of a £100 Highlander voucher was EmmaKTunskeen for “First trip to Islay” – a lovely report showcasing the wildlife on the island and a nice reminder that although we are about to head into winter, spring is only round the corner. The £50 Highlander voucher is heading to jfefleming for “Start as you mean to go on: An introduction to the Highlands” which

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Posted in Magazine, News

Fairy Pools and Glenbrittle road closed on Skye

The road to the Fairy Pools and Glenbrittle on Skye will be closed from Monday 4 November until Friday 15 November. This means day access to the Fairy Pools car park and the Cuillin peaks from further down the Glenbrittle road as well as Rubh’ an Dùnain is not possible. The road will be closed from 8:30am to 6pm so early morning and evening access will be unaffected but during the day only essential local access, during amnesty periods, will be allowed. The closure is to allow essential repair work including extending passing places and resurfacing. In recent months the

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Posted in Magazine, News

Walkers reminded to check headtorches as clocks go back

As the clocks go back on 27 October mountain safety experts are asking outdoor enthusiasts, just how well do you know your head torch? Mountaineering Scotland says, “Whether you’ve intended to be out in the dark or not, it’s easy to underestimate journeys in the colder months and, if it does get dark, you’re going to need more than just the light on your phone to get yourself safely home. A fully charged head torch, spare and extra batteries are essential additions to your outdoor kit, but you also need to feel confident using them.” Senior Mountain Safety Advisor, Ross

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Posted in Magazine, News

Fife Pilgrim Way added to Walkhighlands

We’re delighted to add the Fife Pilgrim Way to Walkhighlands. Our description covers all the stages with detailed instructions and photos. As usual, all the stages can be downloaded to your phone for offline use, with GPS mapping to help keep you right – all free of any charge or any need to sign up or share your details. Fife Pilgrim Way guide St Andrews was once one of Europe’s major pilgrim destinations, with the relics of the apostle once housed in the Cathedral ranking it alongside Santiago de Compostela and Rome in medieval times. The Fife Pilgrim Way long

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Posted in Magazine, News, Walkhighlands news

Wild mountain camps win walk report prizes

August turned out to be a busy month with lots of walk reports – it was hard to pick the winners: However eventually it was decided and the £100 Highlander voucher goes to Ferg for Summit camp on An Teallach – a report and video that does that majestic mountain justice. The £50 Highlander voucher runner up prize is on its way to Jorjick for Stobbing out all night an account of a mountain camp from Glen Etive. Every month £150 of Highlander vouchers are up for grabs, just post a walk report on the Walkhighlands forum for a chance of winning.

Posted in Magazine, News

A dog’s penultimate Corbett and searching for unicorns on Eriskay

July’s winning reports are all about the animals. Mountain Dog wins the £100 outdoor gear voucher from Highlander for “Alfie’s Penultimate with a high camp and Bothy first“. Congratulations – the judges loved reading about this Highland adventure. The £50 runner up Highlander voucher goes to KatTai for “Eriskay – In search of unicorns.” Ok, so no actual unicorns but plenty of beautiful ponies, seals, dogs and a cuckoo. Every month £150 of Highlander vouchers are up for grabs, just post a walk report for a chance of winning – see details here.

Posted in Magazine, News


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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.