As the May Bank Holiday approaches, hill walkers are being urged to treat long-lying snow patches with caution. Although it’s spring on lower ground, the high mountains of Scotland are still hanging onto winter, and there are still substantial snowfields and snow patches lying across the routes up many popular hills. Temperatures over the last week having been unseasonably low, with new snow falling on some of the higher mountain tops, and much of the old snow people encounter may be hard and icy, posing a significant threat to anyone not properly equipped. Heather Morning Mountain Safety Advisor with Mountaineering…

Nature documentaries are the big winners on TV, series such as The Blue Planet and Countryfile have becomes flagship programmes for the BBC, attracting some of their highest viewing figures. The live diary-styled Springwatch programmes have a huge following on social media with even reports of some Facebook groups forming and meeting for holidays! It’s one thing to love nature from the comfort of your home with a glass of something refreshing, but how many of these ‘sofa nature watchers’ have actually ever experienced nature for themselves? It can be daunting if you don’t know where to go or what…

The Scottish Avalanche Information Service will issue its last daily avalanche forecast for this winter on Sunday 15 April. However due to the large amount of snow still on the Scottish mountains the SAIS will continue to provide general advice on potential avalanche risk until necessary. This year more than 210 avalanches have been recorded by SAIS. Conditions on the mountains are likely to remain in winter conditions for quite sometime yet. Check the SAIS website before planning your route and check out the Walkhighlands winter safety information for further tips.

The body which represents climbers, mountaineers, hill walkers and snowsports tourers in Scotland is to have a new hand at the helm from Monday. Mountaineering Scotland has appointed Stuart Younie as Chief Executive Officer, replacing David Gibson, who is retiring on Friday after more than a decade at the head of the organisation. Stuart Younie comes to Mountaineering Scotland from Live Active Leisure in Perth, where he was Business Development and Programming Manager. He brings a wide range of senior management experience, including strategic planning, business development and operational delivery. He is also passionate about the outdoors, having skied and…