The great outdoors comes indoors this weekend as outdoor organisations get set for a major exhibition in Glasgow aimed at encouraging people to make the most of Scotland’s hills and mountains. Skills for the Hills, organised by Mountain Aid, working with Mountaineering Scotland, will take place on Saturday at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Halls. Some 40 leading outdoor organisations will be taking part, with a mix of exhibitions, talks and demonstrations aimed at helping and encouraging people of all levels of experience, from newcomer to experienced mountaineers. The event will be opened by Mountain Aid patron and outdoor writer and broadcaster…

After 40 years operating out of a large cupboard in the local Youth Hostel, the Torridon Mountain Rescue Team is to begin building a new base this month. The team said that “We are fortunate that the National Trust for Scotland has made available to us an ideal site, at the foot of our most spectacular mountain, Liathach, next to the Loch Torridon Community Centre and the Torridon Medical Centre (see plan below). “We are greatly indebted to St John Scotland who are funding the major part of the build cost. Nevertheless, we estimate that we need to raise another…

Festival speaker encourages communities to review benefits of allowing land to return nature and creating iconic destinations. A national rewilding expert is proposing that one of Scotland’s first modern wildernesses could be created in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders. The idea will be included in a talk by David Balharry, Scotland Director of Rewilding Britain, at Wild Film Festival Scotland in Dumfries on 26 March. David is presenting a long term vision for between 200km2 and 600km2 of the old Ettrick Forest to be returned to its wild state and asking if this approach can offer better opportunities…

To celebrate the fact that the Forres area has achieved ‘Walkers are Welcome’ status, local organisations have come together to arrange a long-weekend of walks, running from the 31st March to 2nd April. The Walkers are Welcome accreditation is given to towns who can show they have excellent facilities for walkers, such as waymarked routes, well-maintained paths and active walking groups. To showcase what’s on offer in the area, groups involved in securing the accreditation are putting on a selection of free walks in the spring. The weekend kicks off on the afternoon of Friday 31st March with Forres Footpaths…

Marginal conditions in the mountains this winter have led to uncertainty and difficult decision-making when planning journeys – whether heading for the Munros or for climbing trips. Because of this Glenmore Lodge, Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre, has issued advice to all mountaineers on how to get the best out of their mountain journeys. Shaun Roberts, Principal of Glenmore Lodge, and a mountaineer of 30 years’ experience, said: “This is a very different winter to those we have become used to in Scotland. If you are planning to travel to high ground this weekend for Munro tops, or maybe to…

Sustrans is asking walkers to provide information to help plan the development of walking and cycling paths in Scotland. A large national survey is now open and all walkers and cyclists are being encouraged to take part. The National Walking and Cycling Network (NWCN) is a network of walking and cycling paths and routes in Scotland. The network includes all of Scotland’s Great Trails, Scottish Canal towpaths and the National Cycle Network (NCN). The Sustrans survey aims to assess: The benefits that access to walking and cycling paths and routes bring to the people that use them and; how walking…

Mountain Aid have announced they will be holding a “Skills for the Hills” day on 25 March in Glasgow. The event is set to inspire, educate and entertain the many who head onto our hills, be they summer hill walkers, all-weather climbers or mountain bikers. It also seeks to encourage the many more who don’t know what they are missing, and signpost some of the ways they can get started. The event will take place in the Strathclyde Suite of Glasgow’s Concert Halls from 10am to 4pm. The event will be officially opened by outdoor broadcaster and journalist Cameron McNeish,…

The Aviemore Adventure Film Festival is set to return from 9 to 12 March this year hosting hosting a variety of films, talks, workshops and outdoor events. After a successful 2016 Festival, this year’s festival is even bigger than before, packed with a superb line-up of events for the outdoor enthusiast. For the first time outdoor activities and workshops will be included in the programme alongside the mainstay of inspiring talks from leading outdoor athletes and exhilarating film screenings from around the adventure world. The Festival kicks off this year on Thursday 9th March, with a day dedicated to celebrating…