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Clock change increases deer risk on roads

As the clocks turn back this weekend, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is warning motorists that collisions between deer and vehicles peak at this time of year. With night falling earlier, the peak commuting time coincides with deer coming out to feed on grass verges near roadsides. Because of this, SNH – in conjunction with Transport Scotland and Traffic Scotland – are placing warning messages on electronic variable messaging signs (VMS). From Monday, 30 October to Monday, 20 November, the signs will warn motorists at key locations on the main trunk roads. These messages will be seen on signs on the…

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Posted in News

Nan Shepherd biography to launch in Cairngorms

Best known for her masterpiece of mountain literature The Living Mountain, (first published in 1977) Nan Shepherd, who died in 1981 has been in the news recently. Her image now graces the new Scottish £5 note; The Living Mountain (about her experiences in the Cairngorms) has become a classic and sells in its thousands. Nan Shepherd lived all her life in Deeside, yet few people, even in Scotland, seem to have heard of her until recently. Now a new biography “Into the Mountain” by Charlotte Peacock unravels some of the mysteries, dispels some of the rumours and gives insight into…

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Posted in Magazine, News

Aviemore Adventure Festival 2018

The organisers of the Aviemore Adventure Festival have announced the dates for next year’s festival as well as a crowdfunding appeal to set the Festival on a sustainable footing and expand the charitable aims of the event. The Festival has been run successfully for the past 3 years by a group of committed local volunteers who love the outdoors and are keen to share that passion. However they are looking to expand the festival and are seeking support to fund a new part-time worker who will help support the existing team to develop the festival over the coming years, attracting…

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Posted in News

Mountaineering Scotland Winter Safety talks announced

As the first snows are forecast for the high tops this weekend, its time to think about winter skills. Mountaineering Scotland will again be hosting a series of safety evenings this winter. Heather Morning, Mountaineering Scotland’s Safety Advisor, will share her beautiful photography, videos, personal anecdotes and adventures, while discussing essential skills for winter navigation, avalanche awareness, route choice, equipment, mountain weather and much more. With a lifetime’s experience in the mountains, Heather has been a professional mountaineer for 25 years and was a member of Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team for 16 years. These entertaining and informative evenings will be…

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Posted in News

The Hidden Ways

Today ‘The Hidden Ways: Scotland’s forgotten Drove Roads’ – a new book by Scottish historian Alistair Moffat – is published by Canongate Press, and we have an exclusive extract below. The Hidden Ways wanders Scotland’s forgotten paths to tell an alternative history of Scotland and our place within its landscape. The Hidden Ways will spearhead Alistair Moffat’s campaign to reopen Scotland’s forgotten roads, starting in 2017 and culminating in 2020. The project will be the largestcommunity enterprise ever undertaken in Scotland, and has the support of Creative Scotland, VisitScotland, BBC Radio Scotland and DC Thomson. Born in Kelso in 1950,…

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Posted in Magazine, News

Mountaineers object to Kings House plans

Plans to extend one of the most historic hotels in the Highlands with an ‘industrial style building’ which will dwarf the original have been condemned by Mountaineering Scotland. The Kings House Hotel, on Rannoch Moor, near Glen Coe, has long been a favourite of mountaineers, dating back to the pioneering climbers in the first half of the last century. But now Mountaineering Scotland wants to call time on plans for a major extension which they argue would be completely out of character both with the original building and the surrounding landscape, which is part of a much-loved National Scenic Area.…

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Posted in Nature, News

Hikers light up Ben Lomond on fundraising walk

The summit of Ben Lomond was illuminated on the evening of Saturday 16 September as dozens of hikers ascended the 974m peak in aid of the National Trust for Scotland and Lomond Mountain Rescue. Seventy-five intrepid walkers – and one canine companion – took part in the Ben Lomond Torchlight Challenge, completing the twilight hike and raising £5000 (so far) for the two charities. Under the expert guidance of National Trust for Scotland ranger staff and Mountain Rescue volunteers, the walkers reached the summit at 9pm, with torches and flames sending a signal out to the surrounding area. The challenge…

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Posted in Nature, News

Walkhighlands Walking & Writing Workshop

WalkHighlands has teamed up with award-winning author Linda Cracknell for a ‘Walking and Writing’ Workshop exclusively for Walkhighlands users. The all day event will be held in Pitlochry on Saturday 18 November and will cost £60 including lunch. As with other Walkhighlands events it is being run on a first come, first served basis so book your place using the details below to avoid missing out. Linda will lead a day workshop intended to stimulate and refresh your skills for writing inspired by landscape and walking, whether it’s for WalkHighlands reports, articles, or even for fiction with fully-realised settings. No…

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Posted in News, Walkhighlands news

1st phase of Suilven path restoration complete

After four months of intensive work involving two path contractors, about 10 staff and an airlift of over 100 tonnes of rock, the first stage of the project to repair and upgrade sections of the path leading to Suilven in Assynt has now been completed. The work, which will cost around £200k, is being undertaken as part of the Coigach & Assynt Living Landscape Partnership (CALLP) Scheme with the aim of halting the ongoing loss of vegetation and erosion of soil – particularly fragile peat – along the path line. The project is a partnership between the Assynt Foundation, who…

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Posted in Nature, News

Stalking information on Walkhighlands for new season

As Scotland’s deer stalking season gets into full swing, the web-based service to avoid conflict between walkers and stalkers has been relaunched. Scottish Natural Heritage’s ‘Heading for the Scottish Hills’ website allows walkers to check ahead for details of possible deer stalking taking place on estates where they plan to go walking. Walkhighlands has once again teamed up with the service to put the latest stalking info onto our individual walking routes. This year Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has worked with partners including Mountaineering Scotland and the Association of Deer Management Groups to create a more user-friendly service, which has…

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Posted in Access issues, Magazine, News, Walkhighlands 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.