A temporary footbridge across the Derry Burn at the foot of Glen Derry has now been put in place by Mar Lodge Estate workers with the bridge funded by ScotWays. The original bridge was torn from its foundations and swept downstream during spate conditions last August. The temporary bridge is likely to be in place for a couple of years until the Estate is able to build a permanent crossing in the area. The bridge provides an essential link in the most commonly-used route through the famous Lairig Ghru Pass as well as accessing a number of mountain routes.

The board of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority has today approved plans including a large extension to the current East Lochlomondside summer wild camping ban. The plans which received more than 300 responses from the public, including objections from Ramblers Scotland and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, will now go to the Scottish Government for a final decision by a minister. If approved, the National Park hopes to bring in the new rules in time for the summer of 2016. The Park Authority say the recommendations, approved by their board, include the creation of four camping management…

Over 10 miles of new or upgraded footpaths and cycleway have been provided as Scotland’s first National Park’s £8.7 million Outdoor Recreation Plan reaches its halfway point. Visitors and local residents are now able to reach more of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park following extensive restoration work on miles of new paths, cycle routes and bridges, as well as the launch of an extended waterbus service. The major development work by the National Park Authority and its partners is part of its Outdoor Recreation Plan which supports 32 different outdoor activities including kayaking, canoeing, fishing, horse riding, mountain…

Scotland’s latest long distance walk has today been officially opened by Cameron McNeish. The Affric Kintail Way runs from Drumnadrochit in the east to Morvich in Kintail, just a stone’s throw from the sea on the west coast. The starting point at Drumnadrochit means it can easily be extended with a first day’s walk along the Great Glen Way from Inverness creating a satisfying coast to coast, cross-Scotland route. The 71km route is traditionally walked east to west and split into 4 days, but there are any number of options for walkers willing to be flexible in terms of transport…

The summer access arrangements for Strathfarrar have now begun. Strathfarrar has a locked gate and only a certain number of cars are allowed into the Glen each day. There are no restrictions on pedestrian access or taking a pushbike beyond the locked gate and wild camping is allowed within the terms of the Scottish Access Code but you cannot park overnight in the Glen. There will be no vehicular access all day on Tuesdays and on Wednesday mornings. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) negotiates access along the private road with the landowner on behalf of walkers and climbers and…

As the general election draws closer, Britain’s mountaineering councils are issuing a unified call to protect and support the countryside and people’s access to it. Ahead of 7 May, the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) are challenging politicians to recognise the huge value of outdoor recreation in their manifestos and policies, while also understanding the need to protect the special qualities of the outdoors for the benefit of all. The two councils together cover England, Wales and Scotland and represent 90,000 members. Both organisations are campaigning for greater protection for our natural landscapes and…