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Monbiot rewilding talk ahead of Cairngorms Nature Festival

Environmental campaigner and activist George Monbiot is to speak on rewilding in the Cairngorms National Park next week. The Guardian columnist will be giving an evening presentation focussing on rewilding, and outlining his own thoughts on current approaches to managing National Parks and protected places. He will also be signing copies of his latest book on rewilding, ‘Feral’. George Monbiot’s talk will take place at the Boat of Garten Community Hall on Thursday 15th May at 7pm. It is free to attend but booking is essential – the talk is almost certain to be full. There will be tea/coffee and…

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Posted in Nature, News

Council urged to act over access on Glen Lyon estate

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland is to bring pressure on Perth and Kinross Council to take action over a ‘rogue’ estate where access rights seem to be ignored. North Chesthill Estate in Glen Lyon has been a regular source of complaint from walkers over a number of years. The estate contains a popular round of four Munros, Carn Gorm, Meall Garbh, Carn Mairg and Creag Mhor and despite the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, which enshrined a statutory right of access, mountaineers still experience a range of problems. Despite repeated efforts over a number of years, little progress has been…

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Posted in Access issues, News

Police raid estate in sea eagle enquiry

Police have searched an estate in the Cairngorms National Park following the mysterious disappearance of a tagged sea eagle in the area. The bird, which was the first sea eagle to fledge in Fife in 200 years as part of an re-introduction project, had been fitted with a satellite tag with the last recorded location being on the North Glenbuchat Estate in early April. Since then there have been no sightings or transmitter signals from the bird. Police Scotland said: “We are concerned for the welfare of a white tailed eagle and enquiries are ongoing to locate the bird. Around…

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Posted in Nature, News

Last avalanche forecast issued for season

The final avalanche forecast from the Scottish Avalanche Information Service has now been issued. The forecasts usually run from December to the middle of April, dependent on the snow conditions and funding arrangements and cover five areas – Creag Meagaidh, Glencoe, Lochaber, Northern Cairngorms and Southern Cairngorms. This winter forecasts for Torridon were provided on a trail basis. The service is funded by SportScotland. Although the 20013-14 winter saw the highest number of recorded avalanches, there were no deaths caused by them in the Scottish mountains this year. Whilst the forecasts have ended for another year, there is still substantial…

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Posted in News

Final stage of Loch Leven Heritage Trail now open

A final 6.5 kilometre section is now open which completes the Loch Leven Heritage Trail circuit around the loch near Kinross. The new section – which runs from the RSPB Nature reserve at Vane Farm to Kinross – includes the highest point on the trail, and gives some of the best views on the whole 21km route. The final section cost £800,000, and was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund with further contributions from Scottish Natural Heritage, The Arthur and Margaret Thompson Trust, The Gannochy Trust and Sustrans. A very valuable new donation was a bequest from the late Jean…

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Posted in Access issues, News, Walkhighlands news

Dog walkers urged to take care around lambs

With lambing season well underway, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Ramblers Scotland and land management organisations, Scottish Land & Estates and NFU Scotland, are asking dog walkers to be aware of vulnerable young lambs when they're out walking over the Easter holiday weekend. At this time of year, dogs chasing sheep are a particular danger to pregnant ewes and lambs. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code has the following advice for dog walkers: – Don’t take your dog into a field where there are lambs – or calves or other young animals. Walk through a neighbouring field or in the land next…

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Posted in Access issues, News

John Muir Way officially opens this Easter

A festival of events celebrating the life of conservationist John Muir kicks off today (Thurs 17 April) and will include the official opening of the new long distance walking route the John Muir Way on Easter Monday. The new trail which runs between Helensburgh and Dunbar and echoes John Muir’s own personal journey growing up in the east coast town of Dunbar before travelling to the west coast of Scotland where he set sail for life in America. Although John Muir left Scotland at the age of 11, it was here that his love of nature was developed. He was…

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Posted in Access issues, News, Walkhighlands news

Hillwalkers warned of Easter snow

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland is warning hill walkers not to get caught out by weather or late, icy snow patches in the hills. With the Easter weekend approaching, many will be planning trips to the Scottish mountains – for some their first visit of the year. But, while the sun has been shining this week, it’s not yet summer in the mountains. Mountain safety expert Heather Morning warns hill walkers heading out this Easter break that winter is not over. Heather, Mountain Safety Adviser with the MCofS, said: “At this time of year it is really difficult to know…

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Posted in News

Strathfarrar summer access

The summer access arrangements for Strathfarrar began last week. 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 on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) negotiates access along the private road with the landowner on behalf of walkers and climbers and this year’s opening…

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Posted in Access issues, News

Extra WH Navigation Course dates

As the planned four Walkhighlands/MCofS Navigation Courses for 2014 booked up within days, a further two courses will be held in the Ochils in July. Each course will begin with an hour of work indoors and then the rest of the day will be spent on practical navigation skills on the hill. The course will be run by Heather Morning, Mountain Safety Officer at the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and are aimed at anyone who wants to learn how to navigate for hillwalking or to brush up existing knowledge. The courses are very friendly and will also provide a chance…

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Posted in 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.