No further avalanche forecasts are expected to be issued for Southern Cairngorms, Glencoe, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber and Northern Cairngorms. The Sports Scotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) has been issuing weekend forecasts for these mountain areas since the daily service stopped. SAIS says, “We will continue to monitor weather and,snowpack conditions and recommend the following: “Avalanche hazard considerations should always be part of any winter hill goers daily plans and we would recommend that climbers, walkers and off-piste skiers currently venturing into the hills, continue to note snow and weather conditions in respect of any potential avalanche hazard. Be prepared to…

The Strathspey town of Kingussie will be hosting a mini walking festival later this month. The Highland settlement, which prides itself on the number of small festivals which take place throughout the year, is planning an evening of speaker on Friday 17 May followed by a choice of seven walks of differing lengths the following day. Friday 17 May, 7.30 pm Talla Nan Ros, Kingussie, Talk the Walks An evening listening to speakers talk about Kingussie’s footpath network, historical sites, settlements and routes Saturday 18 May, 10am Ardvonie Park, Kingussie, Walk the Talks The organisers invite you to celebrate Kingussie’s…

According to an annual survey by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) walking continues to be the most popular outdoor recreational activity among adults living in Scotland. Walking was the main activity on 73% of visits to the outdoors in 2012, with family outings next, and then cycling and mountain biking making up 4% of visits. Each year SNH tracks the proportion of Scottish adults visiting the outdoors for leisure or recreation at least once a week. The survey for 2012 shows that 42% of Scottish adults were visiting the outdoors for leisure or recreation at least once a week, a 4%…