Police have said that the search for missing Yorkshire man Grant Cunliffe has been stood down. A third day of searches failed to find any trace of the missing man and his family have been made aware there will be no further searches at the moment. Mr Cunliffe from North Yorkshire has been missing in the Cairngorms since Thursday 19 January 2012. Around 180 rescue personnel have been involved in the searches over the past three days. Yesterday (24 January) 65-70 rescuers took part in a first light search for Mr Cunliffe, which included representatives from Northern Constabulary, Grampian Police,…

Police in Aviemore are appealing for information in relation to the movements of an overdue climber missing in the Cairngorms since Thursday 19th January 2012. Grant Cunliffe, aged 49, from Skipton in North Yorkshire is believed to have walked into Corrour Bothy in the Larig Ghru pass on Wednesday 18th January, intending to go hillwalking on the Thursday and Friday before returning home. As yet Mr Cunliffe has not returned from his trip and was reported overdue on Saturday 21 January. Mr Cunliffe is described as 5’10”, slim build, balding, wearing a blue waterproof jacket and black waterproof trousers, carrying…

A free walk showcasing Loch Leven’s wetlands takes place on Saturday, 4 February, led by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) staff. Loch Leven is an internationally designated wetlands site, and the walk is part of the celebrations for this year’s World Wetlands Day. Craig Nisbet, SNH reserve officer at Loch Leven, said: “We’re again seeing high numbers of birds at Loch Leven this winter, so the walk should be a terrific one. We recently counted over 12,000 pink footed geese, plus almost 500 greylag geese, lots of whooper swans, a few grey partridges and a kingfisher. Plus there’s the chance to…

The Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service is now providing a free text service to mobile phones. The summary service complements the detailed avalanche forecast information available on the SAIS website. You can subscribe to the service by sending a keywords to the number 88020 (standard network charges will apply). The summary avlanche forecast text will then be sent out daily at 1800 hrs. The keywords are: saisnc for (North Cairngorms area) saislo for (Lochaber area) saissc for (South Cairngorms area) saisgl for (Glencoe area) saiscm for (Creag Meagaidh area) Once the relevant keyword has been sent to the number 88020 a…

The walk programme for the Angus Glens Walking Festival is now available online. This year the Festival is celebrating its 10th year with an exciting mix of walks, from gentle countryside strolls to strenuous mountain hikes. The programme features 28 varied walks led by experienced mountain leaders over four days from Thursday 31 May. New walks for the Festival for 2012 include: Eagle Watching in Glen Clova, a chance to see Golden Eagles close to their natural nesting site, deep in the Angus Glens and; Stonyford, Glen Lethnot to Tarfside & Invermark, a moderate walk that passes between two glens,…

A 19 year old climber is being treated in hospital having fallen around 300 feet from the Great Slab in Coire an Lochain in the Cairngorms yesterday (Wednesday 11 January). The RAF rescue helicopter from Lossiemouth was involved in the rescue and the man was airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with serious injuries. The casualty is currently studying in Fort William although he is originally from the West Midlands.  It is understood that he sustained injuries to his head and right leg and is currently being treated in the Intensive Care Unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The Police have described his condition…

Police are urging those intending on walking or climbing hills to make sure they are prepared for all weather conditions. Central Scotland Police Chief Inspector Kevin Findlater said: “To go up the hills at this time of the year and not to be properly equipped or prepared for extreme conditions is inexcusable. It is playing with people’s lives and this should not be taken lightly.” The warning comes after police and mountain rescue teams had to go to the aid of a man who was stranded in white-out conditions at the top of Ben Ledi, near Callander. Chief Inspector Findlater…

Hillwalkers and climbers will be able to legally carry Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) from 12 January following a change in UK regulations. Previously the devices, which send out a distress signal identifying the user’s exact location when activated, could only be licensed for use on boats and planes. Some mountain rescuers have expressed concern following a potential rise in call outs from PLBs because the devices do not allow two way communication so there is no way for the rescue services to check whether the device has been activated in a genuine emergency and therefore allowing the call to be…

Artworks are to be installed on coastal paths near John O'Groats as part of a wider plan to revamp the town. Imaginatively called Path, the scheme will cost £15,000 and is being funded by Highlands and Islands Entreprise (HIE). HIE is calling for artists to submit proposals for permanent artworks as part of a plan to invest £6m in the area. In June the crumbling Hotel was painted with murals as a temporary measure prior to the re-development. The Path project will start in May 2012. Nick Scroggie, from HIE, told the BBC that it was hoped to make the…

The line up for the 2012 Fort William Mountain Festival in Lochaber has been announced and includes Artic explorer Bob Shepton and downhill mountain biker Steve Peat. The festival kicks off with an evening launch on Wednesday 15 February and runs until Sunday 19, closing with the Best of Banff World Tour films. The winner of the 2012 Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture will be announced during the festival and there is also a film competition. For tickets and more information see the Festival website. To browse and book accommodation in Fort William and the surrounding area see…