A dustman named Dumbledor

Posted on June 13, 2015 by Ben Dolphin

The natural world, like the human world, is awash with celebrity. A lists, B lists and everything underneath. It’s entirely imposed upon it by us, of course, and for better or worse it tends to be how conservation works, with some animals and habitats being ‘causes célèbres’ and others being……well…..the opposite. On the one hand we have the animals that tabloid newspapers might describe as ‘sexy’. In Scotland that might be eagles, otters, red deer. The animals that seem to have their own publicity machine to grab headlines, get their images shared on Twitter and generate public interest with relative…

Posted in Features, Magazine

Ramblers and MCofS call on public to oppose Loch Lomond camping ban

Posted on June 13, 2015 by Helen Webster

Ramblers Scotland and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) are urging the public to oppose the ban on wild camping proposed for large areas of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Last October, the National Park held a public consultation on proposals to introduce byelaws to ban camping in response to over-crowding and incidents of antisocial behaviour in the national park. Just over half of all respondents said they didn’t want this restriction to their rights. However the National Park wants to go ahead with this part of the proposals and has asked the Environment Minister, Aileen McLeod,…

Posted in Access issues, News

National Lottery grant to tackle path erosion on iconic Scottish peaks

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Helen Webster

A project which brings together Scotland’s two National Park Authorities to address the serious threat of man-made erosion to paths across areas of outstanding natural beauty has been given a major boost with the Heritage Lottery Fund today announcing a grant of £3.26 million. Taking in iconic peaks such as Ben Lomond, Ben A’an, Beinn A Ghlo and Lochnagar, the Mountains and the People project will tackle some of the worst path erosion problems in Scotland by training young people and volunteers to care for the upland landscapes and habitats. The project will give 48 young people the opportunity to…

Posted in Access issues, Nature, News

Arran Coastal Way now on Walkhighlands

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Helen Webster

The Arran Coastal Way has been greatly improved over the last year with new waymarking, path improvements and a new website. A monument to mark the start and finish of the walk in Brodick is planned for later this year. A detailed route description with free OS mapping is now available on Walkhighlands. The Arran Coastal Way is a challenging and rugged long distance route running for 109km mostly around the coastline of the Isle of Arran. The Way fits neatly into a week long holiday, and the excellent bus service around the island makes it possible to walk the…

Posted in News, Walkhighlands news

Top volunteering award given to MBA

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Helen Webster

The Mountain Bothies Association (MBA) has been honoured with the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. Welcoming the the Queens Award for Voluntary Service, MBA Chairman, Simon Birch, said: “We are very proud to have received this award. It recognises the huge efforts that have been made by many, many volunteers over the half century that the MBA has been in existence. These volunteers have restored, and continue to maintain as open shelters, buildings that are greatly valued by those who explore the remoter parts of the country on foot or by bike. “I also want…

Posted in News

Search continues for missing Mamores hillwalker

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Helen Webster

Police in Lochaber are searching for an overdue hill walker who set off to tackle the Ring of Steall on Saturday morning Eric Cyl, aged 62, hasn’t been seen since setting off in the Mamores, the alarm was raised when he had failed to return by Sunday. The search has involved both Lochaber and Glencoe Mountain Rescue teams, assisted by Search and Rescue Dogs and a Coastguard helicopter. Mr Cyl was last seen wearing a light grey jacket and dark trousers. He was walking alone and carrying two walking poles. Anyone who sighted Mr Cyl on the hill or who…

Posted in News

Baselayers group test

Posted on May 31, 2015 by Peter Macfarlane

Base layers are something you have to get right to help make sure you’re comfortable and still smiling at the end of a long day on the hill. However, if you’re looking for something new, the proliferation of fabrics and styles claiming all sorts of outlandish benefits at scary prices might make you cling on to that holey and bobbled old crew neck for a little longer. But the news is actually good, current baselayer fabrics perform well at moisture management, odour control is something that is improving all the time in synthetic fabrics and you can get the performance…

Posted in Baselayers, Gear reviews, Magazine

Booking open for Moray Walking Festival

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Helen Webster

Booking is now open for the wide variety of events being put on as part of this year’s Moray Walking Festival. Enjoy long Midsummer days exploring Moray’s world renowned golden coasts, hills and forests full of hidden fauna and flora, whisky colored rivers and towns with stories to tell and culture to experience. Alongside the more usual guided walks there will be sessions on navigation, animal tracking, white water rafting, evening talks, walking challenges, an endurance races and even a couple of chances to have a go at the growing sport of disc golf. The festival kicks off on Thursday…

Posted in News

Scottish hill tracks – your photos needed

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Helen Webster

The campaign to ensure adequate regulation of new tracks bulldozed across upland areas is appealing for walkers to photograph new hill tracks that they come across. Last year, the campaign was successful in getting a measure of protection for our upland landscapes. Local authorities now have to be notified in advance of any new hill track construction. This will mean building methods should be improved and at least authorities will know where new tracks are located. However campaigners including Ramblers Scotland and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland feel that this measure maybe inadequate as it does not require landowners to…

Posted in Access issues, Nature, News

Entries open for Mountain Writing Competition

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Helen Webster

Writers with a taste for the high life are being sought by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland for its long running literary competition. The MCofS Mountain Writing Competition seeks out the best in mountain writing, whether fact or fiction, prose or poetry. Entries should have some connection with mountains and mountaineering, rock or ice climbing, walking or ski-mountaineering, and winners will receive a cash prize and the chance to see their entries in print in the Scottish Mountaineer, the quarterly MCofS magazine which goes out to its more than 12,000 members. The first placed winners in prose and poetry categories…

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