A man has been airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after falling and sliding a total of 250m in the Cairngorms yesterday. The 25-year-old man fell at 3.30pm over the rim of Coire Sputan Dearg on the plateau below the summit of Ben Macdui, and slid around 250m down the mountainside. He was found following a rescue operation involving Braemar and Aberdeen Mountain rescue teams at 6.30pm and was evacuated by stretcher before being airlifted to hospital. Police Scotland described the evacuation as being carried out in “challenging conditions”.
John Muir and 2014
2014 could be an important year for Scotland. The Commonwealth Games, the Year of Homecoming, the Independence Referendum and a celebration of an event that will probably miss most people's radar – the centenary of the death of John Muir. I guess most folk who read this will know of John Muir but it still surprises me that so many people here in Scotland have never heard of him. Perhaps that’s not too surprising as he left these shores at a young age and made his name across the Atlantic where he inspired a nation, a young nation that was…
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John Muir Trust calls for Wild Land Map to be adopted in Muir centenary year
As Scotland enters a momentous new year, the John Muir Trust is urging all political parties to unite behind the proposed wild land map of Scotland in honour of one of our nation's greatest heroes. John Muir died on Christmas Eve 1914, leaving behind him an enduring legacy of respect for nature, ecology and landscape. He is today a household name in the United States for his role in establishing the national parks. In his adopted state of California, streets, schools, museums, health centres, parks, rivers valleys and mountains are named in honour of the Dunbar-born writer, explorer, ecologist, activist,…
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Surveys show need to conserve Scotland's healthy seas
Research surveys conducted by the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) during 2013 have identified a remarkably wide range of whale, dolphin and porpoise species – highlighting the need to conserve the rich biodiversity and globally-important marine habitats in western Scotland’s seas. The latest research is part of HWDT’s unique and long-term monitoring project of cetaceans – whales, dolphins and porpoises – in the Hebrides. With growing concerns over the state of the UK’s seas, and threats to wildlife and ecosystems from human activity, HWDT is calling for volunteers to help continue the pioneering research in 2014. In total during…
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Posted in Nature
Banff Mountain Film Festival UK tour dates released
The Banff film festival showcases the best of the latest films from the global mountain sports community including climbing, alpinism, mountain biking, adventure travel, skiing and kayaking. New activities to the line-up this year are base-jumping, surfing and trail running. Now in its fifth edition, the 2014 UK & Ireland Banff Tour will be the biggest tour to date – 56 screenings will be showing at 40 locations, including 12 new venues. The diverse film programme is selected from the 360 films, including award-winners and audience favourites, entered into theprestigious Banff Mountain Film Festival held in the Canadian Rockies in…
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Posted in Uncategorized
BBC to show Pilgrim’s Trail – Iona to Easter Ross
Tonight BBC2 Scotland is showing the first of Cameron McNeish’s new 2 part Adventure Show special on the Pilgrim’s Trail. The route will run from Iona to Easter Ross – and a little known site of major important in Scotland’s history. “Cameron McNeish celebrates the best of Scotland’s history and landscape with a new coast to coast walk across the Highlands from Argyll to Easter Ross. This is a journey into our rich and often turbulent past, following in the footsteps of our ancestors – the Celtic priests, Vikings, fugitives, red coat armies, or even those who earned their day to day living…
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Posted in News
Happy Christmas from Walkhighlands
We’d like to wish a very Merry Christmas to everyone who has used Walkhighlands in 2013! Here’s hoping you have a 2014 full of fantastic walks and holidays in Scotland.
Posted in Walkhighlands news
Strathfarrar Festive Season Access
Anyone wishing vehicular access to Glen Strathfarrar over the festive season, from 24th December to 4th January, should make sure they get in touch with the MCofS office by 23rd December, so that details can be passed to the gatekeeper. Details of the booking procedure are here. The glen gives access to a popular round of four Munros as well as up to the Loch Monar dam and An Sidhean.
Posted in Access issues, News
Police appeal to walkers over poisoned Glen Lethnot eagle
Police have appealed for walkers in Angus for information about a poisoned golden eagle. The bird was found dead earlier this month and tests have now revealed that it was illegally poisoned. Anyone who was in the Glen Lethnot area between 10 and 25 November is asked to contact the Police. The eagle, named Fearnan, was ringed as a chick in a nest near Loch Tay in Perthshire in June 2011 and had spent much of its life in Speyside, before moving to the Angus glens in early November. Satellite tracking equipment showed that the bird stopped moving only three…
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Christmas Selection Box 2013
In the last Gear Review of 2013, Phil takes a look at a selection of winter goodies to suit all stockings pockets. Edelrid Shark crampons £140 It’s often hard to distinguish between the racks of 12-point crampons on the outdoor shop shelves, but the Edelrid Shark offers something a bit different, effectively representing three crampons in one. The box contains three interchangeable bindings – soft, semi and full automatic – to accomodate boots ranging from flexible walking boots to stiff mountaineering monsters. It’s straight-forward to switch between the bindings with no tools required, though it’s rare that you’d need to…
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Posted in Accessories, Gear reviews