Isle of Rum hostel plans

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Helen Webster

Temporary visitor accommodation may be installed on the Isle of Rum following concerns about the hostel in the island’s Kinloch Castle. Most of Rum is owned by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and managed as a national nature reserve. Kinloch Castle, also owned by SNH, is a major visitor attraction and the main provider of visitor accommodation. However the building requires major investment, well beyond the reaches of SNH’s budget. SNH has spent more than £1 million on the castle in the past few years. But despite this and major efforts by staff the hostel is unable to offer accommodation to…

Posted in News

Re-introduced Beavers having little effect on rivers

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Helen Webster

Beavers in Argyll are so far having little effect on rivers and streams in the area where they’ve been released, according to a new report published by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Following their reintroduction to Knapdale forest near Lochgilphead in May 2009, as part of the Scottish Beaver Trial, SNH have been closely monitoring the effects of beavers on the environment in partnership with a number of other independent organisations. In autumn 2010, researchers at the University of Stirling re-surveyed 12 rivers and streams in the area used by the beavers, to assess their effects on stream habitats and landforms.…

Posted in Nature

Council defers decision on Allt Duine windfarm

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Helen Webster

Highland Council’s planning committee members today deferred their decision on the controversial Allt Duine wind farm and will carry out a site visit in the New Year. Supporters of the Save the Monadhliath Mountains (SMM) campaign who have fought the plans welcomed the pause, although they stressed that this would not distract them from their goal of achieving an objection by the council to the application for the large wind farm on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park near Kincraig. Outdoor author, photographer and former President of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, Chris Townsend, is a spokesman for the…

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Last chance for Xmas gift offer

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Helen Webster

If you’re still stuck for want to buy anyone who loves the Scottish mountains, there is still time to take up the offer of gift membership of the MCofS. Membership of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland comes complete with a quality free gift (Harvey Map, DVD, Silva Compass, or Chalk Bag), quarterly magazine, discounts at many outdoor retailers and accommodation providers, and the warm glow you get from supporting an organisation that does loads of behind the scenes work on access and conservation issues, helping walking and climbing clubs, running climbing competitions for kids and much more. The MCofS is…

Posted in Walkhighlands news

Diversions on West Highland Way and Great Glen Way

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Helen Webster

The recent stormy weather in Scotland resulted in fallen trees causing diversions and warnings on both the West Highland Way and the Great Glen Way. A spokesperson for the West Highland Way said, “A route diversion is in place at Garadhban Forest on the approach to Drymen due to fallen trees blocking the Way. Users are advised that other parts of the route may be impassable due to storm damage. A full inspection is under way, in the meantime please take care and avoid taking unnecessary risks.” Damage is also causing problems on the Great Glen Way with two sections…

Posted in Access issues, News

Culra Bothy storm damage

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Helen Webster

The roof on the north room of Culra bothy was damaged in the recent storms. Culra Bothy is sited on the Ben Alder Estate near Loch Pattack and is often used as a base for the Ben Alder munros. The bothy is maintained by volunteers. A spokesman for the Mountain Bothy Association (MBA) said, “This room cannot be used at present. Anyone planning on visiting the bothy during the Christmas and New Year period should be aware that the remaining accommodation in the bothy might be very busy. An assessment of the damage will; be made as soon as possible.”

Posted in Access issues, News

Windfarm protest planned for 20 December

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Helen Webster

The Save the Monadhliath Mountains’ (SMM) campaign group is planning a peaceful demonstration outside the Council headquarters in Inverness on Tuesday 20 December, against the controversial Allt Duine wind farm development planned for the edge of the Cairngorms National Park. The protest will be held between 9am and 10:30am timed to coincide with a Planning meeting by the Council to discuss the application. Organisers say that anyone against the windfarm is welcome at the protest. SMM says that it is not anti-wind farms in general but believes that the sheer number of developments planned in the area will mean a…

Posted in Nature, News

Avalanche Warning Service Starts

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Helen Webster

Following the first proper snow falls of winter the Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) reports are now available online for Lochaber and the Northern Cairngorms. The full avalanche risk warning service for all five popular hillwalking and climbing areas in Scotland will be running from Thursday 15th December. The service is also available to mobile phones. To see the warnings and learn more about how to interpret them visit the SAIS website.

Posted in News

Winter skills training

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Helen Webster

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is running a series of 4 Winter Skills courses and 3 Avalanche Awareness courses this winter. These one-day training courses provide a great opportunity to learn new skills, which should enable those new to Scotland’s winter mountains to be more self-reliant and make better judgements when out on the hills. The courses are organised by the MCofS Mountain Safety Adviser, Heather Morning, who says: “The MCofS winter courses are great value for money and a superb way of equipping yourself with the skills needed in the Scottish mountains in winter. By limiting the course…

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Ben Wyvis anti-erosion measures vandalised

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Helen Webster

A Scottish environmental agency has slammed vandals who have destroyed a sign and cairns aimed at reducing erosion on the popular Munro, Ben Wyvis. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) had erected the sign at the An Cabar cairn to point walkers in the direction of the preferred route up the mountain which is aimed at protecting the fragile habitat from erosion caused by the 8000 walkers who tackle the peak every year. To try and reduce the impact on a wide area of woolly fringe moss, which provides a rare habitat for the dotterel, SNH had erected two temporary cairns at…

Posted in Access issues, News