Mountaineers call for clarification on Coire Cas parking charges

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Helen Webster

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) has sent a letter to the Chief Executive of Cairngorm Mountain Limited (CML), highlighting concerns relating to parking charges at Coire Cas. The MCofS has three concerns which relate to the current voluntary parking scheme, the use of voluntary donations, and the potential imposition of mandatory charging. The MCofS believes that the current voluntary donation scheme trial is inadequately signposted and that, as a result, visitors may be unaware that the scheme is in operation. The MCofS is therefore urging CML to improve signage to avoid the possibility that the voluntary donation scheme system…

Posted in Access issues, News

Ben Nevis gully marker destroyed

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Helen Webster

The metal post at the top of Number 4 Gully on Ben Nevis has pulled out of the ground and thrown down the gully. The navigation post, which has been in place for several years, is currently the subject of a consultation. A spokesperson for the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) said, “The future of this essential navigation aid and that of the abseil posts in Coire Leis have recently been under discussion. The MCofS supports the view that the No 4 Gully marker provides an essential aid to navigation; particularly during bad visibility in the the winter months and…

Posted in Access issues, News

Chris Townsend Cairngorms book launch

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Helen Webster

Author, photographer and renowned long-distance walker, Chris Townsend, will give an illustrated talk at the launch of his book, A Year in the Life of the Cairngorms. The talk is to be held on Thursday 17 November at 7:30pm in the Grant Arms Hotel in the centre of Grantown on Spey. Chris, who lives and works on the edge of the Cairngorms, knows the landscape better than most having spent endless days hiking and wild camping in all four corners of the National Park. The book is primarily a photographic record of the year and Chris will illustrate his talk…

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Gear Review: Gloves

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Phil Turner

This review closely follows my look at outdoor hats, and no sepia-tinted journey involving your Mum ramming a home-knitted bobble hat on your head is complete without a pair of colourful mittens linked with a length of string. Similarly, no monochrome winter mountain journey is complete without at least one pair of decent gloves. Gloves divide people – there are those that prefer a single thick glove, those that like a selection of liners with a waterproof outer and those that opt for those half-finger gloves with a flap that turns them into mittens. My personal approach varies according to the…

Posted in Accessories, Gear reviews

Walkers need to learn about helicopters says RAF

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Helen Webster

An RAF winchman is urging climbers and walkers to learn how to work with RAF rescue helicopters. Duncan Tripp, Master Aircrew Winchman Paramedic based at RAF Lossiemouth on 202 Squadron with the Sea King rescue helicopters has issued guidance on safe practice whilst in the vicinity of a Sea King rescue helicopter and is keen that hillwalkers should familarise themselves with it in case they are involved in a mountain rescue. Heather Morning, Mountain Safety Officer with the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) described the guidance as “essential reading” for anyone spending a significant amount of time in the Scottish…

Posted in News

Ten point winter checklist for hillwalkers

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Helen Webster

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is urging hill walkers and climbers to take particular care with preparation when heading out to the hills during the winter months. The walker’s and climber’s organisation has issued a “Ten Point Winter Check List” as shorter days and adverse weather conditions require preparation for the potential problems that can arise on a winter day or night spent on the Scottish hills. MCofS Chief Officer, David Gibson, says: “There is a poignant quote that goes: Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. Having considered a selection of typical winter pitfalls, the…

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Beinn Eighe visitor centre strikes gold

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Helen Webster

The visitor centre at Beinn Eighe, Britain’s oldest National Nature Reserve (NNR) has added to previous accolades by taking a gold standard in the Green Tourism Business Scheme. The centre in Kinlochewe is managed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and has attained silver awards for several years after annual assessments of how the visitor facilities perform as a sustainable tourism operation. Alison Rowe of SNH confirmed: “We are delighted to achieve this gold award as we continuously look at ways of minimising energy use and our impacts on the environment. Many of the measures are simple, such as switching over…

Posted in Nature, News

MCofS joins challenge to Cairngorms new town

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Helen Webster

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) has joined with the charity, the Cairngorms Campaign, to urge walkers, climbers, mountain bikers, skiers, bird watchers and others who enjoy the Cairngorms to donate funds to help finance a campaign to stop the building of a new town on the outskirts of Aviemore. The MCofS has joined the legal challenge to the decision of the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) to adopt the Cairngorms National Park Local Plan 2010 (The Plan). The Plan, if implemented, will result in the erection of 1,500 houses at An Camas Mòr on the east bank of the…

Posted in Nature

Scots revealed as top nature lovers

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Helen Webster

Results of a new YouGov survey for Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) show that the Scottish public have a deep affection for nature. While this is true across Scotland, priorities vary slightly from area to area. The representative sample of Scottish adults found that nine in ten (90%) enjoy seeing and hearing birds in their garden or local parks. Some 89% of the public see Scotland’s celebrated woodland creatures, such as red squirrels and capercaillie, as part of Scottish culture and agree that they help make our countryside special. Interesting results included: 83% agree that it is important that rare birds…

Posted in Nature

Goats to remain on Rum

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Helen Webster

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is to maintain a healthy and viable population of feral goats on the island of Rum, even though some are being culled to protect the island’s fragile habitats. The goats are thought to have been on Rum for at least 200 years and, along with eagles, red deer and Manx shearwater, have become an established wildlife feature of the island’s national nature reserve. Over the past ten years there has been a marked increase in the size of the feral goat herd, for reasons that are not entirely clear. This has been shown to have a…

Posted in Nature