Sunday ferry sails between Harris and Skye

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Helen Webster

Ferry operator, Caledonian MacBrayne, has started a Sunday service from Tarbert on the Isle of Harris. Up until yesterday (23 October) Tarbert was the only Outer Hebrides port without a Sunday sailing, usually a boat would leave empty and head to Lochmaddy, on North Uist, from where a Sunday service to Uig on Skye was provided. The introduction of this final Sunday service is controversial with locals, where Sabbath observance is still an important way of life for some. CalMac said that the decision to start taking passengers at Tarbert on a Sunday was taken after consultation with the local…

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Deer warning to Scottish motorists

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Helen Webster

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is warning motorists that collisions between deer and vehicles increase in certain parts of Scotland at this time of year. Car accidents involving deer can peak at this time of year, as our clocks turn back. With the nights starting earlier, the peak commuting time coincides with deer coming out to feed on grass verges near roadsides. From Monday, 24 October to Monday, 14 November, electronic variable messaging signs will warn motorists at key locations on the main trunk roads in Scotland, such as the A9, A835, A85, A82, and A87. From the latest deer vehicle…

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Gear review: Winter daypacks

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Phil Turner

In the first of a new series of reviews of outdoor clothing and equipment, Walkhighlands’ gear editor Phil Turner takes a look at rucsacks for the winter season. Warm jacket, spare hat, goggles, ice axe, crampons, flask of hot rum tea, spare gloves, bothy bag, snowshoes – it’s easy for a winter load to take on gargantuan proportions and swamp that lightweight mountain marathon pack that seemed cavernous in the summer. To accommodate this increased load I prefer a pack around the 40 litre mark – increasing to 45 or even 50l if I’m carrying group kit. In addition to…

Posted in Gear reviews, Rucksacks

Beauly Denny powerline measures rejected by Council

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Helen Webster

Following last month’s public meeting at which plans to reduce the visual impact of the Beauly to Denny powerline around Stirling were voted down, the Council has formally rejected the plans and branded them “inadequate and ineffective”. The Scottish Government has approved the line of the power route but asked Scottish Power and Stirling Council to work together to come up with plans to mitigate the effect of the planned giant pylons in the area around Stirling and the Wallace Monument. Scottish Power put forward plans which involved painting the pylons to blend in with the surroundings and planting to…

Posted in Access issues, Nature

Views wanted on Scottish woodland expansion plans

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Helen Webster

Individuals, land managers, local authorities, the voluntary sector and community groups across Scotland are all being asked their views on how best to take forward woodland expansion in Scotland. The call to gather views comes from Dr Andrew Barbour, the chairman of the Woodland Expansion Advisory Group. This 18-strong group of farmers, foresters, conservation, community and land experts, has been tasked with the job of providing Scottish Ministers with advice on identifying which types of land are best for tree planting. Dr Barbour said: “One clear message from the Group is a desire to gather as many views as possible…

Posted in Nature

Wilderness Weekend success on Arran

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Helen Webster

An innovative new outdoors project that introduces disabled people to woodlands and green space has taken its first six participants to Arran to take part in an inaugural ‘Wilderness Weekend’. This project is to encourage more people with disabilities to access woodlands and green space. Forestry Commission Scotland and The National Trust for Scotland have worked with Scottish adventuress Julie McElroy to develop the Wilderness Weekend, which saw the group taking part in a range of outdoor activities. Participants, aged between 20-74 years old, got involved in a series of pursuits including arts and crafts and woodland walks. They also…

Posted in Access issues, News

Police name Glen Shiel fall victim

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Helen Webster

A lengthy mountain rescue search ended yesterday (Saturday 15 October) with the recovery of the body of a climber from the Glen Shiel mountains above the the Cluanie Inn. The dead man has now been named by Police as 65 year old Tom Clark, a graphic designer from Aberdeen. Kintail Mountain Rescue Team, SARDA Search Dogs along with Police and Rescue 137 from RAF Lossiemouth attended following an emergency call was received around 5:30 pm stating that a man had fallen a considerable distance. Eventually the fallen climber was located and found to have suffered fatal injuries.

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Planners recommend Tyndrum gold mine approval

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Helen Webster

In the latest round of planning decisions for the proposed gold mine at Cononish, near Tyndrum, planning officers are recommending approval. The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority will consider Scotgold Resources Ltd’s plans on 25 October. The original planning application was refused by the Park Authority in August 2010. This latest application is an amended application which was submitted in July this year, it was given a cautious welcome by SNH and the John Muir Trust on the proviso that environmental concerns had been properly addressed. Scotgold chief executive Chris Sangster told the BBC, “We are delighted…

Posted in Access issues, Nature

Ben Lawers car park and Glen Ogle road closure

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Helen Webster

Building work has now begun for a new car park near the site of the old Ben Lawers Visitor Centre which was demolished last year. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland reports that the new car park will be located in a more discrete position and is due to completed by early 2012. In addition a dry stone enclosure will be built on the path leading from the car park to the nature trail which will provide an interpretive display about Ben Lawers. Toilets will not be provided at the new car park which is being constructed by the nature reserve…

Posted in Access issues, News

Sallochy West Highland Way campsite now bookable online

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Helen Webster

The new basic campsite set up at Sallochy can now be booked online. Following the summer camping ban which is now in place on the east side of Loch Lomond between Drymen and Rowardennan, a new campsite at Sallochy Bay was established. During its first season of operation there have been some complaints from walkers on the West Highland Way that a permit had to be bought in advance in Balmaha and that on route information about the site was hard to come by. The campsite, which is for tents only and has basic toilet facilities but no drinking water,…

Posted in Access issues, News