walkhighlands

Red Squirrel census planned

The National Trust for Scotland fears that in the future visitors to some of its Highland properties, where red squirrels have been commonplace, will no longer be able to see the iconic animal. As part of its response to these fears the Trust plans to carry out a squirrel census at all its properties over the next year. The census forms part of the charity’s red squirrel conservation plan which it has shared during Red Squirrel week. The Trust has red squirrel populations at many of its properties from the red squirrel “stronghold” of Brodick Country Park on Arran to

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Posted in Nature

Pink Footed sunset at Loch Leven

One of Loch Leven’s greatest wildlife displays will be in the spotlight on October 8 and 23 at free events run by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) staff. Autumn sees the return of one of Loch Leven’s flagship species, the pink-footed goose. After a summer in Iceland and Greenland, the geese migrate south to the UK and stay until the spring. Loch Leven is one of their main destinations, with as much as 10 percent of the global population roosting on the loch shore by night and feeding in surrounding farmlands by day. Craig Nisbet, SNH reserve officer, said: “This is

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Posted in Nature

Mull of Galloway tourist boost

An RSPB report says that its Mull of Galloway nature reserve provides a half million pound boost to the local economy and supports more than a dozen jobs in the area. RSPB Scotland area manager Andrew Bielinski said, “With its busy seabird cities and stunning beauty, Mull of Galloway is a great place to enjoy nature. This report proves the worth of nature reserves to the local economy.” “Not only are these important places to conserve and protect our wildlife and environment, but they also bring tourism, money and jobs to the area, which is always welcome news to smaller

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Posted in Nature

Nevis Range to open avalanche transceiver training park

Last year the Glencoe ski centre opened an avalanche tranceiver training park, and now Nevis Range is set to follow suit. The Nevis ski centre, situated just outside Fort William, plans to create an area where people can train to use the devices to help find avalanche casualties and is likely to be useful to mountaineers, climbers and back country skiers. Nevis Range is working with Back Country Access and the UK supplier of the devices. As with the Glencoe park, the area would be free to use and would help to promote safe back country skiing. A spokesman for

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Posted in News

Future of Ben Nevis summit posts to be decided

The John Muir Trust is consulting with the Mountaineering Council of Scotland’s Safety Committee and Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team to determine what, if anything, should be done with both the top marker post on the lip of Coire Leis and the No 4 Gully Marker on the summit plateau of Ben Nevis. As a wild land charity the Trust has a presumption against structures, way markers and poles on the summit. Currently there are numerous structures and poles which have been placed there over the years. If there isn’t a clear reason for these to remain then the Trust says

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Posted in Access issues, Nature, News

Walker dies in Glencoe fall

A woman has died following a fall in Glencoe yesterday afternoon (Thurs 29 September). The rescue services were alerted shortly after 4pm and Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team was involved in the search. Later in the evening the police confirmed that the woman had died. A spokesperson for Northern Constabulary Police said that enquiries are continuing and details of the deceased will be released once next of kin have been informed.

Posted in News

Ben Lawers benefits from event donation

Conservation work at the National Trust for Scotland’s Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve got a boost this month as £2000 was pledged to the site. The Artemis Charitable Foundation made the donation after holding a leg of the Great Kindrochit Quadrathlon at the Perthshire nature reserve which is owned and cared for by the conservation charity. As part of the gruelling endurance race which took place in July 2011, participants walk or run up seven munros in the Ben Lawers range, as well as swimming and kayaking in Loch Tay and cycling around it. Around 200 people braved the challenge

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Posted in Nature

Go wild with Scottish mushroom code

This time of year can often see Scottish woods carpeted with colourful wild mushrooms. These are a valuable natural food resource for recreational and commercial collectors, but also for a range of wildlife. Mushroom gathering has been steadily increasing in Scotland in recent years, with a growth of TV programmes and books on wild cookery and following people moving from other European countries which may have a stronger tradition of wild foraging. In response Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is urging collectors to follow the Scottish Wild Mushroom Code. The organisation says following the Code makes it possible to collect fungi

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Posted in Nature, News

Public vote against Beauly Denny plans for Stirling

Over 200 members of the public have voted against Scottish Power’s plans to reduce the visual impact of the controversial Beauly to Denny electricity pylon route and joined with the Council to call for an improved plan. The public meeting was called by Stirling Council after the Scottish Government approved the line of the power route but asked Scottish Power and the 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

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Posted in Nature

2011 OMM heading for Perthshire hills

This year’s Original Mountain Marathon (OMM) will take place from from Cultybraggan Camp near Comrie at the end of October. Although online applications have now closed, there are a few places still available for postal applications. The OMM’s organisers say it is, “still the UK’s premier event to test teamwork, self-reliance, endurance, outdoor and navigational skills. The reputation of the event is worldwide and every year we have entrants from all over the world. “The ethos of the event is to be totally self-reliant, in the wilds, carrying all equipment, no outside support and without GPS or cell phone. Your

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Posted in News


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You should always carry a backup means of navigation and not rely on a single phone, app or map. Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is every walker's responsibility to check it and to navigate safely.