Deer Stalking reminder

Posted on September 24, 2011 by Helen Webster

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is reminding walkers heading for the hills this autumn to check ahead for possible deer stalking taking place on estates. It is also keen to hear from walkers about their experience of doing this and would like hill walkers to complete a short survey. The busy stag stalking season which runs until 20th October and is at its peak around now, is also a popular time of year for walkers. Because of requests from walkers and land managers SNH developed the Heading for the Scottish Hills website with support and advice from the National Access Forum.…

Posted in Access issues, News

Mountains of adventure planned for EMFF

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Helen Webster

The best of the best in the fields of climbing, mountaineering, round the world expeditions, base jumping and mountain photography are among those who will be flocking to the Scottish capital for the 9th Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival (EMFF) from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 October 2011. This year’s diverse and packed programme of mountain films, lectures and exhibitions is guaranteed to inspire, enlighten and entertain the capital’s annual gathering of the adventure sports, photography and filmmaking communities; as well as those who love the outdoors, travel and mountain adventure. Over the last eight years the EMFF has built a…

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New studies show effect of beavers on trees and fish

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Helen Webster

Two new reports on the Scottish Beaver Trial in Argyll, published by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), show that beavers are changing some of the woodland structure but so far having little effect on fish in streams. Beavers were reintroduced to Knapdale forest near Lochgilphead in May 2009 as part of a five year scientific trial run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, hosted by Forestry Commission Scotland. After an absence of more than 400 years, the effects of beavers on the environment are being closely monitored by SNH in partnership with a number of…

Posted in Nature

Loch Ness windfarm rejected

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Helen Webster

Highland Council has voted against plans for a 23 turbine wind farm at Druim Ba between Kiltarlity and Abriachan to the northeast of Loch Ness. Planning Committee Councillors decided that the visual impact and the effect on an important tourist area would be unacceptable. The area, which is currently forestry, is just to the north of Loch Ness and very near to part of the Great Glen Way and a number of walks and cycle trails at Abriachan. The planned turbines would have been almost 150 (490ft) metres high. The Scottish Government is now likely to make the final decision…

Posted in Access issues, Nature

Bill Bryson and Polartec win Outdoor Writers' awards

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Helen Webster

Best-selling author and environmental campaigner Bill Bryson has won the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild’s (OWPG) prestigious Golden Eagle Award for his campaigning work to protect the British countryside from litterlouts, fly tipping and other threats. The Guild has also voted Polartec’s Neoshell as the outstanding product innovation for the outdoors in the last 12 months. The annual Golden Eagle award is presented to “a person who has rendered distinguished or meritorious service to the outdoors generally”. Although born in Iowa in the United States, Bill Bryson is passionate about the British countryside and has been described as “the world’s…

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Scotland’s Mountain Safety Day

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Helen Webster

A whole day dedicated to mountain safety and open to all will be held in Stirling on 8 October. The day promises a fun mixture of interactive events, presentations and displays – a real one stop shop for information on the Scottish hills and how to enjoy them safely. Entry is FREE and the day should appeal to hill walkers and climbers of all abilities, particularly those wishing to find out how to be more self-reliant in the mountains. Presentations include: the causes of mountaineering incidents; navigation techniques; mountain weather forecasting and mountain first aid and, weather permitting; an outdoor…

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Cameron McNeish backs Monadhliath windfarm campaign

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Helen Webster

A growing campaign backed by renowned mountaineer, writer and broadcaster Cameron McNeish has issued a call-to-arms to stop the go-ahead of a proposed wind farm at Allt Duine, situated on the very edge of the Cairngorms National Park. The proposed Allt Duine wind farm represents one of 11 wind farms that either already exists or are at the planning application stage in the Cairngorms National Park area alone. With this in mind, campaigners are increasingly concerned about the cumulative effect of turbines on the unspoiled landscape of Scotland’s largest national park, so have formed a campaign group, Save the Monadhliath…

Posted in Access issues, Nature, News

Walkhighlands members scoop farming award

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Helen Webster

Walkhighlands self-catering advertising members, Somerset and Carolyne Charrington have been crowned Britains best wildlife farmers after a close-run public vote. The annual RSPB Telegraph Nature of Farming Award celebrates the fantastic work farmers are already doing for wildlife, with a top prize of £1,000 for the very best. The Charringtons who run a 750ha upland livestock farm at Treshnish on the Isle of Mull have taken to heart the need to manage the land in tune with nature whilst ensuring it provides a sustainable business. Their farm lies on some of the most spectacular coastal scenery on Mull and the…

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Work parties planned for the Ben

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Helen Webster

The last weekend in September will see a flurry of maintenance activity on Ben Nevis and volunteers are still needed for some of the tasks. Martin McCrorie will be leading two work parties for Friends of Nevis up onto Ben Nevis to carry out some maintenance/repairs on Friday 23rd and Sunday 25th September. Hardy volunteers are also welcome to join the John Muir Trust’ s Ben Nevis summit litter pick on Saturday 24th – if you are interested please register directly by emailing Sarah at the JMT. On Monday 26th, volunteers who are happy to work on their own or…

Posted in Nature, News

Andy Kirkpatrick's autumn tour

Posted on September 17, 2011 by Helen Webster

Top British mountaineer, big-wall climber, winter expedition specialist, award-winning author and sometime comedian, Andy Kirkpatrick will be giving a series of talks on his new book Cold Wars. Andy has a reputation for seeking out climbing routes where the danger is real, and the return is questionable, pushing himself on some of the hardest walls and faces in the Alps and beyond. He was born and raised on a council estate in Hull, one of the flattest cities in the UK, and suffered from severe dyslexia, which went undiagnosed until he was 19. Thriving on this apparent adversity, Andy transformed…

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