Glencoe Mountain, the ski-centre at the head of Glencoe, is hoping to tap into funds which will allow a major upgrade of the skiing facilities as well as making the centre a year round attraction. The plans include three new mountain bike trails, an adventure playground, accommodation for walkers on the West Highland Way, and a dry ski slope. The centre was bought last year by Falkirk businessman, Andy Meldrum, amid worries that it might have to close altogether due to ageing equipment and the difficulty of making the centre pay. Scotland on Sunday reports that Mr Meldrum plans to…

With its application for a zoo licence pending, Alladale Estate has come under fire with local Highland Council Access Officer Matt Dent objecting to the renewal of its current licence under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act. According to the Press and Journal, Mr Dent’s objection concerns the obstruction of access rights by the current scheme, following a complaint sent to Mr Dent by a mountaineer who had difficulty in descending from the hills past the enclosures. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland’s access and conservation officer Hebe Carus told the P&J “It’s an important mountaineering area as the ridge on which…

Next month top climbers Dave MacLeod and Andy Turner will attempt to recreate a legendary era of climbing on Ben Nevis, 50 years on, while making a film for the Fort William Mountain Festival. In 1960, Jimmy Marshall and Robin Smith were the first to ascend six routes on Ben Nevis in winter conditions. These ascents, made without the aid of modern equipment, are highly respected by climbers. The following quote from Colin Wells’ Who’s Who in British Climbing says it all, “In one legendary week on Ben Nevis in 1960 Jimmy Marshall and Robin Smith advanced Scottish winter climbing…

Walkhighlands is used by many walkers for sharing their walking experiences and photos with Walk Reports. In a unique new feature we’ve now made it possible to easily illustrate where you went on your walk using Ordnance Survey mapping, both at Explorer and Landranger scales. You no longer need a GPS device – nor even to upload or download any files. How to put a map in your reports When adding a new trip report on the Forum there is now a link to ‘Draw route’. This opens up a new window containing an OS map. Type in the area…

The West Harris Trust has completed its purchase of more than 16,000 acres of government-owned land. The Trust raised almost £70,000 from various bodies to buy the three crofting estates – Scaristavore, Borve and Luskentyre on Harris in the Western Isles. The land had been owned by the Scottish Government. Grants were provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the local authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Big Lottery Fund, and a loan from local housing organisation Tighean Innse Gall. 123 people live in the area but only one is below school age and there have been worries about maintaining the…