The New Year has brought a radical life change for one Scottish-based couple. Amanda McFadden and Aart Lastdrager have this week started a new life on the tiny Island of Canna. The couple has been selected to run the café which caters for residents and visitors to the Inner Hebridean island, one of the small isles that also include Eigg, Rum and Muck. The chance to live and work on the island which has a population of 18 was advertised in September by the National Trust for Scotland which manages the Isle of Canna. The couple were chosen from a…

The Scottish Government today approved the Beauly to Denny 400kV electricity transmission. The decision follows a multi-million pound Public Local Inquiry that due to the way the planning system works, did not properly consider alternatives. “Marching a 220km mega pylon line though some of our most world-renown landscapes may be the most lucrative option for the energy industry but it is the wrong choice for Scotland,” commented Helen McDade, Head of Policy for the John Muir Trust. “It is particularly galling that this white elephant is being given the go-ahead in a week when the UK government will announce another…

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland have issued a warning about Avalanches. Scottish mountains are experiencing unprecidented amounts of snowfall, more is expected over the following few days. Ski touring conditions have been awesome and many low level ice routes have been climbed for the first time in years. Other, normally popular climbing venues remain unvisited due to inaccessiblility from the deep snow conditions. These unique conditions also bring their dangers; highlighted by the tragic death of three climbers in avalanche incidents on the 30th December. The avalanche risk is currently high in many locations due to the volume of snow,…

Members of Mountain Rescue Teams feature in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List. Gerry Akroyd of Skye Mountain Rescue Team, Rodney Stoddart of Tayside and David Freeborn of Patterdale all receive the MBE for services to mountain rescue.

Three climbers have been killed and two rescued following three separate avalanches in the Highlands. Two were swept away by an avalanche on Ben Nevis shortly before 11am. Another climber was rescued following an avalanche on Liathach which was reported just before midday but later died in hospital. The third avalanche, from which two were rescued, was on Beinn an Dothaidh near Bridge of Orchy. According to the BBC, the Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service have been monitoring surface hoar, a rare phenomenon for Scotland which is increasing the avalanche risk. It is a slippery layer of snow crystals under ths…

Tonight at 6.45pm on BBC2 Scotland there’s an Adventure Show special on the Skye Trail. One version of this unofficial route, the idea for which was originally devised by David Paterson, will be walked by Cameron McNeish, starting from Rubha Hunish in northern Skye, heading along the Trotternish Ridge and through the Cuillin before finishing at Broadford. Cameron reckons this might just be the best challenging multi-day walk in Britain. Walkhighlands has set up a website giving details of the Skye Trail and is working with the local Skye and Lochalsh Marketing Group to try to improve the route and…