The Mountain Bothy Association has revealed that its spending on maintaining its network of bothies has reached an all time high. In 2008/09, £45k was spent in maintaining 58 of the 100 buildings in MBA care. While some of the increase in spend was down to increased costs of materials and transport, the greater part of the increase from the previous year resulted from general higher levels of maintenance activity. Two major projects were completed during the year. A former schoolhouse at Duag Bridge in the northern Scottish Highlands, which had declined to a state of dereliction, was taken on…

According to the Relative Hills of Britain news group on Yahoo, the Munro Society has completed 4 surveys this year and will be announcing a change to the Munro list in September. Reportedly, the following Munros, all currently with a height of 915m, were measured: Ben Vane, Beinn Teallach and Sgurr nan Ceannaichean. The Corbett, Sgurr a’Choire-bheithn, currently measured as 913m, in Knoydart was also surveyed. In order for the Munro list to be changed the Ordnance Survey has to verify the new measurements. Apparently the Munro Society plans to reveal all at a press conference to be held at…

Pre-historic artwork which has lain undiscovered for centuries has been uncovered on Ben Lawers by an amateur archaeologist. The ancient carvings were discovered by rock art enthusiast George Currie. The art is similar to other prehistoric pieces found in the area, consisting of concave depressions known as cup marks or cup and ring marks, which are carved upon rocks. The purpose of the artworks is still unknown. The newly-discovered rock is unusual because it has more than ninety cup marks and at least four cup and ring marks. A number of linear grooves can also be seen, with some still…

Last March, four Mountain Rescue Teams, search and rescue dog handlers, and the Stornaway Coastguard helicopter were involved in a search for missing walker, John Mulgrew. Mr Mulgrew, aged 62 from Uddingston, and an experienced hill walker of 20 years, had been climbing Sgurr na Sgine, a Munro on the south Glen Shiel ridge, when he became badly lost in appalling weather. The alarm was raised by his wife when he failed to return and the search began, co-ordinated by the Police. Eventually Mr Mulgrew was found, barely conscious, lying near a stream. Following the rescue, Mr Mulgrew, a golf…