Book Review: Scotland – a Rewilding Journey

Posted on November 19, 2018 by Paul Webster

It’s not often that a book is stunningly beautiful to look at but also conveys an important message – but “Scotland – A Rewilding Journey” may be one such. This new book is published by Scotland: The Big Picture, a not-for-profit social enterprise set up by a group of Highlands-based conservation photographers. Their track record is a strong one, with previous books including a study of the red squirrel, and – earlier this year – ‘The Lynx and Us’ which took an in-depth look at what it might be like if Scotland decided to reintroduce the lynx. This new book,…

Posted in Books, Gear reviews, Magazine

Who goes there? Mapping ‘Extreem Wildernes’

Posted on November 12, 2018 by Linda Cracknell

On the summit of Ben Hee, with a cloud bank surfing over rock-swell and waves of snow-sharpened ridges and summits heaving up close by, I saw the three coasts of Scotland. Hills revealed themselves to the west; Ben Stack, Quinag, Ben More Assynt, baring unfamiliar sides to me in a complex fresh architecture backed by a blue line of Atlantic. To the north, Ben Loyal and Ben Hope guarded watery ingresses from the Pentland Firth. And to the east the twin cones of Morven and Scaraben rose above low bog near Dunbeath and the North Sea. Climbing Ben Hee, perhaps…

Posted in Features, Magazine

Review: Berghaus Kanaga GTX women’s walking shoe

Posted on November 11, 2018 by Helen Webster

RRP: £125 (currently available at just under £100 in many places) Weight: 750g per pair (size 5.5) I’m a big fan of lightweight trail shoes, particularly for summer walking, so was happy to see whether this sturdier waterproof trail shoe from Berghaus would carry those lightweight benefits through to enable them to be worn for a longer season. The shoe is very traditional looking with a brown nubuck upper, small mesh panels and a traditional tongue and lacing system on top of a vibram sole. The construction is robust with no signs of wear at the flex point at the…

Posted in Footwear, Gear reviews, Magazine

Hill tracks – why is the SNP Government blocking progress?

Posted on November 10, 2018 by Cameron McNeish

POLITICS is a strange business. Much of it is carried out in committee rooms where elected representatives of the people make decisions on subjects they often know very little about. About four years ago Helen Todd of Scottish Environment Link and I had a meeting with the erstwhile Planning Minister Derek Mackay on the subject of bulldozed tracks in the hills. I had been encouraged to have a chat with Mackay by Alex Salmond who was First Minister at the time. I had been meeting with Alex to discuss various issues about landscape protection and generally he was very helpful.…

Posted in Access issues, Features, Magazine, Nature

Scottish Avalanche forecasts to start 14 December

Posted on November 5, 2018 by Helen Webster

The SportScotland Avalanche Information Service will start publishing its detailed forecasts for the Scottish Mountains on Friday 14 December. The six mountain areas covered are Northern Cairngorms, Southern Cairngorms, Lochaber, Creag Meagaidh, Glencoe and Torridon. Each report covers snow, avalanche, and climbing conditions. The reports are available from the website or via mobile phone app. Avalanche hazard forecast will be issued at the weekends for the two highest mountain areas: Northern Cairngorms and Lochaber, in the run up to 14 December if conditions require it. With over 210 avalanches recorded in Scotland last winter the SAIS is again asking any…

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Gear Review: Rab Microlight Alpine down jacket

Posted on November 5, 2018 by Helen Webster

Price: £190 (currently on offer for less with various retailers) Weight: 420g (women’s 10) I’ve worn a Microlight Alpine down jacket both on the hills and in town for the past 3 winters. It’s a versatile jacket that has proved harder wearing than I expected and I anticipate having several more years wear out of it. The jacket has had a redesign for its 10th anniversary so I was keen to check out the new version as well as giving my long-term verdict on the original design. The jacket is made from an outer of water resistant Pertex Quantum material…

Posted in Gear reviews, Jackets, Magazine

Mountain Rescue teams criticise search and rescue helicopter contract

Posted on November 2, 2018 by Helen Webster

In a joint press release four of the largest Scottish Mountain Rescue teams – Glencoe, Tayside, Lochaber and Cairngorm – have gone public with shared concerns about the level of support they receive under the privatised but publicly funded Search and Rescue Helicopter contract. We’ve included the complete text from the four teams below. “This weekend gone we saw the first real snows of winter hit Scotland’s hills. Heralding the start of the busiest season for the independent Scottish Mountain Rescue Teams of Cairngorm, Lochaber, Glencoe and Tayside. As the teams prepare to undertake difficult and potentially dangerous rescues in…

Posted in Access issues, Magazine, News

Clocks changing – time to be prepared for winter on the hills

Posted on October 25, 2018 by Helen Webster

As the clocks go back this weekend and darkness falls earlier, walkers and climbers are being reminded that summer is well and truly over in the mountains. Snow is being forecast for the tops this weekend, meaning conditions underfoot could be difficult. A thin covering of snow over bare rock or scree can make footholds extremely slippery, without giving enough purchase for crampon points or ice axes to bite well. Heather Morning, Mountain Safety Adviser for Mountaineering Scotland, said: “Conditions can be very treacherous at this time of year and just having the right equipment isn’t enough: you have to…

Posted in Magazine, News

Nature-depleted Scotland needs new era of rewilding says new book

Posted on October 25, 2018 by Helen Webster

A sticking plaster approach to conservation is failing Scotlands wildlife – and with species such as red squirrel, wild cat and capercaillie declining or on the edge of extinction, a new era of massive rewilding is needed, says a landmark new book. Scotland has the space and opportunity to take a fresh approach, with people working with nature, not against it, and allowing ecosystems to restore themselves on a large-scale, say the authors of Scotland: A Rewilding Journey, which is being launched in Inverness this evening. “Right now, nature is in steep decline – but Scotland is perfectly placed to…

Posted in Magazine, Nature

Step up for Scotland’s Footpaths as NTS launches repair appeal

Posted on October 24, 2018 by Helen Webster

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) is appealing for donations to its Footpath Fund in a bid to help repair and protect the 440km of upland path it manages. With eight natural heritage sites under its care, including Ben Lawers, Glencoe, Goatfell, Craigower, Mar Lodge Estate, Torridon and Killiecrankie, the NTS plays a crucial role in protecting Scotland’s natural environment and wildlife. Donating just £25 allows the footpath team to stabilise the edge of a collapsing path, £50 will help implement a drainage solution to four metres of path and £60 will help restore up to 10 metres of path.…

Posted in Access issues, Nature, News