Our pick: Outlander filming locations

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Helen Webster

We know that many of you watch the TV series Outlander… so by popular request, our latest pick is of walks in locations featured in the two series of the historical and time-travel drama. Glen Coe The very first scenes of the first episode of Outlander were shot in Glen Coe – one of Scotland’s most iconic locations; the glen features in the credits. The glen has a dark real-life history too, being the setting for the massacre of the MacDonalds in 1692. Glencoe village lies at the foot of the glen, which is justly famed for its superb walking…

Posted in Features, Magazine, Our picks

Southern Uplands Could Hold New Modern Wilderness for Scotland

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Helen Webster

Festival speaker encourages communities to review benefits of allowing land to return nature and creating iconic destinations. A national rewilding expert is proposing that one of Scotland’s first modern wildernesses could be created in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders. The idea will be included in a talk by David Balharry, Scotland Director of Rewilding Britain, at Wild Film Festival Scotland in Dumfries on 26 March. David is presenting a long term vision for between 200km2 and 600km2 of the old Ettrick Forest to be returned to its wild state and asking if this approach can offer better opportunities…

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When does spring start?

Posted on March 12, 2017 by Ben Dolphin

On 15th February I went for a walk up West Lomond in Fife and, as I walked through the fields everything around me screamed ‘SPRING!’ for the first time this year. It was only 7C but it was a clear blue-sky day, utterly calm with a warm sun. There was some gorse blooming on the side of the path and skylarks twittered over the fields. It looked, felt and sounded like spring….but was it? None of those signs are unique to spring of course. Beautiful days occur all year round, as do gorse flowers. A winter sun can be warm…

Posted in Features, Magazine

Ben Dolphin named Ramblers Scotland president

Posted on March 11, 2017 by Helen Webster

Journalist, blogger, countryside ranger and Walkhighlands columnist Ben Dolphin has been named President of Ramblers Scotland, the representative body for Scottish walkers. He follows in the footsteps of the late conservationist Dick Balharry, award-winning broadcaster Cameron McNeish and most recently Dr Andrew Murray, who was the Scottish Government’s first Physical Activity Champion. Ben is a West Lothian Council ranger and well known in the Scottish outdoor scene for writing for both Walkhighlands and Outdoor Enthusiast magazine, as well as for his blogs, photos and videos on his own Benvironment website. He was elected to the honorary position at Ramblers Scotland’s…

Posted in Magazine, News, Walkhighlands news

Public vote for Sutherland peatland restoration funding bid

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Helen Webster

RSPB Scotland is asking for public support to secure funding from the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) to restore an important site in the Flow Country, the Dyke plantation near Forsinard in Sutherland. The project is one of five nature projects in the running for EOCA funding, with the final decision being made by public vote between 9th and 23rd March on the EOCA website. The Dyke plantation was planted with non-native sitka spruce and lodgepole pine trees some thirty years ago and the trees have caused significant damage to the peatlands on which it was planted, and which forms…

Posted in Nature

Putting walks into words

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Linda Cracknell

Award-winning writer Linda Cracknell gives her tips on sharing your walking experiences through the written word. After a day out in the hills, or even tramping for a couple of weeks on a long-distance footpath, some of us have the urge to commit the experience to writing. It might be scribbled in a journal as a personal record, a walk report or blog post with tips for those considering something similar, or even something crafted to communicate a story to a wider audience. One of the things I love about doing this is that I get to take the journey…

Posted in Features, Magazine

Forres set to celebrate Walkers are Welcome

Posted on March 2, 2017 by Helen Webster

To celebrate the fact that the Forres area has achieved ‘Walkers are Welcome’ status, local organisations have come together to arrange a long-weekend of walks, running from the 31st March to 2nd April. The Walkers are Welcome accreditation is given to towns who can show they have excellent facilities for walkers, such as waymarked routes, well-maintained paths and active walking groups. To showcase what’s on offer in the area, groups involved in securing the accreditation are putting on a selection of free walks in the spring. The weekend kicks off on the afternoon of Friday 31st March with Forres Footpaths…

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Statement on Loch Lomond & Trossachs bylaws from the Ramblers

Posted on February 28, 2017 by Helen Webster

The following statement has been made by Ramblers Scotland, on the new camping bylaws which come into force on 1st March: “New byelaws are being introduced on 1 March 2017, banning free camping at the most popular spots in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park from March-September each year. We believe the park should have tackled any issues with over-use and anti-social behaviour by investing in low-cost campsites and enforcing existing laws. Brendan Paddy, Director of Ramblers Scotland, said: “We’re disappointed that the park is going ahead with this plan. It undermines Scottish access rights by providing too few…

Posted in Access issues

Major boost for Scotland’s red squirrels thanks to Lottery funding

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Helen Webster

An army of 800 volunteers will help secure the long-term survival of major red squirrel populations in three key areas after the Scottish Wildlife Trust secured a grant of £2.46 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels – Developing Community Action project. Over the next five years the project will enlist volunteers from communities in three key regions to carry out practical work to protect and strengthen red squirrel populations in their local area, and in turn safeguard squirrels across Scotland. The project aims to provide high quality training and support to hundreds of…

Posted in Nature

Glenmore Lodge warns of ‘marginal conditions’ on the mountains this weekend

Posted on February 23, 2017 by Helen Webster

Marginal conditions in the mountains this winter have led to uncertainty and difficult decision-making when planning journeys – whether heading for the Munros or for climbing trips. Because of this Glenmore Lodge, Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre, has issued advice to all mountaineers on how to get the best out of their mountain journeys. Shaun Roberts, Principal of Glenmore Lodge, and a mountaineer of 30 years’ experience, said: “This is a very different winter to those we have become used to in Scotland. If you are planning to travel to high ground this weekend for Munro tops, or maybe to…

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