Our picks: Autumn Scotland

Posted on October 15, 2016 by Paul Webster

It’s autumn, and the glens are quiet – or would be, were it not for the roaring stags. The leaves are turning and the midges are gone; is there a better time to get out and about in Scotland’s countryside? Rogie Falls – not far north from Inverness – is a stunning place for autumn colours. Many people think of Scotland as being clothed by evergreens, but the red, amber and golden leaves of autumn trees show up even better against a backdrop of Scots pine. The falls make an ever better walk from nearby Contin. A great location to…

Posted in Features, Magazine, Our picks

The State of Nature and the Sixth Great Extinction

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Ben Dolphin

On 14th September the national TV stations, airwaves and social media were buzzing, obsessed with just one massive headline. The story had broken two days earlier but every subsequent day brought new earth-shaking revelations that required still more analysis and discussion as to the potential impacts on the nation. This was, after all, something major and something serious, something that affected millions of people. Yep, a weekly marquee-based show about cakes was moving from BBC1 to Channel 4!! <faints> Little else got a look-in that week. Jean-Claude Juncker’s State of the Union address got a passing glance, as did the…

Posted in Features, Magazine, Nature

Paddling the Scottish Everglades

Posted on October 9, 2016 by David Lintern

David Lintern makes an amphibious journey to the wild woods of Knapdale, on the trail of a real amphibian – the Eurasian beaver. We arrived late and set up our not so stealthy camp in the dark, a little too close to the single-track road. No matter, we’d be gone early in the morning. The waters of Caol Scotnish were absolutely flat calm, and to our surprise given the lack of a breeze, there was only a solitary midge, looking a little lost and lazy. We made a late night brew and stayed up for a while, enjoying the tranquillity.…

Posted in Features, Magazine, Nature

Steall Gorge footpath to remain closed till end October

Posted on October 7, 2016 by Helen Webster

Following a significant rockfall at Steall Gorge in Glen Nevis in mid-September, the popular path leading to Steall Falls will remain closed until the end of October. Fort William based Thistle Access will start work on Monday 10 October to remove remaining rock and tree debris from the slopes above the footpath. They will assess the area before securing or removing any unstable objects. The path will be closed for the duration of this work until 30 October. The Trust has updated signage in the local area warning of the increased danger of debris falling onto the path while these…

Posted in Access issues, News

£2.85m Heritage Lottery boost helps communities get closer to nature

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Paul Webster

Communities in the Cairngorms and Skye are celebrating major National Lottery investment which will see large areas of landscape along with many historic and natural attractions rejuvenated, celebrated and protected. Thanks to a major grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Tomintoul and Glenlivet Landscape Partnership will use the rich natural heritage of the region to encourage more visitors and so help sustain fragile local communities including Tomintoul, the ‘Highest Village in the Highlands’. On Skye, Scotland’s first ever Ecomuseum, which is a pioneering community-led initiative, will be extended and improved thanks to funding awarded today. Cabinet Secretary for the…

Posted in Access issues, News

Our picks: Gardenstown, Crovie and Pennan

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Paul Webster

On the remote northern coast of Aberdeenshire, looking out over the Moray Firth, lie three of Scotland’s most picturesque villages: Gardenstown, Crovie and Pennan. Gardenstown (locally known as the Gamrie) is much the largest of the three. A steep, steep road leads down through the modern part of the village to the harbour and the packed jumble of cottages which make up the old fishertown. A warren-like maze of alleyways, walkways and a narrow street connect the buildings and make this part of the village a fascinating place to explore. At the west end of the village there is a…

Posted in Features, Magazine, Our picks

Gear review: bottles and bladders

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Peter Macfarlane

Years back all we had were dented Sigg bottles in our rucksacks, but of course times move on. We now have a whole array of different ways of carrying water in the hills. The thing that mixed it up and moved us on was plastics giving us bladders with drinking tubes and new bottle designs but metal hasn’t been left behind, stainless steel bottles have become the standard and the durability and easy-cleaning nature of one of those could see you use the same bottle for life. I take my hydration very seriously on both day walks and on backpacking…

Posted in Accessories, Gear reviews

Steall Falls path to be closed for at least a month; JMT calls for donations

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Helen Webster

Following the major rockfall on the popular Steall Gorge path on 13-14 September, the John Muir Trust has confirmed that the path will be closed for at least a month whilst specialist contractors repair the route. Local contractors will start work soon to make access safe again, by removing debris from the path, including loose and unstable boulders from the area above the path, and stabilising damaged trees. It’s estimated that the work will cost the John Muir Trust, who owns the Steall Gorge area as well as the summit of Ben Nevis, as much as £30,000. Alison Austin, the…

Posted in Access issues

The fire that never goes out

Posted on September 23, 2016 by David Lintern

David Lintern pays his respects at the Craigallian Fire memorial. After last month’s pilgrimage to the birthplace of British conservation all the way up in Torridon, I wanted to take a look at something much closer to home, but just as significant in our shared outdoor story. It’s somewhere that tens of thousands from all over the world will pass each year, and a place that is within easy reach of most of us in the Central Belt. It’s easy to miss, but one of the most important heritage sites in Scotland when thinking about the development of outdoor access…

Posted in Features, Magazine

Helicopter drop assists in path repairs on Handa Island

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Helen Webster

More than 120 tonnes of stone and path-building materials have been airlifted by helicopter to a remote island to allow Scottish Wildlife Trust contractors and volunteers to repair the paths. The worn paths on Handa Island reserve off the west coast of Sutherland are being repaired to allow visitors to safely experience one of Europe’s most important seabird colonies and enjoy spectacular views from the island. Handa Island reserve is owned by Scourie Estate and managed in partnership with the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The island is a summer haven for around 70,000 breeding seabirds including puffins, guillemots and razorbills. Reserves…

Posted in Access issues, News