Gallery: Scotland’s largest freshwater lochs

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Helen Webster

Loch Lomond Loch Lomond, its bonnie banks famously celebrated in song, is Britain’s largest freshwater lake by area, stretching over 71 square kilometres. The loch is at the heart of Scotland’s busiest National Park, and has many islands, including Inchmurrin – the largest on any loch – and beautiful Inchcailloch. The Highland fault line runs right through the loch and ensures a great variety of scenery, ranging from the placid Lomond Shores at Balloch, to the foot of towering Ben Lomond. The West Highland Way path follows much of the eastern shores of the loch. Loch Ness Loch Ness may…

Posted in Features, Magazine, Our picks

Body of missing hillrunner Alexander Brett found

Posted on September 27, 2015 by Helen Webster

The body of missing hillrunner Alexander Brett has been discovered on Liathach in Torridon. A large search had been underway since Mr Brett was reported missing on Thursday 24 September after his car was discovered in the area. It is understood that Mr Brett, aged 65, had been planning a run on Sunday 20 September taking in Beinn Eighe, Beinn Dearg, Beinn Alligan and Liathach. Police Scotland said: “During extensive searches carried out in the Torridon area today, sadly a body was recovered in the area of Liathach and has subsequently been formally identified as that of Mr Brett. There…

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Off road camping – can we cut out the confusion?

Posted on September 26, 2015 by Cameron McNeish

CHARLES INGRAM lives in a makeshift campsite on the verge of the A9 near Bruar in Highland Perthshire. The 70-year old former garage owner has endured three winters here, first of all living in his Mercedes car before migrating into a family sized tent. In the past year his little camp has morphed into a permanent encampment with at least three tents pitched alongside the car. A sign on the car windscreen proclaims a message about bent cops murdering his mother and it’s clear Ingram has various issues with society but whatever the reasons for his decision to live on…

Posted in Access issues, Features, Magazine

Missing Torridon hillrunner – Police appeal to walkers

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Helen Webster

A large scale search is underway in the Torridon mountains for a missing hillrunner and Police are appealing to hillwalkers who may have information or who are planning to walk in Torridon this weekend to look out for the missing man. Alexander Brett, aged 65, is understood to have been planning a run on Sunday 20 September taking in Beinn Eighe, Beinn Dearg, Beinn Alligan and Liathach. Mr Brett is believed to be wearing red running shorts, trainers, a black puffa jacket and a small black runners back pack. It is understood that Mr Brett’s car was found in the…

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Report says new Scotttish National Parks could be set up easily and cheaply

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Helen Webster

Creating more National Parks need not be unduly complicated or expensive, according to the latest joint research report published by two charities, the Scottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP) and The Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS). The report argues that National Parks in remote less populated areas of Scotland such as Glen Affric in the Highlands or the northern Cheviots in the Borders would have smaller budgets, staffing and governance structures than our two relatively large and complex existing National Parks. Ross Anderson, Chairman of SCNP said: “This is the second in our series of research reports…

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Mountaineers demand hydro scheme scars are healed

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Helen Webster

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) has written to Heads of Planning in ten local authorities and the national parks urging them to act to ensure the negative impact of hydro scheme scars on upland areas is reduced. The organisation, which represents Scotland’s mountaineers, has expressed concern at the significant impact on upland landscapes due to the extent and pace of development of hydro schemes, which is largely driven by the potentially only temporary availability of financial incentives. In its letter, the MCofS recognises that any civil engineering project in a rural landscape will give rise to possibly significant short-term…

Posted in Access issues, Nature, News

Once upon a time in the west

Posted on September 21, 2015 by David Lintern

Inverie is tiny, a shambolic mix of old timers in knackered, occasionally unlicensed vehicles and newcomers in obscenely expensive hardwood yachts, plus a few dreadlocked inbetweeners and hill walking holidaymakers. The pub and the café both shut midweek, and sometimes when the wind drops, there’s a feeling of entropy. A pirate flag hangs flaccid across a child’s trampoline, faded Jacobite posters adorn the back wall of the post office. These are clues left with a nod and a wink, it’s also a community that doesn’t care what I think, and neither should they: here is an alliance of the wiry…

Posted in Features, Magazine

The Lost World of Mull

Posted on September 12, 2015 by Ben Dolphin

Scotland’s rugged west coast is, I would suggest, uniformly magnificent. And yet, as you travel through this amazing place there are some locations that rise above even that lofty baseline. Some are famous, most are not. And in the case of the nots, they’re often the kinds of places you unwittingly stumble upon while on your way to see something else. As a case in point, earlier this year I paid my first ever visit to the Isle of Mull. I’d heard plenty in advance about its history, its hills and its geology, so I already had a list of…

Posted in Features, Magazine

Evening with walking and landscape author Linda Cracknall

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Helen Webster

To celebrate the paperback launch of “Doubling Back – Ten Paths Trodden in Memory”, author and regular Walkhighlands writer, Linda Cracknall will be taking part in an evening event at Stanfords in Covent Garden, London on 16 September. More details including booking can be found here. Doubling Back is a fascinating and moving account of walking in the footsteps of others. In 1952 Linda Cracknell’s father embarked on a hike through the Swiss Alps. Fifty years later Linda retraces that fateful journey, following the trail of the man she barely knew. This collection of walking tales takes its theme from…

Posted in Walkhighlands news

Lightweight boots – Group Test

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Peter Macfarlane

Last month I looked at trail shoes and the best thing about doing that review was the comfort and flexibility for my feet during testing. The good news is that these are still qualities you can find in lightweight boots, even when wearing them right from the box. Although I’m a trail shoe wearer there are plenty times where boots are still the best choice, days where you want a better chance of keeping your feet dry or want a bit more protection on rough terrain. Boots may just be a better fit for you and feel right – you…

Posted in Footwear, Gear reviews, Magazine