Hillwalk Scotland

Scottish Election - Hillwalking Issues

The Ramblers Association have launched a campaign ahead of elections to the Scottish Parliament on May3rd.

They've published a Manifesto which they will lobby the politicians about. The key issues identified are energy, National Parks and access.

Quite separately there are opportunities to quiz the politicians at a couple of major events in April which are part of the Scottish Votepods project. There is a big environmental event at the Hub in Edinburgh on April 17th which several of the Party leaders have agreed to take part. If you can't be there you can submit questions to Scottish Votepods for inclusion on the night.

They also have a debate planned for Aviemore on April 20th. The Big Cairngorm Debate will provide a great opportunity to quiz the politicians directly on outdoor subjects. I'll update on this when full details are known.

No Changes to Cairngorm Boundaries

Just a quick update to recent posts on proposals to extend the boundaries of the Cairngorm National Park. According to The Herald, the Scottish Executive has no plans to make any changes for the time being. Ministers say a planned 5 year review due next year will be the appropriate time to assess this issue.

Hillwalkers For Pylons

I blogged yesterday about the amount of environmental issues that seem to impact on hillwalkers in Scotland. Instinctively most of us are against anything that damages the landscape we love and proposals for giant pylons seem to be universally condemned by hillwalkers and groups such as The Ramblers Association.

So I thought readers may be interested in looking at an article today by The Herald's political commentator, Iain MacWhirter. In it he suggests groups such as The Ramblers have 'to get real'. His argument - we must do something to prevent global warming by increasing the amount of renewable energy generated, If we don't, the environmental damage to the landscape will be far greater than the damage done by building bigger pylons along an existing route. It's a very thought provoking piece and warns of the consequences for the Highlands that a lack of winter will bring.

Incidently, I know Iain well and he's a very keen hillwalker who knows and respects Scotland's mountains - these are not the ramblings of someone without an understanding of our mountains.

Environmental Issues for Hillwalkers

There are times when I feel more like an environmental blogger than a hillwalking blogger. There's lots in the news at the moment about two key issues that impact on the Highlands and on walkers(as well as others).
Yesterday in Blair Atholl, MSP's took evidence regarding the boundaries of the Cairngorm National Park which, when established, followed political boundaries rather than geographical. The outcome being that several centres of population are not part of the park nor are sensitive areas of the environment including several mountains cut in half by the boundary. As with many of these things there is a difference of opinion between those who fear the economic restrictions and loss of control that park membership will bring and those that want to see the Park have a geographic and environmental integrity. The Herald has a good piece on the debate and also an editorial comment.
Meanwhile The Scotsman looks at the public enquiry opening today about a proposal to build giant power lines from Beauly, in the Highlands, to Denny, Stirlingshire. Cutting right through some very scenic parts of the Highlands they will carry large quantities of renewable energy generated in the Highlands to the southern centres of population. While most support the need for more renewable energy there are real fears that considerable damage will be done to the Highland landscape and that it is more appropriate to build renewable power sources nearer to population centres. As well as previewing the inquiry, the Scotsman carries an opinion piece for the development by Prof James Curran, a former head of environmental strategy at the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and an anti column by Helen McDade, a policy officer at the John Muir Trust. Have a look at what is an important enquiry for those who love Scotland's mountains.

Impact of Weather Changes

As if in answer to the question I posed yesterday about the long term effect of climate change on Scotland's mountains, the Sunday Herald today has a feature talking to a range of experts about the likely impact. I'm afraid it doesn't make for encouraging reading.
As well as the obvious threat that a warmer climate brings to the beauty of snow capped mountains, wildlife such as red squirrel, capercaille and snow buntings are under threat. As are the remaining trees of the Caledonian pine forest and a range of alpine plants that flourish in Scotlands mountains. And just to rub salt into the wounds, the creature that is most likely to flourish is that plague of the Highlans, the midge!!
Its well worth looking at the article even if it does make for depressing reading.

Weather Forecast for Year

A slightly belated Happy New Year to all readers of Hillwalk Scotland. I hope some of you have managed some hillwalking over the Festive period. Sadly, I've been pretty much stuck indoors - with a young family and a notable family birthday to celebrate, the opportunities have been few. On the days a hillwalk was possible the weather was dreadful - wet and windy seemed the norm for much of the last two weeks. Winter walking for me means cold and crisp with excellent visibility. However there have been very few days like that this winter.
According to the weather forecasts the mild and wet winter is due to continue. Outdoors Magic has a summary of the main forecasters predictions for the next month and the BBC Weather site also has a monthly forecast. The BBC forecast predicts the mild weather will continue well into February. While there is some snow, the cold, crisp, clear days that make winter walking so enjoyable are going to be largely absent.
The forecasters have also been issuing their thoughts for the coming year. The Met Office are confidently saying that this year will be the hottest on record. Their confidence is based on the combined effects of El Nino and global warming.
What this means for hillwalking in Scotland, I'm not sure. While a nice warm, dry spell will allow for good walking and is to be welcomed, I do worry about the impact on the mountain environment. Whatever happens, here's to some great hillwalking in 2007!

Revised Plans for Lochluichart Wind Farm

A friend of mine who lives in Wester Ross has emailed me with details of a public meeting he attended in Garve the other night. The developers of one of the most intrusive wind farm proposals outlined revised plans to the local community. According to my contact the proposal to reduce the number of turbines from 43 to 22 does nothing to alleviate concerns over damage to the landscape.
If you want to know more about the proposal have a look at the following websites - Pro and Anti. I should add that most of the mountain groups such as the Mountaineering Council of Scotland are objecting.

If you want to object, do so via this link or by immmediately emailing energyconsents@scotland.gsi.gov.uk. If you want a template for a written objection here is what my friend wrote.

'Having seen the amended plans for this proposed 'development', I maintain my objection. 22 turbines,with hub heights of 80 metres is just as bad as the original plan. Moreover,since the company owns the entire sight, should they get planning permission, they will simply apply later to site the remaining turbines; ie development by stealth.

1 As part of an overall energy strategy, windfarms can only contribute a tiny percentage of the overall need; thus the siting of these monstrosities must be balanced against the environment they change - the damage done to views around the Trossachs for miles is now a proven example. Wester Ross should be regarded as a very special case in view of its particular wild, unspoiled and natural beauty, which brings tourism from all over the world. Even the 'Letterewe Wilderness ', said to be the last wilderness in Western Eurpoe,will be affected by the siting of these turbines. Repeat tourist business will be lost, and local people will lose money,possibly their livlihoods. Turbines such as these should be sited off shore.

2 Since local people will lose money,or even their livlihoods,as tourism is the mainstay of the Wester Ross economy - this heavily outweighs any tiny energy benefits;and the company's claims that 22 turbines will bring prosperity is nonsense. All profits will go to shareholders.

3 The goverment has now seen sense and declared that nuclear power is the way forward. Let us save Wester Ross from short term corporate greed ,and leave it unspoiled for our granchildren'.

Should Ramblers Oppose All Wind Farms

The ongoing controversies over building wind farms in the UK has become even more intense in recent months with the Ramblers Association one of the leading pressure groups opposing schemes that damage the landscape. Certainly as far as some of the proposals are concerned, there is little doubt that wind farms are damaging to what is left of our wilderness environment.

However according to a report in todays Observer, the Ramblers Association are now going to oppose the construction of any onshore wind farm in Britain. Personally I don't think that blanket opposition is a good idea for an organisation representing walkers, as a significant number are likely to support 'green' energy where it isn't particularly detrimental to the landscape. Certainly there are some wind farm developments in central Scotland that are a lot more attractive than the ugly industrial landscapes that used to exist nearby.

For me, a powerful lobby group like the Ramblers should concentrate on the schemes that are particularly damaging and insensitive and they shouldn't risk losing the support of people who believe that some renewable energy developelopments should be allowed.

Plan to Restore Rum Woodlands

One unfulfilled ambition I have is to go to Rum to do some hillwalking. It's pretty inaccessible and by all accounts it offers a very wild experience. For years permission had to be sought to go onto the island although that is no longer the case.

Now the owners, Scottish Natural Heritgage are planning to replace much of the native woodland. The Herald reports that from next spring about 750,000 trees and shrubs will be planted at five locations. It's planned thta about one-tenth of the isalnd will be covered as part of a ten year project. It's a welcome move as it will restore the island to a state closer to how it was prior to the Clearances.

More Pylon Madness

Once again the Scottish press is full of material about threats to our wild landscape from electricity pylons. BBC news has a good summary on the latest plans to construct giant pylons through the Cairngorm National Park.  The 67m high pylons are twice the height of existing pylons in the Highlands and the planned route would dominate the park entrances at Kinlochlaggan, Drumochter Pass and the Corrieyairack Pass. It's not just the landscape that's under threat - the plans will do nothing for tourism and the local economy is increasingly dependant on visitors.

It beggars belief that Scotland should create National Parks and then turn them into something resembling an industrial estate. If you want to find out more visit Cairngorms Revolt Against Pylons, Highlands Before Pylons and Scottish and Southern Energy.