Wild Lochaber Blogs
The latest bleats from the sheep on the street...
Blogs (web logs) and blogspots provide a unique insight into Highland life and nature in Lochaber and The West Highlands.
We have put together a collection of Lochaber blogs to highlight the traditions, culture and wildlife in the various regions, including the West Coast Islands.
We show entries from the last 100 days, organised by region, topic and blog. The titles and text snippets give a taste of each entry with direct links to the main blog entry on the host website. We hope you will find time to explore the full articles and further information on the host blog sites.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any suggestions for blogs you would like to see here.
The Oban Times
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After studying lighthouses and harbours, Argyll Beavers were given the opportunity to take a tour one of the Northern Lighthouse Board’s ships. The 37th Ardchattan Argyll Beavers Scout Group visited the Pole Star, which was docked at the lighthouse pier in Oban on Monday night. The...
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To mark Pass it on Week 2019, Lorn and Oban Reuse Initiative (LORI) is holding Freebie Friday at its Moleigh recycling centre base. Scotland’s annual celebration of recycling, Pass it on Week runs from March 9 to 16 and encourages swapping, donating, sharing and repairing to help make things...
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Scottish publishers marked the beginning of the London Book Fair with the first ever ‘Scotland in London’ showcase chaired by TV presenter Sally Magnusson and featuring interviews with Scottish authors Chris Brookmyre, Helen McClory, Sara Sheridan and Andrew O’Hagan. The event at Scotland House was...
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The Ben Cruachan Inn has achieved a Silver Award from Green Tourism, the largest and most established sustainable certification programme in the world, at the first time of asking. The inn, which reopened in Lochawe in 2017, is committed to reducing its environmental impact and using sustainable...
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Oban Congregational Church is restarting its weekly Tea and Blether gathering after the winter break. The group will meet every Monday from March 18, between 11am and 12.30pm. Everyone welcome for tea, coffee, biscuits and cake. Free admission. There will also be a coffee morning on Saturday March...
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Oban author Alan Windram and illustrator Chloe Holwill-Hunter were guests of honour at a special ceremony at The Lighthouse in Glasgow last Wednesday (March 6), when the pair picked up their awards for winning the 2019 Bookbug Picture Book Prize. Alan’s book, One Button Benny (Little Door...
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Portree is set to host a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee as MSPs discuss proposals to stop parents relying on the defence of ‘reasonable chastisement’ if they physically punish their child. MSPs will meet a range of groups on the island before holding a...
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Two bodies found on Nanga Parbat have been confirmed as those of missing climbers Tom Ballard and Italian Daniele Nardi. Mr Ballard, who grew up in Spean Bridge near Fort William, and his companion last made contact from the famous Himalayan peak in Pakistan at an altitude of around 20,700ft almost...
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There is a minimalist trend for house interiors at present. People are urged to adopt a certain cool, functional, well-designed Scandinavian style – without clutter and baggage. And this appeals to harassed 21st-century types for lives today may be hurried, complicated, stressful and harassed. To...
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Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has welcomed a Scottish Government allocation to the Western Isles of £223,000 under the Town Centre Fund 2019/20. The purpose of the fund is to drive local economic activity and stimulate economic improvements to town centres. Councillor Donald Crichton, chairman of...
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The met office in Edinburgh closed the weather station in Plockton at the end of February 19. Volunteers have read the weather there every day for more than 60 years. The nearest station is at Achnagart Glenshiel, which is automatic. The weather at Plockton during February meant there was five...
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The McIlvanney Prize – Bloody Scotland’s annual prize awarded to the best Scottish Crime book of the year – is now open for entries. The award provides Scottish crime writing with recognition and aims to raise the profile and prestige of the genre as a whole. The prize was renamed in memory of...
Scottish Islands Explorer
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Here is a two-bedroomed country house on the Isle of Scalpay, Harris, that appears to have ideal attributes for creative people or to be to continued in its current use asa self-catering property. Full details with a fine gallery of images can be clicked onto here. The asking price is for offers...
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The Fair Isle Bird Observatory has been 'lost to fire' when it was engulfed in flames yesterday morning.. No one was injured, but the smoke was visible from Sumburgh, Shetland, 30 miles away and from where extra firefighters were flown. The details are on the BBC Website and the photograph of the...
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The photograph of a Rum sunset - from Karen Thorburn Photography - is reassuring of the natural order of things; The Press and Journal image and account of the fire on Rum some four days ago is a reminder of the fragility of habitat when a cigarette is discarded.Scottish Islands Explorer - aims to...
Abacus Mountain Guides
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We've just had quite a bit of fresh snow falling down to 600m or so. The strong westerly winds have blown it over onto east facuing slopes and built some big cornices. Today the visibility was in and out all day. So, there was some very good skiing to enjoy in the back coires of Aonach Mor...
West Coast Mountain Guides
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I was out with Blair, who joined us on one of our winter mountaineering courses earlier this season. Blair wanted to explore the type of ground he might consider doing by himself, rather than as a pair, so we headed to the Mamores, where we initially made an ascent of Stob Ban via its north ridge...
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For Neil's second day, we made an early start so that he could hit the road sooner rather than later. Quite a bit of fresh snow had fallen overnight but as we set off, as expected, it was quite settled and calm. It didn't stay this way! We rattled up the first three pitches, which had...
Glenloy Wildlife
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We have experienced a relatively mild winter to date, with virtually no snow left on the mountain tops of Lochaber towards the end of February. The Highland winter is far from over, however, and March has come roaring in with snow, gales and torrential rain. The peaks are once again snow-capped....
Dave MacLeod
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A comment after Vlog #11 prompted me to do a whole episode exploring the pros and cons of physical versus sedentary jobs and their interaction with your training for climbing. Folk in physically demanding jobs are often strong and resilient, but can be overtired if they don't stay on top of their...
