Posts Tagged ‘scotland’

Scottish Highlands – the new Alps?

Friday, February 26th, 2010

With comparable weather to the Alps, this season’s weather conditions in Scotland have surprised many winter sports enthusiasts.

The BBC have written a story about the latest conditions in Glencoe. With a meter of snow at car park level and up to 80 cm falling in 24 hours further up the mountains, the region is one of the world’s snowiest.

It’s not all good news though. Story after story has emerged of winter sports related fatalities in Scotland over the winter season, some due to severe conditions not typical to the area. Comparable to the Alps? Perhaps.

We would love to hear from anyone who has visited both regions this season: general@beouthere.com.

BBC source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8538404.stm

Another bite taken out of the Scottish Wilderness

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

The Scottish government has announced it’s approval of a plan to run overhead power cables from Beauly, west of Inverness, to Denny, near Falkirk, through Britain’s largest area of arctic mountain landscape,the Cairngorms National Park.

The new lines will run for 137 miles, using pylons between 42m and 65m in height. The scheme is aimed at tackling climate change by increasing Scotland’s use of renewable energy. By 2020 Scotland’s government hopes to have 50% of it’s electrical needs met by renewable energy.

Part of the affected area will include the Cairngorms National Park, Britain’s largest national park. The Cairngorms contain the finest collection of different landforms outside arctic Canada – from granite tors to heavings and leavings from Ice Age glaciers.

Ramblers Scotland president Dennis Canavan described it as “an act of sheer vandalism.”

Although the line may run as far as 50 miles past Aviemore, it will surely be a topic for discussion at the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s world summit in October this year.

Adventure Travel Trade Association’s World Summit 2010

Friday, December 4th, 2009

This summit will be more important then ever before. With the world on its way to economic recovery, people are just starting to think about spending money on going away again and what better place to have it then in one of the most stunning climbing and mountaineering spots in Europe, Scotland.

Adventure Travel has been growing rapidly as it becomes safer to pursue your latest adventure. It has become easier to adventure close to home, whether its exploring your local river by canoe or kayak, or paragliding off your nearest hill.

Why To Adventure Locally

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Do you find it ironic that in order to relax and have time out, people always suggest that we go away on holiday.

“Will”, they say, “What you need need is a holiday, take some time out, relax”.

A holiday that we will have to pay for, money probably being one of the reasons we are so stressed in the first place.

Its not always a holiday you need, just better use of your weekend. That picture in the hall does need hanging and the backdoor does need to be painted…. however, there is a Canadian canoe next to a river in north east Scotland with your name on it.

When you think of adventure holidays, you can be deterred by; inexperience, lengthy training or strange pricing. The real fear comes when ever we try something new, whatever it is. The real trick however is having a good time, doing something new that leaves you with a feeling of accomplishment, and still having your wallet and limbs intact. beouthere.com gives you an option to search for your weekend destination as well as your activity. Inspiration can come from others, this is why you will find other peoples experiences on there so you know how much fun your going to have.

Like G2 Outdoor, based in the Cairngorm National park, they offer an awesome range of trips and courses from one day to a couple of weeks.

But, they are not yet reviewed. So perhaps you’re the first, and as you take the road to Scotland you can think seriously about how your trip, although a first for you, will help others have a better understanding about what an awesome weekend away this was going to be.

Will Mower Adventurer, Philosopher and Eater.