Highland ranger events for Healthy Highland Week
People in the Highlands are being invited by Highland Council and Forestry Commission rangers to join them on an array of guided walks to celebrate Healthy Highland Week.
Healthy Highland Week runs from Monday the 15th to Sunday the 21st of January 2007 and is a week long celebration of the Highlands as a healthy and vibrant place to live. The Rangers are some of many groups around Highland which are holding healthy events to help kick-start the Highland Year of Culture – Highland 2007.
Two guided walks have been organised on the Isle of Skye. A 7km walk at Broadford – Old Corry Loop takes place on Wednesday 17th January from 1:30 to 4:30pm. Titled, ‘People of the Past’ the rangers will provide information during the walk about how prehistoric farmers, Vikings and the early Church have all left their mark on this part of Skye. Participants are invited to meet at the tourist information centre, Broadford - grid reference (NG643235). The Old Corry Loop offers walking on established paths on various surfaces and slopes.
On Saturday 20th January from 1:30 to 4:30pm the rangers will lead a 3km walk to The Old Man of Storr. Participants are asked to meet at the Storr car park - grid reference (NG508528). This walk is described as covering paths and rough or boggy ground at low level for which a reasonable level of fitness is required.
In Badenoch and Strathpsey all the walks are programmed from 10:30am to 2:30pm each day (with the exception of the Boat of Garten circular which finishes at 1:30pm) and participants are asked to bring a packed lunch and ensure that they wear appropriate clothing, waterproofs and footwear.
On Tuesday 16th January two walks will take place simultaneously and participants should meet at the lay-by at Laggan Stores to explore the Dun at Laggan, or they can go on the ‘Craigellachie to the top’ walk and meet at the car park by the Police station in Aviemore.
On Thursday 18th January, the Rangers will be walking ‘Creag Bheag and its views’ and participants should meet at the War Memorial in the gardens at Kingussie. On Friday 19th January walkers wishing to attend the ‘Boat of Garten circular’ should meet at the shop/post office.
To round off Healthy Highland Week, people in the Inverness area are being invited to join a ‘Haggis Hunt’ on Sunday 21st January from 1:30 to 3pm around Craig Phadraig mostly on good paths which are partly wheelchair accessible. Would-be Haggis hunters should meet at the Forestry Commission top car park at Craig Phadraig, Leachkin Brae, Inverness at 1.30pm. This free event lasts until 3pm. Participants are asked to dress warmly and not to bring dogs.
The Highland Council Countryside Rangers are a partnership between The Highland Council and Scottish Natural Heritage with the aim of promoting public enjoyment and appreciation of the countryside and conserving wildlife.
Details of all the Healthy Highland Week Events can be found on the internet at www.healthyhighland.com
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For further information please contact:
Sarah Kay, Skye & Lochalsh Ranger, The Highland Council, Planning & Development Service, Old Corry Industrial Estate, Broadford Isle of Skye, IV49 9AB tel: 01471 822774 mob: 07717 122402
Saranne Bish, Countryside Ranger, Badenoch & Strathspey North, The Town House, The Square, Grantown-on-Spey tel: 01479 873 914 or Duncan Macdonald, Country Ranger Badenoch & Strathspey South, Ralia Centre tel: 01540 673 907
Katy Martin, Senior Ranger for Inverness and Nairn, The Highland Council, Planning and Development Service, North Tower, Inverness Castle, Inverness tel: 01463 702933.