Highland Hospice launches second art trail

Mountaineering Scotland is urging people heading to the hills to make sure they are fully prepared and ready to be flexible with their plans following the lifting of travel restrictions.

Chief Executive Officer Stuart Younie said: ‘The last 12 months have demonstrated how important outdoor recreation is for our physical and mental wellbeing and as things start to ease, it will play an important role in our economic recovery, particularly in rural areas.’

Popular destinations are expected to be very busy, meaning walkers and climbers travelling by car may have to set off early or consider going somewhere less busy.

Mountaineering Scotland also advises that to get the most out of their day, people should think carefully about the conditions they are likely to meet on the hill. Snow still lies extensively on the higher hills and fluctuating temperatures have meant much of it is likely to be icy, with the consequences of a slip more likely to be serious.

That caution is particularly relevant in the mornings on north or north-east-facing slopes.

Heather Morning, mountain safety advisor for Mountaineering Scotland, said: ‘An ice axe and crampons to cope with any icy stretches are still essential items of kit at this time of year.

‘People should also be conscious that, with limited opportunity to climb in the hills over the last few months, they may have lost some hill-fitness and may well prefer to take on easier walks to begin with.’

It is also important to act in a responsible manner while enjoying access to the hills, especially with the extra pressures as a result of higher visitor numbers. ‘We’ve all been through a stressful few months,’ added Stuart. ‘So we should be considerate of local residents and fellow visitors, whether that’s by parking considerately, making sure we leave no litter or damage or just interacting with others. If we all take care and look out for each other we can make sure our long-awaited return to the hills is memorable for all the right reasons.’

Highland Hospice has announced plans to bring its second art installation, The Great Heilan’ Coo Art Trail, to Fort William from April to August 2022.

Summer 2019 saw the charity’s first successful art trail, Go Nuts, which invited tourists and locals to collect sightings of the brightly decorated five foot squirrels which were scattered across the Highland region.

The Great Heilan Coo Art Trail will similarly see 20 eye-catching cow sculptures in every town where there is a Highland Hospice shop – Alness, Tain, Wick, Thurso, Portree, Fort Wiliam, Aviemore, Beauly, Dornoch, Grantown, Forres and Nairn – as well as eight in Inverness.

Highland Hospice is currently reaching out to businesses in the hope they will sponsor one of the creations. Caley Timber and Building Supplies Limited are the event’s main sponsor

Fundraiser Jenna Hayden with John Hearmon from Caley Timber – and a real life ‘coo’.

and will be sponsoring the first ‘coo’. The creations are again the work of Forres artist Scott Gleed. Each Highland cow sculpture he creates will be six feet long and four feet high. Artists will be invited to submit designs, which will be submitted to the cow sponsors. Selected artists will then be invited to create and customise their design, resulting in Highland cows brightening the Highland region in spring/summer 2022.

Jenna Hayden, Highland Hospice’s Events Fundraiser, said: ‘This past year has been tough and our trail aims to brighten up the Highlands and give people the same enjoyment as our squirrel trail.’

In autumn 2022, the ‘coos’ will be gathered together for a farewell display, before taking centre stage at a special Highland Hospice charity auction before they move to their new permanent homes.

Any business interested in sponsoring one of the sculptures should contact Karen Duff at k.duff@highlandhospice.org.uk.