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Mike Merritt


Highland avalanche reports stopped for first time – after lack of snow in hills

08 February 2025
Highland avalanche reports stopped for first time – after lack of snow in hills

Highland avalanche reports stopped for first time – after lack of snow in hills

08 February 2025

Scotland’s avalanche warning service downed tools in January when there was too little snow, and climate change is having a significant impact


Orbex to receive £20 million funding boost from UK Government

29 January 2025
Orbex to receive £20 million funding boost from UK Government

Orbex to receive £20 million funding boost from UK Government

29 January 2025

Orbex is at the centre of a row over the mothballing of Sutherland Spaceport.


Assynt Mountain Rescue Team search Socach Hill, Brora, in first call-out of 2025

10 January 2025
Assynt Mountain Rescue Team search Socach Hill, Brora, in first call-out of 2025

Assynt Mountain Rescue Team search Socach Hill, Brora, in first call-out of 2025

10 January 2025

Nine members of the team along with three dogs and handlers from the Search & Rescue Dog Association (Scotland) dogs were involved in the search.


WATCH: Mountain rescue team brave waist-deep snow in Cairngorms double-rescue

07 January 2025
WATCH: Mountain rescue team brave waist-deep snow in Cairngorms double-rescue

WATCH: Mountain rescue team brave waist-deep snow in Cairngorms double-rescue

07 January 2025

Mountain heroes battled "brutal" weather last night in a double rescue in the Cairngorms in which one couple feared they would not survive.


Busy 2024 for Assynt Mountain Rescue Team with 28 call outs

06 January 2025
Busy 2024 for Assynt Mountain Rescue Team with 28 call outs

Busy 2024 for Assynt Mountain Rescue Team with 28 call outs

06 January 2025

Six new team members successfully completed their probation.


Sutherland councillors concerned over NC500 ‘super rally’ plan

18 December 2024
Sutherland councillors concerned over NC500 ‘super rally’ plan

Sutherland councillors concerned over NC500 ‘super rally’ plan

18 December 2024

An Austrian company is planning to include the NC500 in a 140-car rally in June next year.


Crewman airlifted to hospital after fall on vessel north-west of Cape Wrath

13 December 2024
Crewman airlifted to hospital after fall on vessel north-west of Cape Wrath

Crewman airlifted to hospital after fall on vessel north-west of Cape Wrath

13 December 2024

The Stornoway Coastguard search and rescue helicopter was dispatched at 2.20am yesterday.


Highlands and Islands Enterprise confirm Melness Crofters Estate will still be paid for lease of Sutherland Spaceport site despite Orbex shelving the project

06 December 2024
Highlands and Islands Enterprise confirm Melness Crofters Estate will still be paid for lease of Sutherland Spaceport site despite Orbex shelving the project

Highlands and Islands Enterprise confirm Melness Crofters Estate will still be paid for lease of Sutherland Spaceport site despite Orbex shelving the project

06 December 2024

HIE said the crofter would continue to receive a rental income as part of the lease agreement.


‘If we all picked up a bit of litter we would see a big difference’: Ullapool family’s remarkable beach clean record

02 December 2024
‘If we all picked up a bit of litter we would see a big difference’: Ullapool family’s remarkable beach clean record

‘If we all picked up a bit of litter we would see a big difference’: Ullapool family’s remarkable beach clean record

02 December 2024

An environmentally conscious family of four have removed a staggering 15 tonnes of rubbish from beaches in the north west Highlands.


‘Britain’s remotest shop’ in Durness up for sale for £645k

20 November 2024
‘Britain’s remotest shop’ in Durness up for sale for £645k

‘Britain’s remotest shop’ in Durness up for sale for £645k

20 November 2024

The shop at Durness in Sutherland has been described as a "once in a lifetime" opportunity.


Members of Assynt Mountain Rescue Team go to aid of walkers lost in the dark after trip to Sutherland waterfall.

10 November 2024
Members of Assynt Mountain Rescue Team go to aid of walkers lost in the dark after trip to Sutherland waterfall.

Members of Assynt Mountain Rescue Team go to aid of walkers lost in the dark after trip to Sutherland waterfall.

10 November 2024

The Eas a’ Chual Aluinn waterfall in Assynt is the tallest waterfall in the United Kingdom with a sheer drop of 200m.


Outlander star Sophie Skelton to feature in Caithness-based psychological thriller

04 November 2024
Outlander star Sophie Skelton to feature in Caithness-based psychological thriller

Outlander star Sophie Skelton to feature in Caithness-based psychological thriller

04 November 2024

A film shot in Caithness starring Outlander’s Sophie Skelton has landed a major deal.


Hollywood A-lister Keira Knightley flies into Inverness to begin filming in Highlands

04 November 2024
Hollywood A-lister Keira Knightley flies into Inverness to begin filming in Highlands

Hollywood A-lister Keira Knightley flies into Inverness to begin filming in Highlands

04 November 2024

Her latest film, The Woman in Cabin 10, is being shot in Glen Affric.


Breaking down borders with glorious coastal walk

27 October 2024
Breaking down borders with glorious coastal walk

Breaking down borders with glorious coastal walk

27 October 2024

Mike Merritt lets the train from Inverness take the strain on his way to the start of a walking holiday in the north-east of England


Planning officials recommend go-ahead for Sutherland Spaceport application, including antennae park on top of Ben Tongue

24 October 2024
Planning officials recommend go-ahead for Sutherland Spaceport application, including antennae park on top of Ben Tongue

Planning officials recommend go-ahead for Sutherland Spaceport application, including antennae park on top of Ben Tongue

24 October 2024

Members of the North Planning Applications Committee will decided the spaceport application at their meeting next Tuesday.


Hillwalker airlifted from Sutherland peak after falling in high winds

23 October 2024
Hillwalker airlifted from Sutherland peak after falling in high winds

Hillwalker airlifted from Sutherland peak after falling in high winds

23 October 2024

Assynt Mountain Rescue Team were called out to go to the aid of the injured hillwalker.


New Land’s End to John O’Groats record set by female tandem cycling pair

19 September 2024
New Land’s End to John O’Groats record set by female tandem cycling pair

New Land’s End to John O’Groats record set by female tandem cycling pair

19 September 2024

An NHS worker and a bicycle instructor have set a new women’s Tandem Land’s End to John O’Groats record.


Drone pilot feared device would crash into helicopter over Kylesku bridge, official investigation reveals

28 August 2024
Drone pilot feared device would crash into helicopter over Kylesku bridge, official investigation reveals

Drone pilot feared device would crash into helicopter over Kylesku bridge, official investigation reveals

28 August 2024

A report by the UK Airprox Board (UKAB) into whether the proximity of the drone posed a risk to the helicopter has just been published.


Assynt Mountain Rescue team help lost walkers at Britain's highest waterfall near Kylesku

16 August 2024
Assynt Mountain Rescue team help lost walkers at Britain's highest waterfall near Kylesku

Assynt Mountain Rescue team help lost walkers at Britain's highest waterfall near Kylesku

16 August 2024

The two lost walkers had gone to see the spectacular Eas a’ Chual Aluinn waterfall.


'You're Sheena Easton aren't you?': Star quality at Durness as singer calls in at Cocoa Mountain chocolate shop

28 July 2024
'You're Sheena Easton aren't you?': Star quality at Durness as singer calls in at Cocoa Mountain chocolate shop

'You're Sheena Easton aren't you?': Star quality at Durness as singer calls in at Cocoa Mountain chocolate shop

28 July 2024

Scottish singer Sheena Easton, who lives in America, visited Durness this weekend.


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