Environment

Wildlife watchers were in for a treat yesterday as a humpback whale was spotted swimming in the waters of the Beauly Firth.

Plummeting rare bird numbers at a Highland beauty spot have sparked plans for water activity restrictions during the breeding season.

An “extreme” wildfire risk for the Highlands has been extended into the weekend.

Glen Affric avoided a wildfire by “pure luck” after reckless campers hacked down trees, lit a campfire & left the beauty spot like a “disaster area”.

Alarmed residents in a community near Beauly turned out in force to demonstrate their opposition to controversial plans for a major substation.

The company says the ‘key component’ together with others will help deliver £100 million in community benefit for north of Scotland.

A rewilding charity has accused a Scottish Government agency of a “mystifying lack of backbone” after delaying a decision on a beaver release project.

'Extreme' and 'very high' wildfire warnings have been issued for the Highlands and Moray.

Work to develop Scotland’s first training and reuse village in Inverness has started.

ACTIVE OUTDOORS On a trip up two familiar Munros, John Davidson contemplates the changing face of a mountain set to become a huge hydro-electric store

Plans have been submitted to Highland Council for the construction of a new SSEN substation at Bingally.

Planned improvements at a community-owned Inverness beauty spot are being recommended for approval.

Plans for the expansion of a substation just over a mile away from a popular Loch Ness tourist village are being recommended for approval.

Plans for hundreds of new homes on land to the east of Inverness look set to be given permission in principle next week - despite local concerns.

’I look forward to working with partners to ensure [the freeport’s] benefits are felt across the Highlands and beyond for years to come.’

ACTIVE OUTDOORS: John Davidson is on the lookout for the elusive Highland tiger on a waymarked walk around the Badenoch village

The petition has so far amassed over 1500 signatures.

A public consultation has been launched into a community benefit fund tied to a major hydro project.

Communities are calling for progress from Highland Council on their plan to map all renewable developments across the Highlands.

The SSEN-led consultation event is being held in Cannich next Tuesday.