Ten whales die in Kyle of Durness

Ten pilot whales have died in Sutherland after getting stuck in shallow waters.
On Friday, about 40 whales had become stranded in three areas around the Kylke of Durness. Police co-ordinated a rescue team including Coastguard, British Divers Marine Life Rescue and the SSPC, while a number of volunteers attended to assist.
The initial pod of 35 [...]

Fifteen pilot whales ’stranded’ on shore at Durness

BBC – Fifteen pilot whales have come ashore at Kyle of Durness on the north Highland coast, according to British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR). The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has also been notified of the incident. The BDMLR said it had received a report of 15 animals out of the water and another 20 [...]

Lance Armstrong tweets invite for Dornoch bike ride

BBC – Cycling legend Lance Armstrong has issued an open invitation on twitter for people to join him in a bike ride in Dornoch, Sutherland. He said the 30 mile (48km) round route would start at The Eagle Pub in the town at 1700 BST. The seven-times Tour de France winner has held twitter rides [...]

Phone app to mark Highland Clearances

BBC – A software application is to be developed to help mark the 200th anniversary of the Highland Clearances in a part of Sutherland. The app for smartphones and tablets will form part of efforts to recall the Clearances in Strath of Kildonan. Timespan Museum in Helmsdale will officially launch the project on Tuesday night. [...]

Three men injured in car crash on A9 at Golspie

BBC – Three men have been seriously injured in a crash on the A9 in Sutherland. It happened near Dunrobin Castle at Golspie at about 2330 BST on Saturday. Northern Constabulary said the men had to be cut free by firefighters from the car they had been travelling in. They were taken to Raigmore Hospital [...]

Skibo worker had ‘enough poison to wipe out eagles’

BBC – An estate worker had enough illegal poison to “wipe out the entire Scottish golden eagle and red kite populations several times over”, a court has heard. Dean Barr, 44, of Clashmore, Dornoch, admitted possessing 10kg of Carbofuran. The insecticide, banned in 2005, was found in a farm building, used by Barr, on the [...]

Highlands SNP pushes out Lib Dems

BBC – The collapse of the Liberal Democrat vote in Scotland has resulted in two new seats for the SNP in the Highlands. The Nationalists have taken Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, and Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch. The party also held Inverness and Nairn and Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles), with increased majorities. The first [...]

Highland school placing request results expected

BBC- Parents in Highland expect to hear this week the results of any placing requests made for their children to go to schools outwith their catchment. Highland Council said 161 requests were made in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey. In Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross 112 placing requests have been made for 2011-12. Here the [...]

Elgin man named as victim of fatal motorbike crash

Press and Journal – A motorcyclist killed in a Highland road accident at the weekend was named yesterday as an Elgin man. David Da Silva, 34, died on Sunday after crashing in Sutherland, about one-and-a-half miles south of Kylesku. He was travelling on the A894, which runs between Inchnadamph and Kylestrome, when the accident happened [...]

Brother of former MSP switches to SNP

Press and Journal – The brother of a former Highland Liberal Democrat MSP has endorsed the local SNP candidate. Rory Stone — whose brother, Jamie, is not seeking re-election — said he was backing Rob Gibson in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross. Mr Stone, who describes himself as “slightly to the right of Genghis Khan”, said [...]

Controversial wind farm gets the green light

John O’Groat Journal – A CONTROVERSIAL wind-farm development was yesterday given the go-ahead despite concerns that it would blight one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the country. The application from RWE npower renewables was granted by members of the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross planning committee at a meeting in the Assembly Rooms in [...]

Six cats dead: Dornoch poisonings investigated

STV – Six cats have been found dead within three weeks in the Highland town of Dornoch. Now the Scottish SPCA has appealed for information following the incidents in the Elizabeth Crescent area of the town. Senior Inspector Audrey Gunn said: “These deaths were reported to us recently because there was a growing concern locally [...]

Total loss of 999 service in Kinbrace area

A police patrol has been put in place in Kinbrace, Sutherland after the loss of an emergency 999 service.
The loss, which affects 88 lines has been notified by British Telecom to Northern Constabulary.
At this stage it is hoped the service, will be restored sometime in the afternoon. Engineers are currently working on the issue.
Members of [...]

Sutherland golf pass scheme brings £40,000 tourism boost

Northern Times – VISITORS making use of the Dornoch Firth Golf Pass have boosted the local economy by an estimated £40,000 since the scheme was launched eight months ago, according to an online survey. The pass enables golfers to receive 30 per cent discount off five rounds of golf once they have purchased the pass [...]

Three courses axed as North Highland College cuts costs

Press and Journal – A new wave of cost-cutting at North Highland College has led to the axeing of three courses. The economy drive will see the national certificate course in art and a course for students with special educational needs end in the summer. The college is also stopping funding a hospitality and home [...]

GP claiming whistle-blowing backlash loses tribunal appeal

Press and Journal – A GP who claimed her contract was not renewed after she blew the whistle on dangerous practices at a far north surgery has lost her claim at an employment tribunal.
Dr Christine Paterson claimed that she suffered a series of detriments at the hands of NHS Highland after making disclosures during her [...]

Will Pentland Firth power surge benefit the local area?

BBC – Its tide is one of the fastest in the world and orca hunt along its shores for young seals. Now there are grand plans to harness the power of the fearsome tides and waves of the Pentland Firth. Seven renewable energy developers have already leased 10 seabed sites off the Caithness, Sutherland and [...]

Highland hideaway hotel put up for sale

Daily Record – A HIGHLAND hotel named as a top remote getaway by a US business magazine is for sale. Eight-bedroom no-frills Garvault Hotel, which does not even have mains electricty, had to hire more staff to cope after its unexpected plug in Forbes magazine. But the £65-a-night hotel, near Kinbrace, Sutherland, has been put [...]

Kidnapped Scottish aid worker dies in rescue attempt

STV – Every effort was made to safely rescue a kidnapped British aid worker who was killed in Afghanistan during an attempt to free her, according to military commanders and the UK government. Linda Norgrove, 36, originally from Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands, was seized by militants in Kunar province on September 26, alongside three [...]

High fliers follow Madonna in fairytale Highland wedding

Daily Record – ST TRINIAN’S stunner Talulah Riley has wed her multi-millionaire internet tycoon fiancee in a fairytale Highland ceremony. The 24-year-old Hollywood starlet tied the knot with Paypal founder Elon Musk, 39, at Dornoch Cathedral in Sutherland, the same church where Madonna had baby Rocco christened in 2000. And the happy couple celebrated in [...]

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