Hugh Raven

The Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation 5th birthday – so here’s a pic of me introducing our party’s guest of honour, the world’s greatest wildlife filmmaker Alistair Fothergill. With stunning excerpts from his last David Attenborough series Wild Isles - & a taster of his next, Caledonia. 👏👏

The Parallel Roads of Lochaber (in Glen Roy), which have attracted scientists (including Darwin) for centuries, have their protection upgraded. Three men have been arrested for damaging them. If you’re a landscape geek you should get along there: they’re unique in the UK.

Such a pleasure to interview my old friend Charles Clover (now also a neighbour in the West Highlands) at Tobermory Book Festival 2025. Charles’s contribution to marine sustainability is immeasurable. We had an exhilarating conversation about his great book ‘Rewilding the Sea’.

Driving early to the Tobermory Book Festival this the view that greeted us. The programme, speakers and atmosphere were all excellent too

'The issues at John Muir Trust are deep, serious and aren’t going away' A pioneering charity lawyer, a prominent landowner and a television presenter are the latest voices to slate John Muir Trust leadership

"John Muir Trust crisis 'doing enormous harm' says landowner," reports The Herald - Vicky Allan following up her previous pieces about chaos in one of Scotland's leading green charities. Many concerned voices now raised about its dire predicament (paywall)
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2553004...

The estimable Hamish Trench invited me to write a blog about land reform for the Scottish Land Commission. I did – but didn’t think they would publish it. It is critical – fairly, I believe – of #ScotGov. You can read it here. Fair play to the #SLC. www.landcommission.gov.scot/downloads/68...

Featuring contributions from @ruthtingay.bsky.social @pettorelli.bsky.social @jmbecologist.bsky.social @markavery.bsky.social @amyjanebeer.bsky.social @whittledaway.bsky.social @hughraven.bsky.social @vickihird.bsky.social @drbulman.bsky.social @markaeaton.bsky.social

Fares on our lifeline #CorranFerry - on which our business #Ardtornish completely depends - rise again. Another ~10% on top of prior steep rises in recent years. There are two ferries, one 50yo, the other ~25. Ie pretty ancient and unreliable. The crew? Dedicated. The Highland Council? Not so much.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Kidnapped’ had David Balfour, the hero, coming through #Morvern. He stayed at #Kinlochaline - “the most beggarly vile place that ever pigs were styed in, full of vermin, smoke and silent Highlanders.” The accommodation here is now much improved.

Thinking of marrying? Try #Ardtornish

I have just asked the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call a federal election on April 28.

We need to build the strongest economy in the G7. We need to deal with President Trump’s tariffs. Canadians deserve a choice about who should lead that effort for our country.

Granite setts, Somerset House, London. Good colour mixing. 👏

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, we learn that the newest vessel in the #Calmac fleet - the 7-yr delayed 3-month old #GlenSannox - is out of service. A weld is cracked. #CalmacCrisis continuing: now the longest-running public sector farce in recent history.

So proud to host the team from @open-seas.bsky.social at #Ardtornish for strategic planning, having grown from one staff post to ten. Of many charities I’ve watched over ~40+yrs, this might be the most effective. Our dinner - prepared by the boss - showed seabeds ravaged by industrial fishing. 👏

The colours this evening on #LochAline are exceptional. Early spring really is the most exhilarating time of year. #Morvern #Highland

Forget Brighton, the UK’s new gay and lesbian hotspot is … Oban The Scottish town of 8,500 has seen its fortunes improve due to LGBT tourists drawn to the annual Oban Lesbian Weekend festival

Gosh… who knew? Please note we also welcome #LGTB+ guests at #Ardtornish, just a ferry ride or two from the UK’s new lesbian capital: “Forget Brighton, the UK’s new gay and lesbian hotspot is … Oban”

www.thetimes.com/article/8171...

EU preparing to give Ukraine access to Single Market in peace deal Access would give economic boost to war-torn country – on its path to bloc membership

Telegraph reports that Ukraine membership of the Single Market would boost its economy. Irony is dead. www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...

Disgraceful

The UK papers are reporting on a European leaders’ summit with this photo, Justin Trudeau very clearly in it. Is this a new Canadian bid to join Europe? Leave N America…. ?#BoldMove

“Mystery donor’s £17.5m gift could turn Scottish estate into rewilding showcase,” reports the Guardian on @scotwildlife.bsky.social acquisition of the Inverbroom Estate. 7,618 ha of land includes two Munros and coastline at the head of Loch Broom. Congratulations to the Trust - & thanks to the donor

🇵🇱🇪🇺 "The paradox is that 500 million Europeans are asking 300 million Americans for help to protect them from 140 million Russians," — Tusk

❗️"We must rely on ourselves, fully aware of our own potential and believing that we are a world power," he said.

Tesla shares are down 40% since December, reports the FT, & “Tesla sales are declining rapidly, especially in Europe (maybe) partly due to increased competition but also a consumer backlash against Musk’s aggressive cost-cutting measures for the US government and unnerving political interventions.”

Today’s The Times…. #CalmacCrisisContinuing - the casual subheading acknowledging “a third of the fleet is out of action.” Unbelievable - though given recent incompetence, all too believable. Consider yourself lucky if you don’t live in a Clyde or Hebridean community.

On #CorranFerry - still the #MaidofGlencoul, our second best standby vessel, 50yo this year. The main vessel’s been off nearly six months - so we have this replacement, with no crew facilities, and a fraction of the capacity this route needs. So more strangulation of our economy. #BrokenScotland

The centenary is this year of the death of Highland #Scotland’s foremost architect, Alexander Ross. We’re holding a symposium at # Ardtornish to mark the occasion, with a panel of distinguished speakers (and me). May 17th. We may publish the proceedings.

You’ve got to admire our #Hebridean neighbour #CameronMackintosh. His productions cover the full range - menacing, dolorous, joyous and raucous - and feel both contemporary and historic at once. This has them all. Mr Bumble, the Artful Dodger, Fagin all deserve the #Olivier award. #Respect

Delighted today to attend the well-deserved introduction to the House of Lords of Wendy Alexander – or, as we shall need to learn to call her, Baroness Alexander of Cleveden. Wendy’s experience and exceptional intelligence make her ideal for the upper house. It was an honour to see it happen.

This is #LochAline. Imagine in this tranquil scene the intermittent splash of jumping fish. The #seatrout are back - amazing brothers & sisters to freshwater Brown Trout that choose to migrate to sea instead. They seem to be recovering here, probably due to the closure of the industrial salmon farm.