Hay's Way

The Scotsman's Rural Affairs Correspondent Katharine Hay visits our rural communities to see first hand the issues facing them. From Aberdeenshire to the Highlands, Islands, Lowlands and Borders.

An oak forest

The right tree matters more than planting a greater variety - study
Researchers concluded the difference suggests that planting more species is not, in itself, a guarantee of a healthier woodland.
Katharine Hay

Droimeann cattle at Ardtornish

Exclusive Ancient cattle herd practice brought back to life on highland estate

A marsh harrier. Credit: JeremyRichards - stock.adobe.com

Marsh harriers breed for first time at reserve after wetlands restored

A stag on the Isle of Jura during the rutting season

Hay's Way: Changing tide of stalking on Scotland's Deer Island

Feolin ferry terminal on the Isle of Jura

‘Our day doesn’t stop at 6.30pm’: Island fight to restore axed ferry

Lerwick Harbour

Norwegian vessel lands half Shetland fish species quota in one day
Fishermen said the catch represented almost 12 per cent of the UK’s entire North Sea saithe quota for this year.

Sheep grazing at Shemore Farm in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park

Three Loch Lomond farms chosen to future-proof food production

Isle of Jura

Hay's Way: Hard to remain a mere passing visitor on Jura

St Kilda's Soay sheep

A warmer St Kilda could be changing the fate of its famous sheep

Work starting on the Water of May.

3,000 trees to be planted by Scottish river to prevent flooding

Soay sheep on Hirta, the main island in the archipelego of St Kilda.

Hundreds of sheep die on St Kilda each year as welfare concerns mount

The beautiful Isle of Jura

Hay's Way: The Scottish island that claimed me — literally

Twelve Droimeann cattle have arrived at Ardtornish, where they will be put to work across woodland, scrub and rough grazing.

Rare Irish cattle brought to Scotland in rainforest recovery project
The animals are known for their ability to forage over difficult and varied ground
Katharine Hay

Major milestone reached on island in saving rare tree from extinction

Port Askaig Hotel on Islay

Hay's Way: 'Scotland's Fawlty Towers' or an island treasure?

Residents of Orkney and Shetland saw internet and other services disrupted after a cable linking the islands to the UK mainland was damaged (Picture: Adrian Dennis)

Sudden closure of Orkney's main post office 'deeply concerning'

Sphagnum moss is a primary building block of northern peatlands and is unusual in that it has no roots or stomata - the tiny openings that help most plants regulate water loss.

The tiny moss that could help save peatlands from drought

Helicopter used during a wildfire to douse flames

Exclusive Single helicopter to be on standby in Scotland to tackle wildfires

New plans have launched to protect and expand the wildcat population in Scotland

Plans launched to make Scottish wildcat population 'thrive' by 2045

Ben Nevis hut littered with rubbish from visitors

Ben Nevis shelter trashed as public urged to respect the mountain

Lochranza on the Isle of Arran

A quintessential ferry disruption as Hay's Way reaches Arran

Todrig from the air, property acquired by Gresham House Forest Growth and Sustainability LP

Landowner uses carbon credit firm Verra for new woodland

Looking towards Coire Ardair, Creag Meagaidh NNR ©Peatland ACTION

Mountain peatland restored by hand to help highland ecosystem

Breakthrough offers hope for Scotland’s ash trees ravaged by disease

Oystercatcher chick in the grass

Small changes to farming could increase some waders by more than 50%

Breaching minke whale off the coast of Eigg

Up to 30 minke whales gather off Eigg in rare Hebrides spectacle

The Isle of Gigha on the west coast of the Kintyre peninsula

Island loses bottled milk for good as 'glass tax' drives closure

A view of Campbeltown on the Kintyre peninsula

Rural patients travelling 300 miles, three-days-a-week for dialysis

Hay's Way reaches the Mull of Kintyre

Hay's Way: Reaching the Mull of Kintyre and the Wee Toon

At present the site has 60 fully stocked trestles at various stages of development, however the lease from the Crown Estate allows up to 200 trestles and therefore offers significant potential to expand the operation.

Mull oyster farm with two-bed cabin goes up for sale for £250,000

South west farmers with positive cases of bluetongue in limbo over busy upcoming cattle sales

Farmers hit by bluetongue in limbo after 'mayhem' policy approach

Livestock farmers are growing more concerned about the spread of bluetongue virus.

Bluetongue: Farmers warned disease will take hold across Scotland

South Uist

Safer route to travel through Uist after seven year campaign

Little egrets have bred in north-east Scotland for the first time, as climate change pushes the range of these once Mediterranean birds further north.

Scotland home to UK's most northern egret colony after chicks born

Mingulay in the Outer Hebrides is owned by NTS property PIC: Julian Paren/geograph.org.

Mapping the future of uninhabited islands in the Outer Hebrides

The Isle of Gigha, just west of the Kintyre peninsula

Hay's Way: Gigha's fine milk, fresh hotel rooms and landscape changes

Otter Ferry Seafish is on the banks of Loch Fyne

Scotland's first onshore fish farm and the rise of home-raised halibut

Part of the proposed site for the Whistlaid forestry plantation

Views sought on one of the Borders’ largest commercial forests

Bryce Cunningham, farmer and owner of Mossgiel Organic Farm near Mauchline is pictured in a field with some of his herd of Ayrshire cows.

Milk prices set to soar as Scotland plugs English drought shortage

West Coast Wellness, near Otter Ferry

Hay's Way: Wellness, a shark up close and the Mull of Kintyre test

Site visualisation for Tabhaigh East fish farm on Loch Erisort on the Isle of Lewis

Mowi explores new method to cut impact on wild salmon in fish farm

Iona is a holy isle and has been described as the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland. St Columba and 12 companions came here from Ireland in AD 563.

Calls for new St Columba heritage trail between Scotland and Ireland

A shooting party out on the moors on the Glorious Twelfth to mark the start of the grouse shooting season.

Glorious Twelfth fortunes split as glens thrive and moors struggle

Bluetongue found in a single lamb at a farm in Scotland (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Scotland hit by potentially deadly livestock virus for the first time

The wind farm will be visible from the Isle of Iona, the NTS said

NTS opposes giant offshore wind farm amid threat to views from islands

Norman Bissell and his wife-to-be Birgit Whitmore outside Isle of Luing Stores

Island shopkeeper, 80, sells up before wedding to 'enjoy married life'

Inver dam on the Isle of Jura in the Hebrides

'Calamitous' court ruling leaves rates soaring for small hydro schemes

The Colintraive to Rhubodach ferry

Hay's Way: Shortest ferry ride, warm welcomes and a poem from a window

Muirburn, controlled burning in cooler months, can help reduce the risk of wildfires

Farmers: Muirburn licensing 'should be delayed' in wake of wildfires

The waterside view at Kenmore, Loch Tay.

Calls to block fish farm's plan to double waste dump into Loch Tay

Bays Geocrab on the Isle of Harris

Isle of Harris community given £1m to buy 11,000-hectare estate

SFRS share images of the scene of the ongoing Cairngorms wildfire

Residents warned to close windows as Cairngorms fire changes direction

Wildlife campaigner Robert Pownall dressed as a gannet outside the Waverley Court polling station in Edinburgh (Jane Barlow/PA)

NatureScot rejects licence for centuries-old guga hunt for first time

In second is Rothesay with an average property price of £111,764, which makes it among Scotland’s cheapest coastal towns. Located on the Isle of Bute, the town can be reached by ferry.

Hay's Way: Back on the road after being Stateside

The Jacobite train crossing the Glenfinnan viaduct, which operator West Coast Railways had said was threatened by the cost of safety improvements. (Photo by West Coast Railways)

Calls to change Harry Potter train engine over wildfire fears

Wildlife campaigner Robert Pownall dressed as a gannet outside the Waverley Court polling station in Edinburgh (Jane Barlow/PA)

Recommendation made to refuse guga hunt ahead of NatureScot meeting

A general view of a wildfire in Cairngorms National Park

Major incident due to Cairngorms wildfire as hundreds evacuated

The new vessel during a test outing on the loch

New £2m vessel for Loch Ness cruise after tours run out of capacity

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