High Value Find
Platinum, one of the world's most precious metals, has been discovered on Skye, Rhum and Mull. The latest find by geologists was in the Cuillin mountain range on Skye. The platinum sites on the three islands are in rocks of similar age, composition and origin. The team from Camborne School of Mines - part of Exeter University - and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia first found platinum on Rhum in 1999. Now they have found the precious metal on Mull and Skye - though they say the deposits are too small to be viably mined. The potential exists for commercial deposits although these are likely to be in East Greenland. The geologists still hail the Scottish finds as significant. "The discovery of one mineral deposit is a rare event. To discover three deposits in two years in an area that, geologically, has been intensely studied is a great achievement," said Duncan Pirrie, one of the geologists. Although they are scientifically important, the platinum palladium deposits on both Mull and Skye are relatively small and would not be viable to mine. The platinum grains are so small they cannot be seen without an electron microscope with magnifications over 200 times.
Scenic Skye Opened Up
Public access to one of the most attractive parts of Skye is being improved and upgraded by the agencies now in charge of the island's Orbost Estate. A 1.5 kilometre stretch of the footpath which leads from Orbost Farm to the spectacular cliff scenery at the southern tip of the estate is being restored. This will make it easier for walkers to see the famous MacLeod's Maidens rock pinnacles. The eight kilometre route from the farm to the cliff top viewpoint is a long standing one, and popular with walkers. The first part runs through the Bharcasaig forestry plantation which Highlands and Islands Enterprise have acquired from previous owners, and reunited with the rest of the estate. Here the route follows well maintained forest tracks and is easy going. Beyond the plantation, however, the path had badly deteriorated and was seriously eroded. Now, with investment, the first 1.5km of this path is being reconstructed and resurfaced. This fulfills a promise made three years ago, when the estate was bought by HIE. The work is being carried out by a local contractor, Donald Ross of Skye Conservation, and is being supervised by Kevin Sutton, Orbost's woodland manager with technical assistance from Donald Kennedy, Skye and Lochalsh footpath officer. Karen MacAskill, and advisor with HIE's community land unit, said: "One of the local concerns when the Orbost Estate came on the market three years ago was that the estate might fall into the hands of someone who'd be less than welcoming to walkers. "We made it clear then that, if our bid was successful, we'd have an open door policy to ensure that everyone - locals and visitors alike - would be welcome to walk on Orbost. That's why we're delighted to be making it easier for people to take advantage of one of Skye's most outstanding walks. It is also our aim to improve further sections of the MacLeod's Maiden's footpath if or when funds permit."
Scaling Heights for Water
An Inverness engineer is hoping to pipe two Tanzanian villages into clean water by climbing Kilimanjaro. Jonathan Appleby is attempting to raise more than £4000 for WaterAid which helps provide water supplies in developing countries. "I am hoping to raise at least £4000 which will be enough to provide two villages in Tanzania with water," said Mr Appleby. "The money goes a long way out there - you certainly couldn't do the same in this country for that money." His high altitude adventure begins in July and he will take 12 days to tackle the 19,340 foot peak. "It is the highest peak I have ever done," said the water engineer. "It is the same as six Munroes." His training includes a lot of running as well as walking and climbing and he has written to a number of companies in the water industry for support. He said: "My own company -Halcrow - and the North of Scotland Water Authority have both agreed to sponsor me by several hundred pounds, but I am still looking for a lot more."
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Hint from the 1920s
Royal approval of Inverness's claims to be a city appear to date back further than the formal endorsement recently by the Queen. Highland Council's archivist, Bob Steward, has uncovered documents from 1929 relating to a visit by the then Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth). They include an album of pictures and a thank you note to the Provost, Alexander MacEwan. Paying warm tribute to the efforts of local officials in making the trip such an enjoyable one, the letter refers to "how much (we) enjoyed the visit to your city..." The discovery put a smile on the face of Mr Steward as he sifted through papers concerning the couple's visit to Inverness on the 17th May, 1929. Their programme included opening a wing at the Royal Northern Infirmary. Said Mr Steward of the year 2000 accolade: "We expect there will be an official document relating to city status. We hope it will be displayed somewhere that people can see it."
Tartan for Children
A talented Scottish designer who set up in business only three months ago unveiled the world's first tartan specifically for children. Sharon McAllister of Tullibody, Clackmannanshire, designed the plaid on her home computer using her nine month old son, Reece, as inspiration. She set up Scottish Baby Gifts in October of last year after becoming frustrated by the lack of Scotland related children's clothing on the market. Her distinctive range of hats, scarves and baby blankets, called MacClacks, went on sale on the Internet and has proved successful with mothers throughout the world. Miss McAllister even sent a MacClacks bonnet and scarf for Madonna's baby son, Rocco. She said she had decided to extend the range to incorporate a tartan to be worn only by children. And she hoped the design, made up of six different colours and called "the child", would encourage more youngsters to wear Scotland's national dress. Speaking at the launch of the tartan at the Chapel Royal in Stirling Castle, she said: "I wanted to design something which stood out from the other tartans on the market. "Most of them are made up of very dark colours, whereas the children's tartan is very bright and colourful. "The childrens tartan will enable them to stand out and hopefully encourage then to wear tartan." A spokesman for the Scottish Tourist Board said: "All ages should be able to enjoy tartan as much as possible, so if there is one specifically for children it will hopefully get them interested in it. Sharon has obviously tapped into a market that nobody else has thought of, so good luck to her." But Duncan Paisley, president of the Scottish Tartan Society, said there were now too many tartans on the market. He said: "We will certainly note the children's tartan on our registers as we are obliged to do with any design which is unique. However, it is quite ridiculous that we have such a proliferation of tartans in existence. "Any child, so long as they have connections with a family or a clan, can wear that tartan so why have a children's tartan?"
Flag Clash Resolved?
Scotland's leading authority on flags has ruled that the Union Flag - rather than the Saltire - should fly from the top of a prominent Moray landmark. But the Ross Herald, Charles Burnett, has conceded it would be in order to fly both flags over Nelson Tower at Forres, provided the Union Flag took precedence. He said it would only be appropriate to fly the Saltire on its own on St Andrew's Day. The Ross Herald, a member of the Lyon Court which oversees issues relating to Scottish heraldry, was asked to adjudicate by Moray Council following a row over which flag should be flown from the top of the 90ft tower. The controversy was sparked when the Saltire, which had been flown from the tower during the summer months since 1996, was suddenly replaced by the Union Flag last year. The switch was made after it was pointed out to council officials that the tower was built as a monument to the British naval victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
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