Latest news with #MorayFirth
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Sink hole at Fort George near Inverness risks sea wall collapse
Part of historic Fort George in the Highlands is at risk of collapsing into the sea due to a sink artillery fortification was constructed on the Moray Firth, near Inverness, after the Battle of Culloden more than 250 years ago and it is run today as an army base and visitor Environment Scotland (HES) describes the site as the "finest example" of 18th Century military engineering in the British it has warned a hole has appeared behind a sea wall and emergency repairs are required. HES, which has applied for planning permission for the work, said it was monitoring the added that public access to the fort was unaffected. In a report supporting its planning application to Highland Council, HES said a sink hole had opened in the ground behind an area called the North Glacis retaining sea emergency work would involve pouring concrete to a depth of about 1.5m (5ft) to fill the hole and support the report said: "Without immediate intervention, there is a significant risk of catastrophic collapse of the sea wall and considerable loss of historic fabric." HES told BBC Scotland News coastal erosion had lowered beach levels along the Moray said it had previously dealt with issues at Fort George in an area known as the Dog Cemetery, where there are the graves of regimental mascots and officers' pets.A spokesperson said: "Concrete underpinning works took place in late 2024 which allowed for our stonemasons and labourers to safely carry out localised repairs to the existing stone wall and associated landscaping. "These works were completed by the end of 2024 and access to the Dog Cemetery has since been reinstated to the Ministry of Defence."HES said a small area of the North Glacis had since been fenced spokesperson added: "Remedial works are planned and full access will be reinstated on the North Glacis once these have been completed." Fort George was built near Ardersier by the British government after 1746's Battle of Culloden, which saw forces led by Bonnie Prince Charlie defeated by government fort took 22 years to it serves as a base for the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of manages large parts of the site as a visitor attraction.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Where have Hollywood stars Tom Holland and Matt Damon been filming in Scotland?
Hollywood stars Matt Damon and Tom Holland have been filming scenes for their new movie The Odyssey in by Christopher Nolan, the movie is based on a poem written almost 3,000 years ago about Greek hero Odysseus and his journey home after years away at locations include Morocco, Greece and Scotland, much of the focus has been around the Moray Firth coast. Jason Bourne and The Martian actor Damon plays Odysseus, while Spider-Man star Holland has been cast as his son Monday, the actors were spotted in Burghead in historic coastal village has the remains of a large 1,000-year-old Pictish fort, and is well-known for a tradition called the Burning of the celebration held on 11 January marks the "old" New Year. From Burghead, Holland and Damon were ferried in small boats to nearby Culbin Forest where a car park has been closed due to filming for several is large area of sandy beaches, salt marsh and forestry east of Burghead. Filming of The Odyssey has been taking place over several locations have included the fishing port of Buckie and the ruins of Findlater Castle near Harald Hårfagre - a boat described as the world's largest Viking ship to be built in modern times - has been moored in Inverness and seen in the Cromarty Firth. During breaks in filming, Damon and Holland have visited other parts of has popped up in and around visit with his family to the Alpine Coaster visitor attraction at Midlothian Snowsports Centre he posed with a shirt of local Lowland League club Bonnyrigg visited Inverness with his partner and The Odyssey co-star Zendaya. The Inverness Courier said the couple enjoyed coffees and ice Christopher Nolan has also been out and about, including to a small cinema in watched F1 The Movie starring Brad Pitt, according to the Press and Odyssey is due to be released next July.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Nairn's challenges with its hungry urban gulls
Like other Scottish seaside communities, Nairn is no stranger to residents and businesses in the former fishing port on the Moray Firth coast believe they have become a serious problem."I know they are part of living beside the sea, and I accept that, but they are quite a danger," says Caroline Mackay, who has lived in Nairn for almost 50 said her family had a nasty encounter with a gull in the town. Ms Mackay said: "My youngest granddaughter came out of the local bakers with a cake."But it wasn't much of a treat because as she was coming out the door down came a sea gull and it landed on her head and scratched her."All it was wanting was the food - it was quite vicious."She added: "I don't remember it being this bad. It feels like it has escalated."A survey by Nairn Business Improvement District (Bid) last year received 85 reports of gull Lucy Harding said: "That was quite worrying."It is an issue I regularly get reports on, of people being attacked for food particularly." Ms Harding believes control measures taken over the past few years have made a difference, but she said the process involved was onerous and like other birds, are protected by law and Scotland's nature body, NatureScot, has strict rules around how they are controlled.A licence is needed for the removal of nests and eggs from the roofs of buildings in areas where gulls are deemed to be a Ms Harding said it was now harder to obtain the necessary said: "In 2023, we had lots of licences and we carried the work out as normal as had done for five years."But last year we were granted a licence far too late."She said local MSPs Fergus Ewing and Douglas Ross helped Nairn Bid secure a licence in time this Conservative MSP Ross has secured a cross-party debate in Holyrood on urban gulls on Thursday. He describes the birds as a menace and is calling for a review of the management of gulls. Nairn Bid has put in place other measures to discourage gulls from nesting in the include reflective devices designed to scare birds away from Harding said: "I have been sent pictures of gulls sitting next to them, and even mating on top of them, but I think they are working."Phil Stuart, who runs local shop Vitamin Sea, said he believed Nairn was not "plagued" by gulls like some other seaside communities were."I think we are doing really well compared to elsewhere," he said."At the moment there are one or two individual birds causing trouble." Five species of gull breed in Scotland - great black-backed, lesser black-backed, herring, common, and black-headed - according to are other species found in Scotland, but they are more are a coastal species, but they have been drawn into towns and cities due to the plentiful places to build nests, a lack of predators - and lots of opportunities to find their natural habitats - the coast and farmland - the birds eat carrion, seeds, fruits, young birds, eggs, small mammals, insects and fish. NatureScot issued 2,633 nest removal licences across Scotland in 2023, and 1,601 in said it understood gulls could sometimes cause problems in towns and cities, but at the same time populations of the birds were facing "serious declines".A spokesperson said: "Over the last five years we have supported many individuals, businesses and communities to better manage gulls without the need to kill the birds or destroy their nests. "As a result, the number of licence applications to destroy nests and eggs and kill chicks has reduced."NatureScot said it would continue to issue licenses where gulls were causing a health and safety spokesperson added: "In the longer-term, we need to find ways to live with gulls and other wildlife." Numbers of herring gulls, a species people are most likely to encounter in urban areas, have fallen by 48% in Scotland since the 1980s, according to RSPB Scotland.A spokesperson said: "Gulls have adapted to live in our urban areas because they are struggling to find food and shelter in the wild. "Killing gulls is not the answer."They added: "This is a charismatic species that has always been a part of our coastal communities, their cry is the sound of the seaside. "People and gulls can coexist so long as we take the right action."
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Kayakers and paddleboarders 'unknowingly' disturbing sea life
Researchers have warned kayakers and paddleboarders may be unknowingly disturbing whales, dolphins and seals in Scottish waters. Heriot-Watt University, with support from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, has documented hundreds of interactions between vessels and marine study included more than 400 hours of land-based observations across five marine regions, including protected areas. Researchers said disturbances caused by kayaks and paddleboards were recorded in the Moray Firth, Clyde, Forth and Tay. The study suggested disturbances from fast-moving craft such as speedboats also occurred in every area. Dr Emily Hague, of Heriot-Watt University, said: "The truth is that all of Scotland's coastline is important habitat for marine mammals."Whether you're paddling off the coast of Fife or sailing around Skye, you're likely sharing the water with sensitive species."We want people to enjoy Scotland's waters, but to do so responsibly by keeping up to date on how best to respond should you spot marine wildlife."She added: "With a little more awareness and a few small changes, we can all help ensure that sharing the sea doesn't come at a cost to the animals that call it home." What is the advice? NatureScot's Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code advises people to:Keep a distance of at least 100m (328ft) from marine mammalsAvoid sudden changes in direction, speed or noise - especially in engine-powered boatsAvoid surrounding animalsLimit encounters to 15 minutes and move on if animals show any signs of disturbanceAvoid using fast moving craft for wildlife watching due to their speed, noise and collision riskGive seals on land a wide berth
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Viking ship moors in Inverness during major film shoot in Moray
A boat described as the world's largest Viking ship to be built in modern times has been moored in Inverness during a major film is understood the Draken Harald Hårfagre is being used as an ancient Greek warship in The Odyssey, a new movie by Oscar-winning director Christopher Nolan and starring Matt boat's owners said they could not comment directly on any specific film activity, but added that the vessel was involved in various international projects this Odyssey is a poem written almost 3,000 years ago about Greek hero Odysseus and his journey home after years away at war. The film production based on the story has been filming on the Moray Firth locations include the fishing port of Buckie and the ruins of Findlater Castle near Cullen. Nolan's film Oppenheimer won best directing award and best picture at last year's director's other films have included Dunkirk and action scenes for his Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises, were filmed in the Cairngorms in was a plan to land a large military transport plane on the A9, but the stunt did not go ahead. Draken is described as a Viking ship built in modern times, and not a began on the 35m (115ft) boat in 2010 and was initiated by Norwegian entrepreneur Sigurd first sailed in 2012 and made its first ocean-going voyage two years later, when it crossed from Haugesund in Norway to Liverpool in the way its mast broke in rough seas near Shetland and the crew was forced into making an emergency stop.A new mast was made from Douglas fir sourced from Dumfries and Draken project's chief executive Emanuel Persson said the boat's arrival at Inverness' Seaport Marina had caused a told BBC Scotland News: "Her presence in Scotland is part of a wider voyage and an exciting chapter in her ongoing story."While we can't comment directly on any specific film activity, we can confirm that Draken has been engaged in various international projects this year, including collaborations within the film and television industry."He added: "Scotland's deep Norse heritage makes it a particularly meaningful destination, and we're proud to bring Draken back to these shore - continuing our mission to connect history, culture, and exploration."
