Arrochar Mountain Rescue was called in after a sheep became stuck near the Loch Sloy hydro-electric dam. Arrochar Mountain Rescue was called out to near the Loch Sloy hydro-electric dam on Monday after a local farmer reported one of his ewes was stranded. Footage from the rescue shows the team after they located the animal, where they harnessed and suspended the sheep from a winch cable while she was lowered to safety. The sheep was successfully reunited with her flock. Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team said: “Technical resc-ewe near the Loch Sloy Dam this morning! “The farmer requested our assistance because his sheep had been stranded for a couple of days and he was becoming increasingly worried about the animals welfare. “We’re delighted to report the exhausted sheep is now safely re-ewe-nighted with her flock.” STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" The TimesFor generations the ocean would deliver a bounty to the head of Loch Long Tides would sweep huge volumes of seaweed on to the foreshore near the village of Arrochar that farmers would spread it on their fields and gardens as fertiliser winds and even the rotational power of the planet are still dumping seaweed at the end of the stunning Argyll fjord — but it is tangled with so much plastic that it is no longer of any practical use It is estimated that about 62,000 items of rubbish wash up amid the ware at Loch Long every year Environmental experts say this includes 11 per cent of the As part of The Ferret’s Scotland’s Seas in Danger series have been travelling across Scotland to document pressing problems impacting our marine environment The final part of our year-long investigation was launched this week and it focuses on the blight of plastic pollution. Yesterday, we revealed that scientists have found the highest ever level of microplastics in Scottish waters.  Microplastics are tiny plastic litter measuring less than five millimetres They have been found in the world’s oceans In Scotland, there is increasing concern over plastic in our seas, an issue one campaigner described as being part of a “global scale chemical pollution” problem But there are many communities taking positive action including beach clean-ups near to their homes.  Briggs and Catlin chronicled projects in Argyll Plastic items are the most common type of litter Plastic breaks into increasingly smaller pieces and it is thought that it never fully biodegrades.  the Grab Trust was formed to deal with waste and recycling issues in Argyll and Bute and to preserve the natural environment.  an Argyll village near the head of Loch Long where locals regularly clean beaches.  A 2022 report by Grab Trust revealed that Argyll and Bute suffers slightly higher levels of litter on its beaches than the national average There were 434 beach surveys conducted between September 1994 and December 2022 During these surveys more than 3,008 bags of litter – weighing over 14,135 kg – were collected and recorded including Arrochar where during one survey volunteers recorded a total of 7,023 pieces of litter were recorded in one square metre there were 412 pieces of plastic litter per 100 metres of beach – triple the amount found on beaches in 1994 Jacqui Willis is the beaches and marine litter project education officer at Grab Trust She told The Ferret: “Litter from Glasgow and the Irish Sea is ending up on Arrochar beach and it’s a huge problem “There were 220 to 250 tonnes cleaned up each year between 2017 and 2021 at a total cost of £184,000 One problem though is seaweed getting taken to landfill alongside the plastic because all organic material generates methane in landfill So we need to develop techology to separate seaweed from plastic The Scottish Government passed the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 this year and ministers say they are trying to address major pollution sources such as plastic pellets as well as supporting the removal of rubbish from our seas and beaches An October report by Environmental Standards Scotland said Scottish beaches are the dirtiest in the UK The public body called on the Scottish Government to urgently tackle marine litter polluting Scotland’s beaches and seas volunteer director of the CLP (Charlestown Pattiesmuir) branch of Nature Action.  This group was founded in 2018 after nature lovers upset by pollution met in a village pub to discuss how they could do more for nature collectively – both for wildlife and the local community CLP Nature Action recently won a “Community Initiative Award” at the 2024 Nature of Scotland Awards It is a member of Coastal Communities Network a Scotland-wide initiative comprising many local groups committed to looking after Scotland’s coastal and marine environments McFarlane told the Ferret: “We clean eight beaches locally stuff off boats – every type of plastic you could imagine.” The Ferret also visited Shetland to document a project called Fishing for Litter or discarded fishing gear that continues to catch and kill marine life.  this waste kills untold numbers of animals each year including seals Fishers involved with the project bring back discarded fishing gear found at sea and put the waste in skips at local harbours The waste is recycled or disposed of at no cost to people small ports supervisor at Scalloway Harbour said: “Shetland Islands Council operate several ports and harbours around Shetland with Scalloway Harbour being the main management hub for most of these facilities across the isles.   “Collection bags are available at Scalloway Fish Market for vessels of all sizes and collected waste is placed into a dedicated skip for safe disposal or recycling.” and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" The Ferret is published by The Ferret Media Ltd, Registered Society, RS0040088. Manage cookie consent A Great Big Beach Clean Event is being held in Arrochar this weekend Litter – much of it plastic – at the head of Loch Long has been seen as a serious problem for many years and it is estimated that Arrochar receives about 11% of all the marine litter entering the Clyde whether from the Irish Sea or the river itself The event this Sunday is being organised by the GRAB Trust joined by Keep Scotland Beautiful and Waste Stories A spokesperson said: “We aim to bring together as many volunteers as possible to carry out a Marine Conservation Society Survey clean up our coastline and protect marine life “The Marine Conservation Society data is hugely important in continuing to demonstrate the scale of the problem faced at Arrochar.” According to Beachwatch data for Arrochar Shore in 2023 the two completed surveys gave an average of 8,648 litter items per 100 metres found – compared to the Scotland wide average of 188 items per 100m but the MCS data from that shows over 53,000 litter items found per 100m Organisers say they want to back this up with another set of data to show this is the reality and not an anomaly In 2019 environmental engineer Dr Tom Scanlon produced a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) film which showed how over a time span of eight days of plastic litter is carried by tides and a predominantly south-westerly wind towards hot spots around Arrochar And the previous year a study by Bill Turrell of Marine Scotland Science analysed the causes of the ‘Arrochar Litter Sink’. Turrell2018-ArrocharLitterSink He stated that large volumes of dead seaweed sometimes called ‘wrack’ or ‘ware’ have always accumulated on the foreshore and were traditionally used as fertiliser in coastal villages Now though around 400m tonnes of plastics are produced globally every year with up to 5% of this entering the sea though poor waste management Dr Turrell’s report adds: “The presence of this plastic waste in our seas means that the ‘ware’ on Arrochar foreshore is now completely mixed with pieces of plastic from large items like buckets and shoes to almost invisibly small pieces broken down from larger items such as plastic bags and bottles “This mix is now a problem to the local community not a resource because it cannot be used as fertiliser any longer and to date there is no known way of separating out the seaweed from the litter.” The survey will be carried out from 12 noon to 1pm on Sunday and afterwards volunteers will continue to try and remove as much litter as possible All other litter picking equipment will be provided Flags will show the location or use what3word reference: ///upwardly.swept.signed Share offer in bid to revive community pub Public surveyed on Argyll and Bute budget cuts Enter your email address to receive notifications of news by email All material on this website is © copyright of the Lochside Press and cannot be reproduced without permission Fencers spar at the Staten Island Fencing Club facility in Arrochar (Staten Island Fencing Club)Staten Island Fencing Club .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Advance/SILive.com Sports DeskThe Staten Island Fencing Club finally has a new space to call home which was founded in 1980 but has had a nomadic existence of sorts through the decades held a grand opening at its new facility in Arrochar last Saturday friends and well-wishers showed up at the new digs They were treated to food and some exhibition matches The Staten Island Fencing Club is currently led by David Setlow and Evan Arbeitman who was once a member of the Cambodian Olympic team “I am excited about the new Staten Island Fencing Club for several reasons,” said Vag-Urminsky “I am passionate about creating a space for Staten Islanders to explore the sport of fencing I see great potential in training the next generation of fencers I am eager to guide students toward not only competing at national and international levels but also earning academic scholarships through fencing.” Owners and staff members get set to cut ribbon on the Staten Island Fencing Club's new facility last Saturday during the grand opening in Arrochar (Staten Island Fencing Club)Staten Island Fencing Club “I’m excited to finally have our space we can call home,” added Arbeitman we can build a club that meets our shared vision -- building a culture of community and competitive fencers.” Originally founded in 1980 by the late Stephan Khinoy, a professor of medieval literature and English who was passionate about the sport, the club has produced many skilled fencers, with most of its current coaches being products of the club’s programs, according to the Staten Island Fencing Club website who is part of the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2023 founded what was then known as the Staten Island Fencing Center the group went without an official home -- having used church basements a grammar school gymnasium and college cafeteria among other stops -- for 30 years before settling into a new home in Charleston in 2010 the club most recently used a Boy Scout hall to call its home The new location in Arrochar has enabled the club to expand its coaching roster to five and is offering lessons six days a week The owners said they also plan on hosting tournaments at the new facility “Staten Island Fencing Club is the best place to learn fencing on Staten Island,” said Arbeitman “Our coaching staff has fencing experience at the collegiate Our goal is to grow our students into strong fencers to best prepare them for local We also want to best position our students for fencing scholarships when they start the college application process.” Fencing masks sit on a rack at the new Staten Island Fencing Club in Arrochar Setlow says the new space will enable the club to raise the bar of the sport for Staten Islanders “After being involved with the SIFC for 20 years I am excited to see that the club can now step up to a higher level of the sport,” he said “Where we were once able to bring our students to the high school level of fencing we can now go beyond and to college and tournament levels where we once would say you have to go to another club Our students can now excel here at the SIFC.” “My vision for Staten Island Fencing Club is to make it a center for fencing excellence bringing world-class training and opportunities to the local community,” said Vag-Urminsky Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices A 62-year-old man was pronounced dead after taking unwell on the mountain. Arrochar Mountain Rescue was called to Beinn Ime around 12.25pm on April 12 to help a man in urgent need of medical attention. A crew was sent to the Arrochar Alps area along with an HM Coastguard helicopter, where the 62-year-old man was pronounced dead. Police confirmed that there are no suspicious circumstances. A spokesperson said: “We were made aware of a 62-year-old who had taken unwell on Beinn Ime near Arrochar around 12.25pm on Saturday, April 12, 2025. “Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team attended along with the HM Coastguard helicopter but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. “There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.” Sharing news of the callout, Arrochar Mountain Rescue added: “The team were involved in a multi-agency response to assist a gentleman in urgent need of medical attention on Beinn Ime last weekend. “Our sincere thanks go to the crew of Rescue 199, the Scottish Ambulance Service, Police Scotland, and everyone on the hill who desperately tried to save the gentleman’s life. “Our deepest sympathies are also with his family and friends at this tremendously difficult time.” BEAR Scotland, on behalf of Transport Scotland will be carrying out essential drainage construction works between Succoth and Arrochar on the A83, with works planned to commence on Monday 10 February, with completion by Friday 14 February, weather permitting. To protect both roadworkers and motorists, temporary two-way traffic lights will be in place during working hours. It will also be necessary to close the footway at times. During these periods, pedestrians will be diverted through the park footway to ensure their safety. Access through the worksite for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times. Ian Stewart, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said; “These essential drainage works between Succoth and Arrochar on the A83 will improve the drainage system and reduce the risk of flooding on the trunk road. “Our teams will do all they can to complete the works as quickly and safely as possible, and we thank the local community and road users for their patience in advance while we complete these works. “We encourage motorists to plan ahead before setting out by checking the Traffic Scotland website for up-to-date travel information.” Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.traffic.gov.scot, X @trafficscotland or on the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org. Loch Long in Argyll has transformed into what experts call the 'Arrochar litter sink' (file pic) as each new tide brings more debris to the shoreline A scenic Scottish loch has become one of the country's biggest plastic waste hotspots with an estimated 62,000 items washing up on its shores annually Loch Long in Argyll has transformed into what experts call the "Arrochar litter sink," where vast amounts of plastic debris accumulate at its head SIGN OUR PETITION: CALLING FOR HARSHER PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE THAT TRASH OUR COUNTRY Much of the waste originates from waterways around Glasgow creating an overwhelming environmental challenge for the local community The natural phenomenon occurs due to a combination of prevailing winds and the Earth's rotation Sign our petition to stop the litter blight across our United Kingdom Local residents struggle to keep pace with the constant influx of waste An estimated 11 per cent of all rubbish entering the River Clyde and its tributaries eventually finds its way to Arrochar The environmental impact has severely affected traditional local practices in the area once harvested regularly to fertilise farmland can no longer be used due to plastic pollution The waste becomes entangled in the seaweed rendering what was previously a valuable natural resource unusable for the community Sign our petition now to call on the Government to introduce a minimum fine of £1,000 for littering or fly-tipping and to enforce mandatory jail sentences of at least three months upon a third conviction. - SIGN HERE Do you have a story about litter you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing holly.bishop@gbnews.uk Campaigners argue that preventing waste from entering the waterways is the only viable solution to this growing crisis Scotland's plans for a deposit return scheme The scheme was postponed following business objections about including glass bottles and further complicated by UK government intervention The current implementation date is set for 2027 though Wales has announced it will create its own scheme including glass recycling The delays have frustrated environmental campaigners seeking immediate action on marine pollution Ireland's deposit return scheme has shown remarkable success since its launch a year ago with over 900 million items returned to shops can no longer be used due to plastic pollution (not pictured) The scheme charges consumers 15 cents per standard-sized plastic bottle or can Environmental group Coastwatch Europe reports a dramatic reduction in beach litter from 60 bottles per kilometre seven years ago to just eight per kilometre in recent surveys Kirsty Crawford from the Marine Conservation Society emphasises the urgency of maintaining the 2027 deadline for Scotland's deposit return scheme "With each fresh high tide you're going to get more litter washing in," she warns "It is a big task at hand but this is where we hope the deposit return scheme would help see a reduction in that problem." The Scottish government maintains its commitment to delivering the scheme by 2027 Popular for different reasons, the two mountains described in this route are usually climbed individually 884m) is one of Scotland’s favourites for its true mountain feel and unique silhouette while Beinn Narnain (926m) is an accessible Munro and a good place to start for those wanting to complete a round the initial slog up Beinn Narnain is quickly rewarded with expansive views over Loch Long and the Luss Hills crumbling horns of The Cobbler come into view while the peak of Beinn Narnain itself isn’t visible until you’re nearly upon it rocky ascent brings you to a large plateau at the summit of Beinn Narnain From here you can see Beinn Ime in the northwest Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park to the east After descending to Lochan a’ Chlaidheimh, a path heads up to The Cobbler. For most people, the central peak’s plateau will be quite enough, but if you’re a proficient scrambler with a good head for heights, the true summit is an exposed rocky pinnacle which should only be tackled in dry conditions This entire route only covers 11.4km, despite climbing two classic Scottish mountains, but the total ascent of 1240m will certainly test your stamina. The walking is only half of the story though, because you'll need to be a comfortable scrambler to complete it There are short sections of very mild Grade 1 scrambling on The Cobbler, but if you want to reach the mountain's true summit you need to tackle a very exposed and nerve-jangling Grade 2 scramble – known as 'Threading the Needle'. Trust us, we've been there and done it (that's our editor Oli nervously taking it on a few years ago) This is a fairly straightforward walk in terms of navigation although the paths are unmarked and can be a little unclear on Beinn Narnain Our route covers 11.4km (7 miles) and we estimate experienced hikers should be able to complete the route described below in around 6 hours We advise taking your time and enjoying the views across Loch Lomond Loch Long and the Arrochar Alps because they're some of the best in the southern Highlands Ben Lomond is clearly visible to the south-east with layer after layer of mountains stretching out towards the west coast and the Scottish islands This route starts opposite the south end of Succoth car park on the A83 where there is also a bus stop served by the Citylink 976 service which travels from Glasgow to Oban via Inveraray If you want something to eat or drink after your walk we recommend dog-friendly Ben Arthur’s Bothy This route is covered by OS Explorer 364 (1:25,000), plus OS Landranger 56 (1:50,000). You can order printed maps from the Ordnance Survey's map shop or download our digital route guide HERE Opposite the south end of Succoth car park take a path signposted for The Cobbler and Beinn Narnain leading southwest notice where the path crosses a small stream and 25m later look out for the start of a much less distinct path on your right the path is intersected by a track; cross this and find where the path ascends steeply on the opposite side and 500m further you’ll reach a T-junction the path winds around rocks as you climb over Creag an Fhithich with views over Loch Long and the Luss Hills and on to Cruach nam Miseag where The Cobbler suddenly appears to the west From the highest point of Cruach nam Miseag the Spearhead rock buttress and precipitous rocks around Beinn Narnain’s summit look intimidating but follow the path as it descends before climbing the most obvious route is to scramble up the gully on its right-hand side but easier ground can be found by continuing a little further before turning left you might catch a glimpse of Ailsa Craig on a clear day while Ben Lomond breaks above the skyline to the east head towards the northwestern shoulder of Beinn Narnain passing a couple of cairns and finding a path that begins to descend Walk over a short section of small boulders before continuing on a grassy path heading west-northwest heading in a more southerly direction on stone steps descending gently towards Lochan a’ Chlaidheimh As you reach the lower ground between Beinn Narnain and The Cobbler passing a detour to its North Peak on your left until you reach the mountain’s highest central peak The view from the summit plateau is spectacular enough but in dry conditions a confident scrambler with a good head for heights might want to attempt the vertigo-inducing ‘true’ summit To do this (bumping this route up to ‘hard’ with Grade 2 scrambling) approach the summit pinnacle over the boulders then pass through a triangular hole in its base (a move called ‘threading the needle’) On the other side you’ll find a 1-metre wide ledge turn left and go along the ledge before scrambling up to the summit Remember this is the only option to return retrace your steps to the col between the central and north peaks then find and follow a path on the right leading steeply downhill and below the imposing wall of the North Peak before heading generally east for about 1km with some short sections of easy scrambling turn right onto the main path which leads down to the forest After 3km the path is intersected by a track turn left onto this and walk for 50m before taking the path on your right This route originally appeared in the June 2024 issue of Trail magazine. CLICK HERE to become a Trail magazine subscriber and get 50% off a whole year of digital OS Maps Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141; Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) An art competition focussing on the Arrochar litter sink has been launched for schoolchildren in three areas of Scotland Litter – much of it plastic – at the head of Loch Long has been seen as a serious problem for many years with about 62,000 items of litter washing onto the foreshore every year It is estimated that Arrochar receives about 11% of all the marine litter entering the Clyde Now pupils at primary schools in Argyll & Bute North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire are able to enter the Marine Litter Art Competition organised by Keep Scotland Beautiful in collaboration with GRAB Trust It encourages pupils to think about litter dropped locally and how it might end up travelling and impacting the community on Loch Long A live lesson has taken place already and a workshop planned to support and motivate their projects before submitting their final piece in February The top eight schools will each be given £250 towards attending an event at Arrochar Village Hall next March to showcase their creation and journey with other schools and local stakeholders The overall winner will then be selected and will receive a trip to the Sea Life Loch Lomond Aquarium in Balloch campaigns and social innovation manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful said: “We’re so excited to be launching this art competition to get young people involved in tackling marine litter “We know that around 80% of marine litter comes from land and tackling the issue at source is vital to protect our precious waterways “In previous years we’ve had some amazing submissions through our various art competitions and I’m sure this year will be no different Young people across the country are so passionate about our environment and their artwork is always so inspiring.” It followed a study published the previous year by Bill Turrell of Marine Scotland Science analysing the causes of the ‘Arrochar Litter Sink’: Turrell2018-ArrocharLitterSink sometimes called ‘wrack’ or ‘ware’ have always accumulated on the foreshore and were traditionally used as fertiliser in coastal villages Dr Turrell’s report states: “This means there are now two confluent flows of water reaching the basin outside Loch Long – one originating from the Irish Sea outflow and one from the River Clyde catchment area and it is assumed that both of these flows have about 20 litter items for each square kilometre of water (1m deep) within them.” beaches and marine litter project officer at The GRAB Trust said of the competition: “The GRAB Trust are delighted to be able to support Keep Scotland Beautiful on this fantastic project “Research shows the vast majority of marine litter found at Arrochar originates elsewhere and so raising awareness around litter pathways is an important step in encouraging the behavioural changes we need to see in preventing litter at source I’m really excited to see the competition entries!” The first live lesson is now available online: Garelochhead car storage plan set for refusal Enter a location to help give the most relevant search result for you Clear Uniqueness:Does the establishment stand out in the context of the local area Warmth:How warm is the service and the hospitality in general Strength of recommendation:How enthusiastically and widely would you recommend the establishment this unassuming lochfront bistro comes with pleasing views energetic staff and a menu offering generous well-presented comfort food with quirky cross-border twists Scotland meets the Big Apple in the shape of hearty New York hot dogs with haggis and Stornaway black pudding says ‘ciao bella’; elsewhere, a venison and whisky sauce on the signature 'cobbler' brings it all back home.  There are smashed burgers and loaded fries too but it’s not all riffs on takeaway favourites Plump Shetland mussels with Speyside tequila garlic and lime topped with samphire is an imaginative twist on a maritime margarita Cullen skink gnocchi showcases properly peaty smoked haddock with quail's eggs while locally brewed beer from Fyne Ales is used to make the crispiest batter for the fish and chips With daily specials often including local shellfish plus and a variety of small dishes and salads you can easily mix-and-match with your pals or opt for a more traditional three-course approach there might be cheesecake or some other home-baked treat – if you have any space left Affordable wine options and colourful cocktails complement the feelgood food Cú Mara is a place full of extended families passing travellers and villagers delighted to find such a gem on their doorstep Be warned that it can frenetically buzzy at peak times the outdoor picnic benches could give you the best seat in the house The Old Pier, Shore RoadArrocharArgyll & Bute G83 7ABGB Chester brings a distinctive flair to the dining scene in Cheshire with a growing number of restaurants that balance creativity From bold Mediterranean flavours to plant-led plates and modern British cooking Ahead of the next instalment of our Claridge’s Supper Series we caught up with Elly Wentworth from The Angel The South Hams boasts some of the most beautiful stretches of the English coastline with fertile farmland stretching from sea-sprayed headlands to steep rolling pasture and cool It’s home to a fiercely local food and drink scene and .. Samantha Miller and Jane Baxter’s eccentrically located restaurant  brings people together in a shared table format Here’s a light summer recipe to bring to your dining table Have we seen the last gasp of late night London Critic and Good Food Guide columnist Jimi Famurewa doesn't think so Some of the best restaurants in the city will still seat you come 10pm Bangkok Diners Club began life as District a Thai fusion tasting menu restaurant on nearby Oldham Street that attracted plaudits from local and national press before closing in 2022 due to financial difficulties.  few things are as uncomfortable as having to hurriedly recalibrate opinions about a formerly wholehearted recommendation I excitedly dragged my wife along for a very late Restaurant Index Our website uses cookies to improve your experience and personalise content. Cookies are small files placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to improve your experience of a website, gather reporting information and show relevant advertising. You can allow all cookies or manage them for yourself. You can find out more on our cookies page any time These cookies are needed for essential functions such as signing in and making payments These cookies help us optimise our website based on data Using these cookies we will know which web pages customers enjoy reading most and what products are most popular Three schools from Argyll and Bute reached the national final of an art competition focussing on the Arrochar litter sink Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful organised a Marine Litter Art Competition as part of its Upstream Battle campaign It encouraged pupils to think about how litter dropped on a local street or path can end up travelling via the Clyde to Arrochar and impacting the community and marine environment early years and ASN schools across 11 local authority areas in the Clyde Valley Ayrshire and Arrochar were invited to take part with nine schools selected from over 90 entries to create an exhibition showcase Kilcreggan and Arrochar primaries all represented Argyll and Bute in the final The winner was West Dunbartonshire’s Knoxland Primary School Judging took place this week in the Three Villages Hall in Arrochar – the judging panel included representatives from HP Inc and Balloch Sea Life Aquarium alongside the two organising charities head of operations at Keep Scotland Beautiful said: “The litter issue in Arrochar is one we have known about and been working with partners to tackle for a number of years now but it remains a significant challenge “Our Upstream Battle Campaign is aimed at reducing litter at source and exploring ways to stop it from reaching our precious waterways “With 80% of marine litter coming from land it is crucial that we all understand just how far litter dropped can travel and the devastating impact it can have on coastal communities and wildlife around Scotland “We all need to remember that what is dropped inland can blow flow or find its way to waterways and travel to the sea “I’d like to congratulate all our finalists and everyone who entered and it’s so inspiring to see just how much the younger generation care about our environment.” The GRAB Trust’s Jacqui Willis said: “The Grab Trust is incredibly grateful to Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Upstream Battle team for their invaluable role in amplifying this project’s reach “Their expertise has been crucial in connecting the problem of the Arrochar Litter Sink with a wider audience ensuring that the project message resonates and inspires action in our young people “We are delighted with the number of schools that have engaged with the resources and in the quality of the competition entries – which demonstrate the powerful emotions children have when it comes to protecting our environment.” The campaign is funded by The Scottish Government’s Marine Fund Scotland and supports action identified in Scotland’s Marine Litter Strategy ‘No timescale yet’ for leisure centre repairs Another major tourism plan for the Arrochar area has been revealed Ardnagal Estates – who last year unveiled ambitious proposals for the derelict former torpedo range site on Loch Long – have not submitted plans a site off Glen Loin Crescent in Succoth The ‘mixed-use tourism and community development’ would include 18 caravans or lodges A landscape and visual appraisal submitted to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority says it would be ‘a unique high-quality development with a strong sense of place and local distinctiveness’ It says the plans are in line with the national park’s guidance and policies adding: “By building upon the inherent characteristics found across this settled location at the head of Loch Long and through the implementation of a carefully detailed mitigation strategy the proposed development offers an excellent visual fit “In time they would effectively assimilate into the fringes of Succoth and would not have any detrimental impacts upon the integrity of the Loch Lomond National scenic area the special qualities of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park upon the highly scenic and outstanding qualities that the setting to this part of the park possesses nor on views or visual amenity.” A small play park including wooden play equipment and a football pitch with moveable goal posts are proposed Last November Ardnagal submitted a separate plan for the former torpedo range site a 20-bedroom budget hotel and a pier hub building including a restaurant/café That proposal has not yet been determined by national park Details of both plans are on the park authority website – the reference numbers are 2024/0215/DET for Succoth and 2023/0374/DET for the torpedo range ‘Unexpected challenges’ blamed for housing plan withdrawal ‘More cash needed’ to deal with storm damage .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a} a fresh tomato sauce topped with shaved reggiano parmigiano Executive chef Franco Ortega is filled with fond memories of the days when he began his culinary career at the former Il Ponte the Arrochar dining spot that would eventually morph into  Italianissimo Ristorante owner/executive chef of Italianissimo and Roseann Gastaldi (Staten Island Advance/Carol Ann Benanti) chef Franco and a partner bought Italianissimo until Franco took over on his own more than five years ago Stuffed artichoke was another of the evening's specials (Staten Island Advance/Carol Ann Benanti) and the passionate chef has witnessed lots of changes in the restaurant business with rising food prices and as trends in the food industry gravitate toward quick service and casual and alfresco dining who immigrated to the United States in 1993  and served generations notes he changes the Italian-inspired menu seasonally —  usually three times each year —  but insists on keeping mainstay dishes that remain popular with his steady diners Robert and Debra Esposito and Terry and Peter Lazzara But I also customize dishes to meet their dietary needs as well,” says the passionate culinary artist before adding: “But a lot of my customers leave their dishes up to me They ask what specials are on tap for that night and I prepare their selections whatever way I think it best.” Joe Mutoli mixes a cocktail at Italianissimo Ristorante steak and chicken entrees have carved a significant niche in his bill of fare Franco nonetheless pays special attention to his  seafood specials Members of the wait staff prepare zabaglione table side at Italianissimo Ristorante “I  travel several times each week to the Fulton Fish Market in Hunts Point Bronx because I only serve fresh fish on a nightly basis,” says he before adding he travels abroad as well to absorb local color Fresh artichokes are stuffed with croutons breadcrumbs and savory spices at Italianissimo Ristorante France and Spain each year to observe and familiarize myself with all the outstanding dishes served in different regions to see what’s new in the European world of culinary arts.” A succulent veal chop with sauteed mushroom roasted potatoes and broccoli served as a special at Italianissimo In conversing about the holiday season he noted: “We had a big holiday season here in the restaurant and we catered a lot of parties as well And we’re serving Valentine’s Day specials all that weekend on Friday But of course we also have Sunday sauce with fresh pasta and gravy meat A head of oven roasted fresh garlic is a complimentary prelude to every dinner at Italianissimo Then there’s “Carnavale,” the Mardi Gras festival also known as Fat Tuesday coming up on Feb  the traditional pre-Lenten feast initially commemorated in Europe that’s derived from the Latin word that translates into a farewell to meat festival Franco’s eager to shout news about the special menu for that occasion and the party that will include entertainment like Brazilian and Samba dancers and the tunes of Italian born song stylist Francesca Cavaliere Homemade zabaglione prepared table side at Italianissimo is a popular dessert at the Arrochar restaurant  a time that marks the movement for women’s equality and  appreciate the integral role women play both in and out of the work force —  Franco will play host to yet another celebration He explains: “’Faste del Donna,’ which is Italian for ‘Feast of the Women’ has been celebrated here 11 years and this is the 12th year at Italianissimo.” Homemade Italian cheese cake prepared by Chef Franco Antipasto standouts: the menu features selections like oysters mozzarella in carrozza and zuppa di mussels Hand crafted focaccia and crisp Italian bread at Italianissimo onions and pancetta and Pappardelle quattro formaggi Entrees like Gambarone Ripiene con polla di granchio veal scaloppini with prosciutto in a sage sauce served on a bed of spinach and Bistecca alla griglia grilled Angus certified steak with vegetables of the day – continue to be most popular that’s etched with the beauty of fresh florals tapestries and gold gilded frames of European art work — and attractive moldings —  is one of those restaurants accented with old world charm and contemporary creativity There are two banquet rooms that seat 60 and 65 diners Italianissimo is located at 107 McClean Ave. the Arrochar dining spot that would eventually morph into  Italianissimo Ristorante Subscribe for full access to West Coast Today or Register for 1 free article per week Subscribing gives you access all areas of the website unlimited articles and access to the digital editions of The Oban Times Argyllshire Advertiser and Lochaber Times including 18 years of archive editions You will also be helping to support local independent journalism and local jobs Subscribe Register   Login I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties and will only be used  to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen You are not permitted to copy, republish, reproduce any text, photos, graphics, sounds from this website without written permission from the editor@westcoasttoday.co.uk IPSO is an independent body which deals with complaints from the public about the editorial content of newspapers and magazines A beach clean and conservation survey are being held at Arrochar next weekend The GRAB Trust and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park rangers are again collaborating to organize the event which aims to bring together as many volunteers as possible to carry out a Marine Conservation Society Survey clean up the coastline and protect marine life The data is seen as hugely important in demonstrating the scale of the problem faced at Arrochar  According to Beachwatch data for Arrochar Shore in 2023 the two completed surveys gave an average of 8,648 litter items found per 100 metres compared to the Scotland-wide average of 188 items per 100 metres (based on 349 surveys which include the two Arrochar Shore surveys) A schools campaign will be launching soon throughout Glasgow and the greater Clyde area The survey will be carried out from 9am to 10am on Saturday September 21 and then the volunteers will continue to get as much litter off the beach as possible A spokesperson said: “Any time you can spare will be appreciated as every piece of litter removed from the beach makes a difference “Please wear sensible footwear and bring gloves “All other litter picking equipment will be provided “We will have flags up to help you find us Let’s come together to make a difference and help keep Arrochar beautiful!” Th Arrochar 10k is being held on the same day and organisers of both events are working together so that they run smoothly For the beach clean local residents should walk to the head of the loch while people coming from further afield should use public transport or car-share if possible The Luss Estates-owned car park will be closed because of the 10k Landslide closes A83 at Rest and be Thankful The city Parks Department held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday morning to commemorate the opening of the newly renovated Arrochar Playground The playground received a $5.1 million facelift which included a new artificial turf field a sprinkler and updated playground equipment "With these renovations and new amenities even more people can enjoy our outdoor spaces and get active I am committed to our local parks and will continue to allocate funds for upgrades of parks throughout the Island," said Borough President James Oddo The Arrochar Playground was renovated through funding as part of the Community Parks Initiative is a $318 million project funding renovations for 60 community parks that have gone without improvements for decades The parks and playgrounds included in the Community Parks Initiative are all located in fast-growing neighborhoods with above-average numbers of residents below the poverty line "The Community Parks Initiative is about creating a fairer and more accessible park system for ALL New Yorkers -- and there's no better expression of that than opening fully renovated parks across the city in a single day," said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J Five Community Parks Initiative sites -- one in each borough -- were opened on Tuesday the renovated playgrounds unveiled Tuesday include: Grasmere Playground in Queens; Hilltop Playground in Brooklyn; Lyons Square Playground in the Bronx were joined by Urban Park Rangers to participate in a host of games and activities during the unveiling of the playground on Tuesday The Parks Departments solicited community feedback in designing the new Arrochar Playground some of which were implemented in the final design Here's a look at some of the playground's new features: The Parks Department partnered with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to include $1.03 million of green Infrastructure elements that can absorb up to 30,000 gallons of storm water A new artificial turf field is part of the $5.1 million renovation to Arrochar Playground Two new basketball courts were installed as part of the renovation project A new sprinkler system for hot summer days was also included in the project PS 39 students can be seen playing on the newly installed jungle gym PS 39 students take turns sprinting around the newly renovated track The playground features hopscotch and other games alongside the new track The playground now features a new 360-degree climbing wall PS 39 students try the new balance beams at Arrochar Playground PS 39 students enjoy the new hanging platforms at the playground The photo above shows PS 39 students making their way across the structure on Tuesday backless benches were installed as part of the playground renovations The swing set at the newly renovated Arrochar Playground The comfort station at the newly renovated Arrochar Playground is expected to be completed in the coming weeks \"With these renovations and new amenities I am committed to our local parks and will continue to allocate funds for upgrades of parks throughout the Island,\" said Borough President James Oddo A 77-year-old man was found after going missing in the Gartocharn area on Friday. The Lomond Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) was called out to assist Police Scotland and Arrochar Mountain Rescue around 10.25pm on Friday after receiving reports of a missing walker in the Gartocharn area. The casualty, a 77-year-old man, was located after a ground search and was checked over by a doctor. He was “wet, cold and confused” but otherwise unharmed. A spokesperson for Lomond MRT said: “At 10.25pm on Friday, Lomond MRT were called to assist Police Scotland and Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team with a search for a 77-year-old male who was overdue from a walk in the Gartocharn area. “Several search parties were deployed in the area, and, thankfully, the missing walker was soon discovered. “He was wet and cold, but otherwise unharmed and, after being checked over by the Arrochar team’s doctor, was able to return home with his family.” Arrochar Mountain Rescue added: “Our team were called out to assist in the search for an elderly person in the Gartocharn area this evening. “Despite being missing for several hours, the elderly man was quickly located after commencing the organised search. “A little cold and confused from his ordeal, we hope the elderly gentleman recovers well once checked over by hospital staff.” Volunteer on-call firefighters are being sought to join the crew at Arrochar Community Fire Station The village’s 10-strong crew is now recruiting for volunteer Watch commander Ronnie Ross and crew commander Jamie McTavish are particularly keen to hear from younger local people who may be interested in being part of the team Incidents are varied and include house fires “I have not had a cat up a tree yet,” said firefighter Andrew Murney “What’s great about being a firefighter in Arrochar is being able to help your community and the difference we can make at some of the Incidents we attend.” The station has training nights on Mondays and works a rota system to do maintenance on its equipment which is two hours Volunteers also have to complete their contact hours which can vary from 90 hours to 120 hours annually “There are currently 10 of us on the crew,” added Andrew “But we are going to lose a few people soon – we are not getting any younger.” See the fire station’s Facebook page for more information £368,000 for project to help submariners’ families Network Rail is reminding residents and motorists about an overnight closure of the A83 between Arrochar and Tarbet next week Engineers will complete a structural survey of the railway bridge at near Arrochar and Tarbet station from 20:00 on Thursday 13 June to 06:00 on Friday 14 June Signage will be in place ahead of the road closure with a diversion route in place via the A82 A Network Rail spokesperson said: “The work will provide vital information on the condition of the railway bridge as part of our efforts to protect the long-term reliability of the line “Working on the railway at night offers the safest environment for our teams and causes the least disruption to staff “We would like to thank those affected for their patience and understanding and offer assurances that every effort has been made to reduce the impact of our activities as much as possible.” to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years started operating the Arrochar Superette on McClean Avenue in 1951 The Arrochar Market is located at 101 McClean Ave.; it's open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Virginia N. Sherry | sherry@siadvance.comSTATEN ISLAND -- Immediately after Anthony Giacchi moved to Staten Island in 1990 he discovered Arrochar Market on McClean Avenue and fell in love with the place All you need to do is put sawdust down on the floor,” the Fort Wadsworth resident enthused I ordered chicken cutlets and Dom (DeFalco) asked if I wanted them trimmed “Our rice balls and potato croquettes are famous,” he added explaining that the recipes are South Beach family favorites ‘I’ll learn you,’ and taught me how to make fresh gnocchi and spread it out on a white sheet on the bed.” He described his mother as “a Neapolitan chef who cooks from her heart.” Arrochar Market opened in 1951 in its current location but the origins of the business trace back to Anthony (Ninny) Facciola‘s butcher and greengrocer shop two blocks away It was here that Cornelius (Gommie) DeFalco went to work when he was a 10-year-old student at PS 39 scrubbing the wood butcher blocks with sawdust Facciola moved the business across the street and DeFalco acquired his first skills as a butcher “Then Ninny went into (military) service (during World War II) cutting meat for the thousands of soldiers who ate in Mess Hall No “I went right back into the store” on McClean Avenue when Frankie Nastasi constructed the current building at 101 McClean It was something of a sensation in the neighborhood “It was like a supermarket,” DeFalco recalled The front window announced “air conditioning” inside and an electric “escalator” moved deliveries from the building’s rear to the basement The nearest building like it was White Market in New Dorp and he didn’t want to work in the store any more,” DeFalco explained and pay him back as it goes.” A family connection was also operative because Domenic was married to Facciolo’s wife’s sister all the Italian women lined up outside the store on Saturday mornings to get their veal cutlets and sausage,” DeFalco recalled The shop also sold 400 to 500 pounds of hot and sweet sausage weekly to vendors on the South Beach boardwalk during the summer season started working in the family business in the summer of 1970 and got paid 25 cents for each box,” he said the family business remains his full-time job has been a friendly face behind the counter since 1987 Maternal and paternal sides of the DeFalco family came to the U.S and first lived on Mulberry Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side The move to Staten Island came in the 1920s and Gommie DeFalco was born in 1927 in a house on Conger Street in South Beach one of seven children his father supported by working as a tailor in Manhattan will celebrate their 61st wedding anniversary in November has handled the business’ bookkeeping for years while coaching their three children to academic success is an emergency-room nurse at Richmond University Hospital in West Brighton just completed his junior year at Penn State and started working at the McClean Avenue shop last week and may be the third-generation in the family business he started sweeping the store with a little dustpan and still loves to sweep,” his father reported