Area of Scotland covering the Highlands, Orkney, Shetland and the Hebrides
A wildfire in Cairngorms National Park near Aviemore has burned thousands of acres of moor and woodland since July 15. More than 500 firefighters have tackled the blaze. A £3 million fund administered by Highland Council is established to support businesses hit by disruption, with ongoing cordons and reopening plans.
A new Angus Glens report shows moorland and grouse management support thousands of jobs and local businesses. It highlights 86.5 full-time equivalents and 768 seasonal workers in 2025, with significant local spending and 84 grouse shooting days, illustrating the economic and social ties of rural estates.
The First Minister has confirmed plans to cap essential foods, roll out a £2 bus fare cap across Scotland, replace 14 NHS health boards with two, expand childcare, and push radical local government reform. These moves are framed as urgent public service reform to deliver a fairer, healthier, and more prosperous nation.