Hills reopen to walkers after extreme wildfire alert ends

Hillwalking routes on Arran have reopened three days after a large wildfire broke out on the island.

Volunteers had manned paths over the weekend to stop people entering the danger zone leading to Glen Rosa, Goat Fell and Glen Sannox.

It comes as a Scottish Fire and Rescue service (SFRS) extreme wildfire alert covering the whole of Scotland came to an end.

However, crews remain at the scene of an outdoor blaze near Kentra Bay at Acharacle in the Highlands.

Nine crews were dispatched to the blaze at about 17:00. It covers a large area of grass, measuring approximately 40 to 80 hectares.

In Ayrshire, the National Trust Scotland (NTS) Arran Ranger Service said the fire near Glen Rosa, which covered a 600 sq m area, had been extinguished.

The ranger service thanked emergency services who responded to the alert and local businesses that provided accommodation, food and refreshments.

It said in a statement: "The devastation is enormous, but without you all, it would have been a whole lot worse."

Meanwhile, in the Scottish Borders firefighters worked overnight on a 600m by 50m section of gorse near the the A70 Tweedsmuir.

A SFRS spokesperson said: "At its height, Operations Control mobilised nine fire appliances to the scene."

Police Scotland confirmed that fire and another just north of Moffat had been extinguished on Sunday morning.

St Fergus, Peterhead: An outdoor fire was reported on Friday near the St Fergus Gas Terminal. A large area of dunes and grass was affected.

Fannyside Road, Cumbernauld: A major grass fire broke out on Thursday night. It led to the overnight evacuation of a dog kennel and cattery.

Thurso Moors, Thurso: Three fire engines were sent to a large area of gorse and heather measuring approximately 250m.

The Gramps, Aberdeen: A major outdoor fire on Kincorth hill was reported on Thursday night. Two fire engine were sent.

John Kennedy Drive, Thurso: Smoke was reported in undergrowth on Friday morning. Crews worked to extinguish a fire in a moorland area.

The Pentland Hills near Edinburgh: On Thursday evening a large area of grass about 1 km long caught light. Crews were at the scene until Friday night.

Rothesay, Isle of Bute: A grass fire was reported on Tuesday morning. The blaze covered a square mile, with crews at the scene until Thursday afternoon.

Bonhill, West Dunbartonshire: Six fire crews extinguished a blaze on Tuesday that affected an area of grass measuring approximately 1.5 miles.

Glendale area, Isle of Skye: A wildfire on Tuesday affected an area of grass approximately two miles long.

Loch Dee, Galloway Forest Park: A large grass fire was reported on Thursday 3 April, with crews still working in the area until Tuesday evening.

Last week the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) attended a number of incidents across the country, from Thurso to the Galloway Forest Park.

The SFRS issued an extreme wildfire warning during a long period of unseasonably dry weather.

Temperatures have been well above the April average and Thursday was the warmest day of the year so far in Scotland - reaching 23C (73F ) in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire.

Sunday marks a return to more typical April conditions with rain and showers is expected over the coming week.