A council's opposition to three Highland wind farms has led to calls for a national planning policy.
The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCoS) issued the plea, which was supported by a Tory MSP.
Highland Council used delegated powers to reject an application from Falck Renewables for 17 turbines, 416ft high, on Clach Liath, in the Ben Wyvis massif near Dingwall.
The council objected to two developments – the 34- turbine Glenmorie wind farm on the Kildermorie and Glencalvie estates to the west of Ardgay and Bonar Bridge; and the 27- turbine Dalnessie wind farm, seven miles north of Lairg. These two Sutherland proposals will be decided by ministers.
David Gibson, the MCoS chief officer, said: "Scotland needs a national renewables spatial planning policy to decide what can be built where.
"This would stop unsuitable, speculative planning applications."
Conservative Murdo Fraser, convener of the Scottish Parliament's Energy Committee, said: "It's absolutely essential the Scottish Government introduces a series of measures to stop this influx of planning applications."
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said it would launch a planning policy consultation this spring.
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