Leading mountaineer, writer and broadcaster Cameron McNeish has urged the Government to give a special designation to Scotland's last remaining areas of wild land.

The Public Petitions Committee will debate tomorrow a petition he helped the John Muir Trust conservation charity hand in two years ago.

Mr McNeish said: "The Scottish Government could use the opportunity presented by the Year of Natural Scotland to make a powerful statement for wildness and all the benefits it brings by putting in place proper protection for Scotland's wild land.

"I hope the committee will push for the Environment Minister and Scottish Natural Heritage to take action."