Arran left barren in the wake of wildfires trail of destruction as Scotlands mini heatwave comes to an end

The scale of destruction left by the wildfires that swept across Scotland was revealed yesterday as firefighters brought them under control.

Hillsides on Arran were left scorched and blackened by the extensive fires that raged across Glen Rosa at the end of last week.

The aftermath of the blaze was revealed as Arran Ranger Service announced that the paths to Glen Rosa, Glen Sannox and Goatfell had been reopened.

It came as forecasters said wet weather is set to rain on Scotland’s April heatwave after a spell of unseasonably clear skies and glorious sunshine.

Temperatures soared above the April average last week, with highs of 23 degrees in Aberdeenshire marking Scotland’s hottest day of the year – seven degrees warmer than Rome.

Although many Scots flocked outdoors to celebrate the early arrival of summer, emergency services urged caution as the unusually warm and dry weather created abundant fuel for fires.

Fire fighters attended around 90 outdoor blazes last weekend, with more than ten further infernos igniting over following week.

Blazes broke out across the length of the country from Thurso in the Highlands to Tweedsmuir in the Scottish Borders, while firefighters struggled to battle flames on cut-off islands like Skye and Bute.

Rangers and firemen work to extinguish the last of the flames on a scorched hillside on Arran

A helicopter carries water to fires still smouldering on higher ground on the island

Residents were evacuated from their homes near Cumbernauld, and ships sounded their foghorns as thick smoke descended on the Clyde. Shocking images from across the country show walls of smoke choking the landscape and blazes illuminating the night sky.

One fire in Dumfries and Galloway took five days to control and created pillars of smoke large enough to be photographed from space.

The spate of unprecedented blazes pushed the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to an ‘extreme’ wildfire warning covering the whole of Scotland on Friday and Saturday.

Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Kenny Barbour of the SFRS explained: ‘As the warm and dry weather continues, so too does the risk of wildfire.’

He added: ‘Wildfires have the potential to burn for days and they spread through vast areas of land in our countryside, which is devastating for those who live nearby.’

The warning of ‘extreme’ risk of wildfires has now been withdrawn.

Some of the fires remained live yesterday, but a dusting of snow was seen on mountaintops in Ross-shire and the fires on Arran had burnt out.

Yesterday the National Trust Scotland Arran Ranger Service posted online: ‘Thank you to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service teams from across Arran for co-ordinating and putting out the fire, Police Scotland Ayrshire team on Arran led expertly by Sergeant Neilson, the Arran Mountain Rescue Team, Sannox Estate, Dougarie Estate, Forestry and Land Scotland team on Arran, Arran Footpaths & Forestry, Rab Logan, Stewart Lambie, Skyhook Helicopters, NTS garden team and many local volunteer who all helped put out the fire and man paths to stop walkers from entering the danger zone.’

The hillside at Glen Rosa was left blackened in the aftermath of the wildfires

The dramatic wildfire at Glen Rosa at the end of last week

The fires follow a period of particularly dry weather which saw Scotland receive 64 per cent of its usual rainfall for March. This dry spell continued into April, leaving Scotland with just 0.2mm of rain this month – far below the 33mm typically recorded.

The parched landscape created tinderbox conditions which allowed flames to tear through large swathes of the countryside, in some places demanding multiple crews to extinguish fires and leaving iconic landscapes a charred ruin.

But relief is on the horizon as stormy skies are expected to bring respite to firefighters – and a rude awakening for Scottish sunbathers.

Jason Kelly, Met Office chief meteorologist, warned that Scots must brace themselves to ‘say goodbye to the wall-to-wall sunshine’.

The high pressure that held off clouds and rain over Scotland last week is forecast to sink southward, beckoning in the wet and windy conditions expected of Spring.

Tom Morgan, Met Office meteorologist, said: ‘Scotland has enjoyed a prolonged spell of dry and sunny weather over April, but that’s coming to an end now.

‘April is a notorious month for showers, and we’re returning to what we’d expect in terms of weather and temperatures for this time of year.’

He explained that the arrival of more turbulent spring weather could see the North and West of Scotland hit by possible thunderstorms and even hail, with cooler and cloudier conditions becoming the norm once more.

Meanwhile, temperatures across the country will drop to an average of 12 or 13 degrees – 10 degrees colder than the highs enjoyed last week.

Mr Morgan added: ‘We’re not going to see a full washout, but there is certainly a chance of showers for many days this week.’

Meanwhile, three teenagers were being treated in hospital after being injured in an alleged stabbing near Portobello beach in Edinburgh.

Police Scotland said a 17-year-old boy and two men aged 18 were found injured at around 10.55pm on Saturday after a report of a disturbance in Bath Street and Mentone Avenue.

A spokesman said the three teenagers were taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where medical staff described their condition as stable.

He added: ‘Enquiries into the incident are continuing.’