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The safety of
you and your companions should always be of paramount importance when you
are walking on the hills of the UK (and in need further a field). Taking
simple precautions like taking a survival bag, leaving a route plan and
carrying a compass (yes there are people out there who don't) can stop
minor incidents becoming full blown epics.
Be aware of your own
capabilities, and plan your route accordingly. Ensure that you are
properly equipped for the time of year - bear in mind that whilst it may
be glorious summer at the foot of a hill in the UK, depending on where you
are it can be close to zero degrees and a howling gale at the top of the hill.
To get you started we've included some general advice below, some
of which is expanded upon on other pages, links to which can be found at
the bottom of the page.
Plan Your Route
The length and difficulty
of your route should be considered carefully. Be realistic about your own
and your groups' abilities. Check your timing and make sure that you are
aware of the hours of daylight for the time of year you are making your walk.
Also check you have all the appropriate maps (don't simply follow some sketch
map in a book - get a proper Ordnance Survey map or a Harvey Map). Make sure that your
group understands and accepts what the route may demand of them. Have an
escape route to planned in case things get tricky. Have a look at our page
on route
cards.
Check the Weather
Also check the weather
before you go out - it may be nice and sunny when you set out, but the
forecast might predict a turn that could leave you caught out. As a start
you can check out the Met
Office web site or the BBC Weather Site.
In an Emergency
The international distress
signal is six steady blasts of your whistle (or six torch flashes at
night), wait for one minute, then repeat the signal - keep doing this
until you are located. The response is three flashes or blasts of the
whistle, a minutes pause then three again. If there are three or more in
the party, one should stay with the injured person, while the other (idealy two) plots
the exact location, notes the injuries and goes for help. Dial 999 and ask
for the police.
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Hillwalking Safety - The safety of you and your companions should always be of paramount importance when you are walking on the hills of the UK (and in need further a field). Taking simple precautions...Read More |
| The Hillwalking Bookshop - We have a slection of hill walking related books, but we're not just limited to books, we have maps and cameras too...Read More |
| Places to Stay in Scotland - View our ever growing list of places to stay...Read More |
| Ordnance Survey Maps - as a part of our book shop we have a selection of Ordnance Survey maps for you...Read More |
| Airy Cottage, Self Catering in Argyll - Situated in the small village of Kames, adjacent to Tighnabruaich (Best Village Award 2001), Argyll, Scotland, Airy Cottage offers...Read More |
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