bmc new hill walkers booklet
DESCRIPTION
A useful booklet produced by the British Mountaineering Council to give a few top tips for people new to hill walking in the UK. Although it may be aimed at those 'new to the hills' it also has a few handy reminders for all who venture into the British hills.TRANSCRIPT
New
Hill
Wal
kers
CLO
THIN
G | E
QU
IPM
ENT
| NAV
IGAT
ION
| HAZ
ARDS
| EM
ERGE
NCIE
S
CLI
MB IT
, W
ALK
IT,
PR
OTE
CT
IT.
0161
445
611
1 m
embe
rs@
theb
mc.
co.u
kT
HE
BM
C.C
O.U
K
Th
e B
riti
sh M
ou
nta
inee
rin
g C
ou
nci
l se
cure
s ac
cess
to
cra
gs
and
upl
ands
» w
e o!
er m
embe
r dis
cou
nts
at o
ver 6
00 o
utd
oo
r re
taile
rs n
atio
nw
ide
» w
e’ve
bee
n t
he
on
ly p
ubl
ic v
oic
e fo
r cl
imb
ers,
hill
wal
kers
an
d m
ou
nta
inee
rs in
En
glan
d a
nd
Wal
es
sin
ce 1
944
» w
e h
ave
ove
r 70,
00
0 m
emb
ers,
an
d th
e n
um
ber
s ar
e ri
sin
g… jo
in u
s.
3In
trodu
ctio
n
2 | I
ntro
duct
ion
The
Briti
sh h
ills
offe
r bea
uty,
cha
lleng
e an
d ad
vent
ure,
as
wel
l as
the
oppo
rtun
ity to
kee
p
fit a
nd h
ealth
y. S
o it
is n
o w
onde
r tha
t hill
wal
king
is
suc
h a
popu
lar a
ctiv
ity, a
ttra
ctin
g pe
ople
of
all
ages
. Wal
king
in th
e up
land
s re
quir
es
a co
llect
ion
of s
kills
, inc
ludi
ng n
avig
atio
n an
d ha
zard
avo
idan
ce. I
t is
impo
rtan
t tha
t par
ticip
ants
ar
e pr
epar
ed w
ith s
ome
basi
c eq
uipm
ent a
nd
know
ledg
e in
ord
er to
enj
oy h
ill w
alki
ng s
afel
y.
This
boo
klet
is in
tend
ed fo
r tho
se w
ho a
re re
lativ
ely
or c
ompl
etel
y ne
w to
the
activ
ity o
f hill
wal
king
. It
aim
s to
high
light
som
e of
the
mor
e im
port
ant
aspe
cts a
nd p
rovi
de a
refe
renc
e ba
se o
f res
ourc
es
for l
earn
ing
the
requ
ired
skill
s. N
o am
ount
of r
eadi
ng
or tr
aini
ng c
an m
ake
hill
wal
king
com
plet
ely
safe
, bu
t if y
ou a
dopt
a p
rogr
essi
ve a
ppro
ach
to y
our d
ays
out,
deve
lopi
ng h
ill sk
ills i
ncre
men
tally
and
bui
ldin
g up
on p
ast e
xper
ienc
e, y
ou c
an m
inim
ise
the
risk
s an
d m
axim
ise
your
enj
oym
ent.
Whe
re to
go
With
hun
dred
s of h
ills a
nd m
ount
ains
from
the
Scot
tish
Hig
hlan
ds to
the
tors
of D
artm
oor t
he u
plan
d ar
eas o
f Br
itain
hol
d a
lifet
ime
of h
ill w
alki
ng p
leas
ure.
Cla
ssic
ar
eas i
nclu
de th
e La
ke D
istr
ict a
nd S
now
doni
a, w
hils
t ad
vent
ures
at l
ower
alti
tude
s can
be
foun
d in
pop
ular
ar
eas s
uch
as th
e Pe
ak D
istri
ct a
nd th
e Yo
rksh
ire D
ales
.
Ther
e ar
e w
alki
ng gu
ideb
ooks
to m
ost a
reas
, des
crib
ing
popu
lar w
alki
ng ro
utes
. Enj
oym
ent a
nd sa
tisfa
ctio
n ca
n al
so b
e ga
ined
from
pla
nnin
g yo
ur o
wn
rout
es.
How
to le
arn
Onc
e yo
u kn
ow th
e sk
ills y
ou n
eed,
how
do
you
go
abou
t gai
ning
them
? Boo
ks a
nd D
VDs c
an p
rovi
de
basi
c kn
owle
dge
of th
e co
re sk
ills,
but t
here
is n
o su
bstit
ute
for g
oing
out
and
dev
elop
ing
your
skill
s in
the
hills
and
mou
ntai
ns.
You
mig
ht ch
oose
to b
egin
you
r adv
entu
res a
lone
, with
an
othe
r nov
ice,
or i
n th
e co
mpa
ny o
f som
eone
mor
e ex
perie
nced
. Whi
chev
er yo
u ch
oose
, ado
pt a
prog
ress
ive
appr
oach
, bui
ldin
g up
on p
ast e
xper
ienc
e as
you
lear
n.
Not
sure
whe
re to
go?
Get a
gui
debo
ok
Book
s and
DVD
s are
a g
reat
sour
ce o
f adv
ice
Wal
king
in o
pen
coun
try
2 B
MC
– N
ew H
ill W
alke
rs
2. In
trod
uctio
n ..
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
.33.
Kno
w y
our H
ill S
kills
! ...
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
.. 44.
Clo
thin
g an
d Eq
uipm
ent .
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
.. 65.
Nav
igat
ion
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
... 1
26.
Haz
ards
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
.... 1
67.
Wal
king
in W
inte
r ..
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
.. 2
08.
Acc
ess a
nd th
e En
viro
nmen
t ...
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
. 22
9. E
mer
genc
y Pr
oced
ures
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
.. 25
BMC
Part
icip
atio
n St
atem
ent
The
BMC
reco
gnis
es th
at c
limbi
ng, h
ill w
alki
ng
and
mou
ntai
neer
ing
are
activ
ities
with
a d
ange
r of
pers
onal
inju
ry o
r dea
th. P
artic
ipan
ts in
thes
e ac
tiviti
es
shou
ld b
e aw
are
of a
nd a
ccep
t the
se ri
sks a
nd b
e re
spon
sibl
e fo
r the
ir ow
n ac
tions
and
invo
lvem
ent.
1 | C
onte
nts
New
Hill
Wal
kers
Copy
righ
t © 2
011
Briti
sh M
ount
aine
erin
g Co
unci
l
Publ
ishe
d by
Br
itish
Mou
ntai
neer
ing
Coun
cil
177–
179
Burt
on R
oad,
Man
ches
ter
M20
2BB
w
ww
.theb
mc.
co.u
k
This
boo
k co
ntai
ns a
num
ber o
f illu
stra
tions
pr
ovid
ed b
y M
ount
ain
Lead
er T
rain
ing
UK,
Si
abod
Cot
tage
, Cap
el C
urig
, Con
wy
LL24
0ES
w
ww
.mltu
k.or
g
The
BMC
ackn
owle
dges
the
finan
cial
supp
ort o
f Sp
ort E
ngla
nd in
pro
duci
ng th
is b
ookl
et
ww
w.s
port
engl
and.
org
Phot
os a
nd o
ther
imag
es h
ave
been
pro
vide
d by
Ro
b D
yer,
Ale
x M
esse
nger
, Cic
eron
e,
Low
e A
lpin
e, L
yme
Dis
ease
Act
ion,
Se
a to
Sum
mit
and
Trai
l mag
azin
e.
Prod
uced
by
Verte
brat
e Gr
aphi
cs, S
heffi
eld
– w
ww
.v-g
raph
ics.
co.u
k VG
711G
Whe
re y
ou s
ee th
is lo
go th
e BM
C ha
s us
ed
pape
r fro
m re
cycl
ed o
r sus
tain
able
sour
ces
Som
e po
ssib
le fi
rst s
teps
Join
a B
MC
club
: ww
w.th
ebm
c.co
.uk/
club
sEm
ploy
a q
ualif
ied
inst
ruct
or:
ww
w.m
lta.
co.u
k an
d w
ww
.am
i.org
.uk
Go
on a
cou
rse:
ww
w.p
yb.c
o.uk
4 B
MC
– N
ew H
ill W
alke
rs
If y
ou’re
new
to h
ill w
alki
ng, t
hen
this
boo
klet
w
ill p
rovi
de in
form
atio
n on
som
e es
sent
ial s
kills
yo
u sh
ould
lear
n an
d de
velo
p on
you
r tri
ps in
to
the
hills
and
mou
ntai
ns. T
he B
MC
post
er o
ppos
ite
can
be th
ough
t of a
s a
very
con
dens
ed v
ersi
on
of s
ome
of th
e m
ost i
mpo
rtan
t adv
ice.
• Che
ck th
e w
eath
er a
nd p
lan
your
rout
eM
ount
ain
wea
ther
can
cha
nge
very
qui
ckly
with
be
autif
ul su
nshi
ne g
ivin
g w
ay to
torr
entia
l dow
n-
pour
s. Fr
ee m
ount
ain
spec
ific
fore
cast
s exi
st fo
r po
pula
r are
as, s
o ta
ke a
dvan
tage
of t
hem
. The
y ar
e av
aila
ble
onlin
e, o
r pos
ted
in sh
ops a
nd to
uris
t in
form
atio
n ce
ntre
s. M
any
peop
le g
et c
augh
t out
by
over
estim
atin
g th
eir
abili
ty, o
r sim
ply
givi
ng n
o th
ough
t to
the
wal
k th
ey
are
unde
rtak
ing.
If y
ou h
ave
no p
rior
exp
erie
nce
to
draw
upo
n, th
en co
nsid
er w
alki
ng in
the
valle
ys fi
rst
to g
auge
how
long
it ca
n ta
ke to
wal
k in
the
upla
nds.
• Be
prep
ared
for b
ad w
eath
er a
nd n
ight
fall
Rem
embe
r tha
t a fo
reca
st is
onl
y a
pred
ictio
n,
so y
our c
loth
ing
need
s to
be v
ersa
tile,
pro
vidi
ng
prot
ectio
n fr
om th
e w
ind
and
rain
. On
hot d
ays u
se
suns
cree
n, lo
ng sl
eeve
s and
flop
py h
ats t
o pr
otec
t fr
om h
eats
troke
. It g
ets d
ark
at su
nset
, and
ther
e ar
e no
stre
etlig
hts i
n th
e m
ount
ains
! Mou
ntai
n Re
scue
ar
e of
ten
calle
d to
ass
ist w
alke
rs st
rand
ed in
the
dark
, w
ho w
ould
hav
e be
en a
ble
to w
alk
off t
hem
selv
es
if on
ly th
ay h
ad ta
ken
a to
rch.
Alw
ays
pack
one
!
• Kno
w h
ow to
use
you
r map
and
com
pass
Assi
stin
g lo
st w
alke
rs is
one
of t
he m
ost c
omm
on
reas
ons f
or M
ount
ain
Resc
ue c
all-o
uts.
Whi
lst
tech
nolo
gy li
ke G
PS c
an h
elp
you
know
whe
re y
ou
are,
it c
an’t
read
map
s!; a
nd it
can
als
o br
eak
dow
n.
Bein
g ab
le to
use
a m
ap a
nd c
ompa
ss is
a c
ore
hill
wal
king
skill
, but
as w
ith a
ll te
chni
ques
pra
ctic
e is
re
quir
ed to
bec
ome
prof
icie
nt.
• Be
flex
ible
If yo
u fe
el y
ou a
re g
ettin
g ou
t of y
our d
epth
, you
en
coun
ter w
orse
wea
ther
than
exp
ecte
d or
sim
ply
run
out o
f tim
e, th
en it
’s n
ot a
failu
re to
turn
aro
und
and
go b
ack
dow
n. G
reat
day
s can
be
had
in th
e m
ount
ains
with
out h
avin
g to
reac
h th
e su
mm
it.
3 | K
now
you
r Hill
Ski
lls!
5Kn
ow y
our H
ill S
kills
!
Bein
g fle
xibl
e an
d us
ing
judg
emen
t of w
hen
to tu
rn
back
is a
key
skill
. The
mou
ntai
ns w
ill a
lway
s be
ther
e fo
r ano
ther
day
, and
the
expe
rien
ce g
aine
d w
ill a
dd to
you
r kno
wle
dge
for t
he n
ext t
ime.
Know
you
r ski
lls a
nd e
njoy
the
hills
!
iPho
ne u
sers
Dow
nloa
d th
e M
ount
ain
Info
Ser
vice
app
for p
lann
ing
advi
ce, w
eath
er fo
reca
sts,
skill
s vid
eos a
nd m
uch
mor
e!
6 B
MC
– N
ew H
ill W
alke
rs
Ther
e is
not
muc
h ge
ar th
at is
vita
l, bu
t it’s
impo
rtan
t to
hav
e ap
prop
riat
e eq
uipm
ent f
or th
e ac
tivity
and
pr
evai
ling
wea
ther
.
CLO
THIN
GW
hen
out i
n th
e hi
lls y
ou w
ill n
eed,
as a
min
imum
:
• sho
es o
r boo
ts to
kee
p yo
u up
righ
t;
• ins
ulat
ing
laye
rs to
kee
p yo
u w
arm
;
• wat
erpr
oofs
to k
eep
you
dry.
Foot
wea
rIt
is im
port
ant t
o ch
oose
shoe
s or b
oots
that
are
bot
h co
mfo
rtab
le a
nd p
rovi
de a
dequ
ate
supp
ort.
No
foot
- w
ear i
s per
fect
ly su
ited
for a
ll se
ason
s and
terr
ain.
A
light
wei
ght s
umm
er sh
oe w
ould
be
com
plet
ely
inap
prop
riat
e in
win
ter,
for e
xam
ple,
just
as w
eari
ng
win
ter m
ount
aine
erin
g bo
ots o
n a
hot s
unny
day
co
uld
resu
lt in
ove
rhea
ted
and
blis
tere
d fe
et.
Shoe
s are
gre
at o
n le
vel t
erra
in su
ch a
s low
land
val
ley
trac
ks. W
ith li
ttle
ankl
e su
ppor
t pro
vide
d, th
ey a
re
unsu
itabl
e on
une
ven
grou
nd a
nd st
eep
clim
bs.
Boot
con
stru
ctio
n va
ries
gre
atly
and
affe
cts h
ow ‘s
oft’
or ‘f
irm
’ a b
oot f
eels
. Sum
mer
boo
ts te
nd to
flex
mor
e th
an w
inte
r boo
ts. W
hen
wal
king
on
bare
rock
a so
ft so
le c
an m
ould
to th
e un
even
surf
ace
bette
r tha
n a
firm
sole
. For
this
reas
on su
mm
er b
oots
can
feel
mor
e co
mfo
rtab
le. H
owev
er, a
boo
t with
a m
ore
rigi
d so
le
can
grip
smal
l edg
es m
ore
effe
ctiv
ely.
Suc
h di
ffere
nces
de
mon
stra
te w
hy a
softe
r boo
t is g
reat
for t
rail
wal
king
an
d a
firm
er b
oot b
ette
r sui
ted
to sc
ram
blin
g.
A us
eful
way
to g
auge
how
muc
h su
ppor
t a b
oot w
ill
give
is b
y tw
istin
g it.
Hol
ding
the
heel
in o
ne h
and
and
the
toe
box i
n th
e ot
her s
ee h
ow e
asy
the
boot
will
twis
t. Th
e ea
sier
it tw
ists
the
less
supp
ort t
he b
oot w
ill
prov
ide
on st
eep
unev
en te
rrai
n or
stee
p gr
assy
sl
opes
. Con
vers
ely,
if m
ost o
f you
r wal
king
is a
long
w
ell d
efin
ed p
aths
with
gen
tle in
clin
es, a
softe
r boo
t m
ay su
it yo
u be
tter.
Som
e bo
ots c
an b
e us
ed fo
r sum
mer
and
win
ter w
alki
ng.
But w
hate
ver y
ou ch
oose
, mak
e su
re th
e bo
ot is
app
ro-
pria
te fo
r the
mos
t dem
andi
ng c
ondi
tions
you
pla
n to
w
alk
in. I
f you
are
ver
y he
avy
with
larg
e fe
et, o
r ver
y lig
ht w
ith sm
all f
eet y
ou c
ould
als
o co
nsid
er c
hoos
ing
a m
ore
or le
ss su
bsta
ntia
l boo
t as a
ppro
pria
te.
A go
od o
utdo
or re
taile
r will
be
able
to h
elp
you
find
the
right
boo
t for
you
r act
ivity
and
foot
shap
e. T
ry th
e bo
ots
on w
ith y
our o
wn
appr
opria
te w
alki
ng so
cks.
Spec
ialis
t w
alki
ng so
cks h
ave
desi
gn fe
atur
es th
at a
ffect
the
fit
of y
our b
oot,
so b
ear t
his i
n m
ind
whe
n se
lect
ing
your
bo
ot si
ze. A
goo
d fit
will
giv
e yo
u ro
om a
roun
d th
e to
es
and
hold
the
heel
to p
reve
nt it
lifti
ng to
o m
uch.
Man
y sh
ops w
ill le
t you
take
the
boot
s hom
e fo
r an
indo
or
4 | C
loth
ing
and
Equi
pmen
t
7Cl
othi
ng a
nd E
quip
men
t
tria
l and
then
let y
ou re
turn
them
if th
ey’re
not
qui
te
righ
t. W
alki
ng u
p an
d do
wn
a fli
ght o
f sta
irs c
an h
elp
you
deci
de if
you
r foo
t is h
eld
firm
ly in
the
boot
.
Your
firs
t lon
g w
alk
in a
new
pai
r of b
oots
will
hel
p br
eak
them
in. T
he st
iffer
and
hea
vier
they
are
, the
m
ore
brea
king
in w
ill b
e re
quir
ed. B
e aw
are
of a
ny
rub
poin
ts, a
nd if
you
not
ice
any,
stop
and
app
ly ta
pe
or a
pla
ster
whi
ch sh
ould
pre
vent
blis
ters
dev
elop
ing.
Sock
sG
ood
sock
s reg
ulat
e yo
ur fo
ot te
mpe
ratu
re a
nd h
elp
to p
reve
nt b
liste
rs b
y pr
ovid
ing
a sn
ug fi
t. As
with
yo
ur c
loth
ing,
sock
s nee
d to
wic
k m
oist
ure
away
from
yo
ur sk
in, a
s ove
rhea
ted
feet
will
be
unco
mfo
rtab
le
and
pron
e to
dev
elop
ing
blis
ters
. Cho
ose
sock
s tha
t ar
e pa
dded
in th
e he
el, b
all a
nd to
es w
here
the
mos
t pr
essu
re is
app
lied.
Som
e pe
ople
like
to w
ear t
wo
pair
s of s
ocks
con
sist
ing
of a
snug
thin
inne
r one
and
a
thic
ker o
uter
one
. Thi
s sys
tem
can
redu
ce fr
ictio
n
on y
our f
eet,
as th
e so
ck la
yers
will
mov
e ag
ains
t eac
h ot
her i
nste
ad o
f you
r fee
t mov
ing
agai
nst t
he so
ck.
Insu
latin
g la
yers
Just
as w
e us
e la
yers
of c
loth
ing
in o
ur e
very
day
liv
es to
regu
late
bod
y te
mpe
ratu
re, t
he sa
me
is tr
ue
whe
n ex
plor
ing
the
hills
. The
rang
e of
tem
pera
ture
s ex
peri
ence
d in
one
day
will
ofte
n be
gre
ater
in th
e hi
lls th
an in
citi
es. C
loth
ing
to d
eal w
ith su
ch v
aria
tion
is th
eref
ore
requ
ired.
With
the
wei
ght o
f you
r ruc
ksac
k co
nten
ts a
n im
port
ant c
onsi
dera
tion,
cho
osin
g ite
ms
that
fulfi
l a ra
nge
of fu
nctio
ns is
a g
ood
idea
. Wat
er-
proo
fs d
oubl
e up
as w
indp
roof
s for
exa
mpl
e.
You
may
alre
ady
own
clot
hing
that
fits
the
bill
very
wel
l. Yo
u’ll
need
ligh
t com
fort
able
clo
thin
g w
hile
you
wal
k,
som
ethi
ng w
arm
for w
hen
it ge
ts co
lder
and
som
ethi
ng
wat
erpr
oof i
n ca
se th
e he
aven
s ope
n. It
is b
ette
r to
wea
r se
vera
l rel
ativ
ely
thin
laye
rs th
an a
sing
le th
ick
one,
be
caus
e th
e la
yers
trap
air
whi
ch is
a g
ood
insu
lato
r, an
d yo
u ca
n re
gula
te y
our t
empe
ratu
re m
ore
effe
ctiv
ely
by a
ddin
g or
rem
ovin
g la
yers
.
Mat
eria
ls w
hich
do
not a
bsor
b m
oist
ure
are
bette
r be
caus
e w
et c
loth
es w
ill m
ake
you
feel
col
d. W
ool
has a
lway
s bee
n re
cogn
ised
as a
goo
d m
ater
ial f
or
hill
wal
kers
. Syn
thet
ic m
ater
ials
such
as f
leec
e ar
e al
so u
sed
for o
utdo
or c
loth
ing.
Cot
ton
is n
ot g
ood
an
d je
ans a
re p
artic
ular
ly c
old
whe
n w
et.
Mos
t peo
ple
alre
ady
have
som
e su
itabl
e in
sula
ting
laye
rs b
efor
e th
ey st
art h
ill w
alki
ng, s
uch
as a
thin
w
icki
ng b
asel
ayer
and
ligh
t woo
llen
mid
laye
r. Th
e ba
se-
laye
r sho
uld
wic
k m
oist
ure
away
from
you
r bod
y, a
nd
so k
eep
your
skin
dry
and
pre
vent
exc
essi
ve c
hilli
ng
ever
y tim
e yo
u st
op. A
s wel
l as p
rovi
ding
insu
latio
n,
a th
in m
idla
yer a
lso
allo
ws m
oist
ure
to w
ick.
Fle
ece
jack
ets a
re e
xcel
lent
as a
thir
d in
sula
ting
laye
r.
All t
hese
laye
rs sh
ould
be
rela
tivel
y sn
ug o
n yo
ur b
ody.
If
too
tight
they
will
be
unco
mfo
rtab
le, b
ut if
loos
e an
d ba
ggy
then
inst
ead
of tr
appi
ng w
arm
air
you
’re li
kely
to
hav
e co
ld d
rafts
inst
ead!
Leg
mus
cles
pro
duce
a lo
t of
hea
t whe
n w
e w
alk
and
ther
mal
leg
wea
r is l
ikel
y on
ly to
be
nece
ssar
y in
col
d co
nditi
ons.
Hea
d an
d ha
nds
On
cold
day
s, a
hat o
r bal
acla
va a
nd sc
arf o
r nec
k ga
iter
will
redu
ce th
e he
at lo
st th
roug
h th
e he
ad a
nd n
eck.
Flee
ce ja
cket
s are
goo
d th
erm
al la
yers
Sum
mer
shoe
– fl
exib
le so
le, b
reat
habl
e up
per
Sum
mer
and
aut
umn
boot
– st
iffer
sole
, ank
le su
ppor
t,
wat
er re
pelle
nt u
pper
8 B
MC
– N
ew H
ill W
alke
rs
Flee
ce is
pro
babl
y th
e m
ost p
opul
ar m
ater
ial a
s it i
s lig
ht a
nd fl
exib
le, a
nd c
an b
e w
rung
dry
if it
get
s ver
y w
et. K
eep
your
hea
d w
arm
and
you
will
be
war
m!
On
hot s
unny
day
s, a
sunh
at a
nd n
ecke
rchi
ef w
ill p
rote
ct
the
head
and
nec
k fr
om su
nbur
n an
d ov
erhe
atin
g.
If th
e bo
dy a
bsor
bs m
ore
heat
than
it ca
n di
ssip
ate
then
he
atst
roke
(als
o kn
own
as h
yper
ther
mia
or s
unst
roke
) co
uld
ensu
e, w
hich
is a
seri
ous m
edic
al c
ondi
tion.
Glo
ves n
eed
not b
e ov
er sp
ecia
lised
. A si
mpl
e pa
ir o
f w
oolle
n or
flee
ce gl
oves
or m
itten
s will
be
fine.
A sp
are
pair
wei
ghs v
ery
little
but
at ti
mes
can
be vi
tal. G
love
s tha
t ca
n re
tain
war
mth
whe
n w
et a
re a
real
adv
anta
ge, s
uch
as th
ick
woo
llen
ones
or t
hose
with
a w
indp
roof
out
er.
Wat
erpr
oofs
A
wat
erpr
oof o
uter
laye
r of j
acke
t and
trou
sers
will
kee
p yo
u dr
y, a
nd in
com
bina
tion
with
you
r ins
ulat
ing
laye
rs
will
pre
vent
a re
duct
ion
in b
ody
tem
pera
ture
whi
ch
can
in e
xtre
me
circ
umst
ance
s lea
d to
the
deve
lopm
ent
of h
ypot
herm
ia. N
owad
ays,
just
abo
ut a
ll w
ater
proo
fs
are
mad
e fr
om b
reat
habl
e fa
bric
s, al
low
ing
body
m
oist
ure
to e
scap
e, w
hils
t kee
ping
the
rain
out
.
Non
bre
atha
ble
fabr
ics d
o no
t let
per
spir
atio
n es
cape
, so
you
can
get
incr
easi
ngly
dam
p as
the
day
wea
rs o
n.
A hi
ll w
alki
ng ja
cket
shou
ld b
e bi
g en
ough
to g
et w
arm
la
yers
und
erne
ath,
but
not
so b
ig th
at it
flap
s aro
und.
It
shou
ld h
ave
an e
asily
acc
essi
ble
pock
et th
at c
an
acco
mm
odat
e a
map
, and
larg
e po
cket
s for
car
ryin
g ha
ts, g
love
s and
so o
n. W
aist
and
hoo
d dr
awco
rds a
nd
adju
stab
le w
rist
clo
sure
s hel
p to
seal
out
the
wea
ther
an
d re
tain
war
mth
. A st
iffen
ed h
ood
will
pro
vide
goo
d vi
sibi
lity;
the
alte
rnat
ive
is o
ne th
at sl
aps y
ou in
the
face
w
ith e
very
gus
t of w
ind!
You
’ll n
eed
to b
e ab
le to
put
yo
ur o
vert
rous
ers o
n an
d re
mov
e th
em w
hils
t wea
ring
your
boo
ts, s
o m
ake
sure
ther
e ar
e zi
ps d
own
the
side
.
Gai
ters
can
be
inva
luab
le o
n bo
ggy
grou
nd a
nd ra
iny
days
. The
y al
so p
reve
nt v
eget
atio
n fr
om e
nter
ing
your
bo
ots.
In w
inte
r, ga
iters
are
indi
spen
sibl
e fo
r kee
ping
sn
ow o
ut o
f you
r boo
ts a
nd p
reve
ntin
g yo
ur fe
et fr
om
beco
min
g w
et a
nd c
old.
If w
orn
with
wat
erpr
oof
trou
sers
, wea
r the
gai
ters
und
erne
ath,
not
with
the
tr
ouse
rs tu
cked
in, o
r wat
er w
ill b
e ‘c
onve
nien
tly’
chan
nelle
d in
to y
our b
oots
!
9Cl
othi
ng a
nd E
quip
men
t
EQU
IPM
ENT
A su
gges
ted
kit l
ist a
t the
end
of t
his c
hapt
er p
rovi
des
guid
ance
on
wha
t to
take
on
your
hill
wal
ks. C
onsi
der
your
day
ahe
ad, a
nd p
ack
acco
rdin
gly.
Ruck
sack
A ru
cksa
ck is
the
mos
t con
veni
ent w
ay to
car
ry y
our
equi
pmen
t, an
d sh
ould
be
neith
er to
o bi
g no
r too
smal
l. Th
ere
are
man
y di
ffere
nt si
zes t
o ch
oose
from
. Whe
n m
oorla
nd w
alki
ng, a
30
litre
ruck
sack
is p
roba
bly
adeq
uate
; if h
eadi
ng in
to th
e m
ount
ains
, a 4
5 lit
re
ruck
sack
wou
ld b
e be
tter.
Whe
n fu
ll, th
e ru
cksa
ck sh
ould
dis
trib
ute
the
load
ev
enly
and
be
com
fort
able
to w
ear.
It sh
ould
sit c
lose
to
the
wea
rer’s
bac
k, a
llow
ing
an u
prig
ht p
ostu
re to
be
mai
ntai
ned,
and
not
rest
rict
the
mov
emen
t of t
he
head
. All
wal
kers
shou
ld c
onsi
der t
heir
ow
n ba
ck
anat
omy
in re
latio
n to
the
ruck
sack
they
cho
ose.
Th
e sh
ould
er-w
aist
-hip
ratio
s are
diff
eren
t bet
wee
n m
en a
nd w
omen
, and
so so
me
ruck
sack
s are
spec
ially
de
sign
ed fo
r wom
en.
A sl
im ru
cksa
ck w
ith n
o si
de p
ocke
ts is
less
like
ly
to g
et c
augh
t on
obst
ruct
ions
. Com
pres
sion
stra
ps
alon
g th
e si
de o
f the
ruck
sack
allo
w a
slim
pro
file
to
be
mai
ntai
ned,
and
can
be
used
to se
cure
wal
king
po
les w
hen
not i
n us
e. L
id p
ocke
ts a
re v
ery
usef
ul
for g
love
s, ha
ts a
nd sn
acks
, etc
.
Fina
lly, c
onsi
der h
ow to
pac
k yo
ur ru
cksa
ck. R
egul
arly
us
ed it
ems s
houl
d be
eas
ily a
cces
sibl
e in
the
lid
pock
et o
r top
of t
he ru
cksa
ck. H
eavy
item
s, su
ch a
s w
ater
bot
tles o
r the
rmos
flas
ks, s
houl
d be
pac
ked
clos
e to
the
back
in th
e m
iddl
e po
rtio
n of
the
ruck
sack
. Li
ght i
tem
s, su
ch a
s fle
ece
clot
hing
, can
be
pack
ed
furth
er a
way
from
the
back
of t
he ru
cksa
ck. D
istri
butin
g w
eigh
t in
this
way
will
resu
lt in
bet
ter s
tabi
lity
whe
n w
alki
ng. P
acki
ng k
it in
a se
lect
ion
of d
ryba
gs is
the
best
way
to p
reve
nt it
get
ting
wet
. On
rain
y da
ys
espe
cial
ly, n
ot h
avin
g to
exp
ose
all y
our k
it to
the
elem
ents
at o
ne ti
me
mak
es li
fe m
uch
easi
er. H
eavy
du
ty c
arri
er b
ags a
re a
che
aper
alte
rnat
ive
to d
ryba
gs.
Food
and
drin
kAs
cru
cial
as t
akin
g su
itabl
e eq
uipm
ent i
s hav
ing
suffi
cien
t foo
d an
d dr
ink.
The
am
ount
requ
ired
will
va
ry d
epen
ding
on
wea
ther
con
ditio
ns, d
ista
nce
and
terr
ain
wal
ked.
A go
od b
reak
fast
will
set y
ou u
p fo
r a d
ay’s
wal
k,
and
whi
lst o
ut, c
onsu
min
g lit
tle a
nd o
ften
is th
e be
st
way
to k
eep
hydr
ated
and
mai
ntai
n yo
ur e
nerg
y.
It is
sens
ible
to h
ave
som
e em
erge
ncy
food
, lik
e hi
gh
ener
gy b
ars,
tuck
ed o
ut o
f the
way
‘jus
t in
case
’. Yo
u do
not
nee
d to
take
any
‘spe
cial
ist’
food
; sa
ndw
iche
s, sn
acks
and
som
e fr
uit w
ill w
ork
fine.
Whe
n it
com
es to
dri
nks,
wat
er w
ill d
o th
e jo
b pe
rfec
tly w
ell.
In c
old
wea
ther
a h
ot d
rink
is li
kely
to
be
very
wel
com
e, w
ith a
met
al th
erm
os fl
ask
bein
g m
ore
robu
st th
an a
gla
ss o
ne.
A w
ater
proo
f out
er la
yer w
ill k
eep
you
dry
A ru
cksa
ck k
eeps
you
r han
ds fr
ee fo
r im
port
ant t
asks
10 B
MC
– N
ew H
ill W
alke
rs
Skin
and
eye
pro
tect
ion
A co
olin
g m
ount
ain
bree
ze o
n a
hot s
unny
day
can
ea
sily
lead
to th
e as
sum
ptio
n th
at th
ere
is li
ttle
chan
ce
of g
ettin
g su
nbur
n. T
his i
s obv
ious
ly fa
r fro
m tr
ue!
If th
e su
n is
out
, app
lyin
g su
nscr
een
and
lip-s
alve
in
adva
nce
and
then
regu
larly
thro
ugho
ut th
e da
y is
the
way
to g
o.
It go
es w
ithou
t say
ing
that
sung
lass
es c
an m
ake
life
mor
e co
mfo
rtab
le o
n a
sunn
y su
mm
er’s
day
. In
win
ter,
not w
eari
ng e
ye p
rote
ctio
n ca
n m
ake
it ve
ry h
ard
to
mov
e ar
ound
or e
ven
lead
to sn
ow b
lindn
ess.
This
is
a re
vers
ible
con
ditio
n ca
used
by
unpr
otec
ted
eyes
be
ing
expo
sed
to U
V lig
ht re
flect
ed fr
om th
e sn
ow,
and
is a
kin
to p
arts
of t
he e
yes b
eing
sunb
urnt
.
In S
cotla
nd e
spec
ially
, mid
ges c
an b
e th
e ba
ne o
f the
su
mm
er h
ill w
alke
r, bu
t rep
elle
nts c
onta
inin
g DE
ET
wor
k w
ell t
o st
op th
em b
iting
. Som
e pe
ople
do
not
like
usin
g DE
ET b
ased
repe
llent
s, pr
efer
ring
thos
e co
ntai
ning
nat
ural
ingr
edie
nts s
uch
as C
itron
ella
, bu
t the
se a
re n
ot a
s effe
ctiv
e as
DEE
T ba
sed
prod
ucts
. If
cam
ping
in th
e su
mm
er, c
onsi
der t
akin
g a
mes
h he
ad n
et fo
r ext
ra p
rote
ctio
n.
Trek
king
pol
esTr
ekki
ng p
oles
are
incr
easi
ngly
pop
ular
, and
are
bes
t us
ed a
s a p
air.
Poor
tech
niqu
e ca
n ne
gate
any
pos
itive
be
nefit
s, an
d th
ere
are
pros
and
con
s to
usin
g th
em.
Afte
r a lo
ng d
ay o
ut in
the
hills
, ach
ing
knee
s on
the
desc
ent i
s ver
y co
mm
on. P
oles
can
tran
sfer
som
e of
th
e im
pact
of w
alki
ng fr
om th
e lo
wer
legs
and
kne
es to
th
e ar
ms a
nd sh
ould
ers.
Pole
s als
o he
lp w
ith st
abili
ty,
parti
cula
rly u
sefu
l whe
n ca
rryi
ng a
hea
vy sa
ck, w
alki
ng
on u
neve
n gr
ound
or i
n w
inte
r whe
n pa
tche
s of i
ce
can
occu
r une
xpec
tedl
y.
How
ever
, the
wri
st, e
lbow
and
shou
lder
join
ts a
re n
ot
desi
gned
to p
rop
up y
our b
ody
– w
e’re
bip
edal
afte
r al
l! If
you’
re n
ot c
aref
ul, p
rote
ctin
g yo
ur k
nees
can
si
mpl
y m
ean
aggr
avat
ing
othe
r joi
nts.
If yo
u ar
e ve
ry
tired
and
do
not n
eed
the
pole
s for
stab
ility
, it m
ay b
e be
st to
pac
k th
em a
way
if th
ere
is th
e ch
ance
of t
rippi
ng
your
self
up o
n on
e! U
sing
pol
es p
reve
nts y
our h
ands
fr
om b
eing
free
for o
ther
thin
gs. D
on’t
fall
into
the
trap
of
not
eat
ing,
dri
nkin
g or
che
ckin
g yo
ur m
ap si
mpl
y be
caus
e yo
u ca
nnot
be
both
ered
to ta
ke y
our p
oles
off.
EMER
GEN
CY E
QU
IPM
ENT
Whi
lst e
mer
genc
ies a
re a
rare
occ
urre
nce
in th
e hi
lls,
the
equi
pmen
t to
help
you
dea
l with
them
is re
lativ
ely
mod
est.
Her
e ar
e so
me
sugg
estio
ns:
Firs
t Aid
kit
Whe
n de
alin
g with
an in
jure
d hi
ll wal
ker,
help
may
not
be
clos
e at
han
d. T
here
fore
, taki
ng a
firs
t aid
kit
and
seek
ing
out s
ome
basi
c fir
st a
id tr
aini
ng is
a v
ery
good
idea
.
11Cl
othi
ng a
nd E
quip
men
t
Grou
p sh
elte
rG
ettin
g lo
st in
poo
r vis
ibili
ty o
r dea
ling
with
eve
n a
min
or in
jury
can
esc
alat
e in
to so
met
hing
mor
e se
riou
s fo
r the
who
le p
arty
if p
eopl
e ge
t col
d. S
pare
clo
thin
g sh
ould
be
carr
ied
for t
his r
easo
n, b
ut a
gro
up sh
elte
r is
the
mos
t effe
ctiv
e w
ay to
kee
p w
arm
. Mad
e fr
om
light
rips
top
nylo
n, a
gro
up sh
elte
r is s
hape
d lik
e a
very
larg
e up
side
dow
n bo
wl. T
he w
arm
er te
mpe
ratu
re
insi
de th
e sh
elte
r is c
reat
ed b
y re
tain
ed b
ody
heat
and
pr
otec
tion
from
win
d.
Bivi
bag
Mad
e fr
om to
ugh
poly
then
e, a
biv
i bag
pro
vide
s in
divi
dual
shel
ter i
n ca
se o
f em
erge
ncy.
Effe
ctiv
e
and
inex
pens
ive,
they
can
als
o be
use
d in
con
junc
tion
with
a g
roup
shel
ter.
Mor
e ex
pens
ive
surv
ival
bag
de
sign
s can
pro
vide
gre
ater
insu
latin
g pr
oper
ties
than
a st
anda
rd p
olyt
hene
biv
i bag
.
Torc
hIt
is n
ot u
ncom
mon
for m
ount
ain
resc
ue te
ams t
o as
sist
ab
le b
odie
d w
alke
rs o
ff th
e hi
lls w
ho h
ave
sim
ply
got
caug
ht o
ut a
fter d
ark.
Whe
ther
und
eres
timat
ing
how
lo
ng a
wal
k w
ill ta
ke, o
r get
ting
lost
and
stay
ing
out f
or
long
er th
an p
lann
ed, h
eadi
ng b
ack
hom
e in
the
dark
ne
ed n
ot b
e a
reas
on to
pan
ic if
eve
ryon
e ha
s a to
rch.
A
head
torc
h is
bes
t, an
d m
any
inex
pens
ive
mod
els
are
wid
ely
avai
labl
e. A
lway
s tak
e a
torc
h an
d m
ake
sure
you
als
o ha
ve so
me
spar
e ba
tteri
es.
Mob
ile p
hone
Mob
ile p
hone
s can
be
a go
dsen
d w
hen
need
ing
to
con
tact
the
emer
genc
y se
rvic
es, b
ut sh
ould
not
be
thou
ght o
f as a
‘saf
ety
net’,
tem
ptin
g w
alke
rs to
ob
ject
ives
out
side
of t
heir
exp
erie
nce
and
abili
ty.
Whi
stle
A w
hist
le is
a g
reat
way
to a
ttrac
t atte
ntio
n –
the
inte
rnat
iona
l dis
tres
s sig
nal i
s six
bla
sts i
n qu
ick
succ
essi
on, r
epea
ted
afte
r a o
ne-m
inut
e in
terv
al.
Flas
hing
you
r tor
ch in
a si
mila
r man
ner w
ill a
lso
be
reco
gnis
ed a
s a d
istr
ess s
igna
l.
Wat
chTi
me
flies
whe
n yo
u’re
hav
ing
fun,
so k
eep
trac
k
of it
. You
’ll a
lso
need
it to
tim
e na
viga
tion
legs
.
A su
gges
ted
kit c
heck
list
• map
and
com
pass
• tor
ch, p
lus s
pare
bat
tery
and
bul
b• w
atch
• wal
king
boo
ts a
nd so
cks
• sho
rts /
trou
sers
• wic
king
bas
elay
er• i
nsul
atin
g m
idla
yer
• fle
ece
jack
et• w
ater
proo
f jac
ket
• wat
erpr
oof o
vert
rous
ers
• hat
and
scar
f• g
love
s / m
itten
s• g
aite
rs• r
ucks
ack
• dri
nk• f
ood
• em
erge
ncy
food
• sun
hat /
sung
lass
es /
suns
cree
n• i
nsec
t rep
elle
nt (s
easo
nal)
• spa
re g
love
s• s
pare
sock
s• w
hist
le• m
obile
pho
ne• f
irst
aid
kit
• biv
i bag
• gro
up sh
elte
r • t
rekk
ing
pole
s (op
tiona
l)
Pole
s can
pro
tect
you
r kne
es a
nd im
prov
e st
abili
ty o
n de
scen
tsGr
oup
shel
ter –
pot
entia
l life
save
r in
emer
genc
ies,
and
han
dy fo
r
lunc
h st
ops o
n ch
illy
days
Furt
her I
nfor
mat
ion
on
Clot
hing
and
Equ
ipm
ent
Book
: Saf
ety
on M
ount
ains
(BM
C)
dire
ctio
n. In
goo
d vi
sibi
lity
you
shou
ld b
e ab
le to
set
the
map
by
eye,
usi
ng o
bvio
us fe
atur
es su
ch a
s a h
ill
top
or m
ajor
trac
k ju
nctio
n.
In p
oor v
isib
ility
, you
can
set t
he m
ap b
y lin
ing u
p th
e co
mpa
ss n
eedl
e w
ith a
ny o
f the
nor
th/s
outh
grid
line
s. M
ake
sure
that
the
north
end
of t
he n
eedl
e, w
hich
is o
ften
pain
ted
red,
poi
nts t
owar
ds th
e to
p of
the
map
, oth
erw
ise
you
will
set y
our m
ap 1
80° i
n th
e w
rong
dire
ctio
n!
Cont
our i
nter
pret
atio
nN
avig
atin
g in
urb
an a
reas
usi
ng m
an-m
ade
feat
ures
su
ch a
s roa
ds a
nd b
uild
ings
is c
omm
on to
us a
ll. If
you
ge
t los
t, th
ere
is a
lway
s som
ethi
ng n
earb
y lik
e a
stre
et
nam
e to
set y
ou b
ack
on c
ours
e. It
is n
ot so
eas
y in
the
upla
nds,
as m
an-m
ade
feat
ures
are
not
alw
ays r
elia
ble,
or
eve
n pr
esen
t. Pa
ths c
an b
e co
nfus
ing,
as t
hey
may
no
t alw
ays b
e m
arke
d, a
nd e
ven
wat
erco
urse
s can
ch
ange
if it
has
bee
n ve
ry d
ry, o
r mor
e co
mm
only
, ve
ry w
et! F
or th
ese
reas
ons t
he c
onto
ur li
nes r
emai
n th
e m
ost u
sefu
l fea
ture
on
the
map
to d
escr
ibe
the
terr
ain
both
nea
r and
far.
Onc
e yo
u ca
n in
terp
ret t
he
cont
ours
you
’re w
ell p
lace
d to
exp
lore
Brit
ain’
s upl
ands
.
Wha
t is a
con
tour
?A
cont
our i
s a li
ne th
at li
nks l
and
of e
qual
hei
ght.
Cont
ours
are
mea
sure
d in
met
res a
bove
sea
leve
l and
sh
own
on th
e m
ap a
s lin
es p
rint
ed w
ith a
set i
nter
val
betw
een
them
. Ord
nanc
e Su
rvey
map
s com
mon
ly u
se
a 10
m c
onto
ur in
terv
al a
nd B
ritis
h M
ount
ain
Map
s us
e a
15m
con
tour
inte
rval
. The
act
ual h
eigh
t of a
co
ntou
r, su
ch a
s 150
m, w
ill b
e m
arke
d pe
riod
ical
ly.
Cont
ours
are
use
d to
repr
esen
t the
thre
e di
men
sion
al
wor
ld o
n a
two
dim
ensi
onal
map
, and
it c
an b
e ha
rd
to ‘r
ead
the
cont
ours
’ at f
irst
. To
help
, im
agin
e a
thre
e tie
red
wed
ding
cake
, eac
h tie
r hol
ding
a ca
ke w
rapp
ed
in a
pur
ple
band
. Vie
wed
side
on
you
wou
ld se
e th
ree
band
s, on
e ab
ove
the
othe
r, ea
ch n
arro
wer
than
the
one
belo
w. V
iew
ed fr
om a
bove
you
wou
ld se
e th
ree
purp
le c
ircl
es, o
ne in
side
the
othe
r, w
ith th
e se
nse
of
heig
ht b
etw
een
the
tiers
bei
ng lo
st. U
sing
this
ana
logy
, th
e m
ap is
like
the
bird
’s e
ye v
iew
, in
whi
ch w
e se
e co
ntou
r ‘ba
nds’
aro
und
the
hills
on
a fla
t map
.
Read
ing
the
cont
ours
Whe
n w
alki
ng in
the
hills
, the
terr
ain
and
view
s con
stan
tly
chan
ge in
shap
e, a
spec
t and
gra
dien
t, al
l of w
hich
are
de
scri
bed
by th
e co
ntou
rs. T
he sk
ill to
dev
elop
is
conv
ertin
g th
e in
form
atio
n gi
ven
by th
e co
ntou
rs in
to
a th
ree
dim
ensi
onal
imag
e in
you
r min
d. T
he b
est w
ay
to d
evel
op c
onto
ur in
terp
reta
tion
skill
s is i
n go
od
wea
ther
. With
pra
ctic
e yo
u’ll
be a
ble
to id
entif
y fe
atur
es
such
as h
ill to
ps, c
onve
x an
d co
ncav
e sl
opes
, rid
ges,
valle
ys a
nd fl
at a
reas
sim
ply
by u
sing
the
info
rmat
ion
prov
ided
by
the
cont
ours
. Add
to y
our m
enta
l ‘im
age
libra
ry’ h
ow th
e co
ntou
rs o
n th
e m
ap m
atch
up
with
th
e fe
atur
es y
ou se
e ea
ch ti
me
you
head
out
. Thi
s will
he
lp y
ou n
avig
ate
whe
n th
e ch
ips a
re d
own!
The
com
pass
The
com
pass
is u
sed
for m
easu
ring
bea
ring
s and
di
stan
ces o
n th
e m
ap an
d fo
r fol
low
ing m
agne
tic b
earin
gs
whe
n w
alki
ng. A
hill
wal
king
com
pass
will
hav
e a
larg
e ba
sepl
ate
to m
ake
it ea
sier
to h
andl
e an
d ta
ke b
earin
gs,
as w
ell a
s a n
umbe
r of o
ther
use
ful f
eatu
res.
12 B
MC
– N
ew H
ill W
alke
rs
Effe
ctiv
e na
viga
tion
not o
nly
help
s to
mak
e yo
u sa
fer o
n th
e hi
ll, it
can
als
o m
ean
a be
tter
day
out
. D
evel
op n
avig
atio
n sk
ills
incr
emen
tally
on
less
se
riou
s hi
lls in
goo
d w
eath
er, b
efor
e ch
oosi
ng
mor
e ch
alle
ngin
g ob
ject
ives
.
Map
read
ing
vs n
avig
atio
nIt’
s use
ful t
o dr
aw a
dis
tinct
ion
betw
een
map
read
ing
and
navi
gatio
n, a
s the
y ar
e of
ten
conf
used
as t
he sa
me
thin
g. M
ap re
adin
g cou
ld b
e de
scrib
ed a
s und
erst
andi
ng
the
diffe
rent
map
sym
bols
and
topo
grap
hica
l fea
ture
s. Kn
owin
g th
at b
lue
sym
bols
are
wet
, for
exa
mpl
e, o
r tha
t th
e di
stan
ce b
etw
een
cont
our l
ines
tells
you
how
stee
p a
slop
e is
. Nav
igat
ion
is v
ery
diffe
rent
and
is th
e ab
ility
to
use
this
info
rmat
ion
effe
ctiv
ely.
Thi
s inc
lude
s pla
nnin
g a
rout
e or
bei
ng a
ble
to u
se th
e m
ap to
find
you
r way
.
Map
sIn
Bri
tain
the
mos
t com
mon
ly u
sed
map
s for
hill
w
alki
ng a
re O
rdna
nce
Surv
ey m
aps i
n ei
ther
1:5
0,00
0 or
1:2
5,00
0 sc
ale
and
Har
vey
Map
s in
eith
er 1
:40,
000
or 1
:25,
000
scal
e. T
he 1
:40,
000
Briti
sh M
ount
ain
Map
s us
e H
arve
y m
appi
ng a
nd c
over
the
mos
t pop
ular
w
alki
ng d
estin
atio
ns in
Bri
tain
. Mad
e fr
om w
ater
proo
f an
d te
ar re
sist
ant p
last
ic th
ey a
re b
oth
light
and
dur
able
.
Grid
s, sc
ales
and
dis
tanc
esBr
itish
map
s hav
e a
grid
line
syst
em su
peri
mpo
sed
upon
them
. The
se g
rids
repr
esen
t one
-kilo
met
re
squa
res r
egar
dles
s of t
he m
ap sc
ale,
and
can
be
used
as
a u
sefu
l rou
gh m
easu
re w
hen
plan
ning
a ro
ute.
Gri
d no
rth
is th
e no
rthe
rly d
irec
tion
of th
e no
rth/
sout
h gr
id li
nes,
and
is d
iffer
ent t
o m
agne
tic n
orth
, th
e di
rect
ion
that
a c
ompa
ss n
eedl
e po
ints
to.
The
grid
line
s are
num
bere
d an
d m
ost m
aps i
nclu
de
inst
ruct
ions
on
how
to w
ork
out a
gri
d re
fere
nce
whi
ch d
escr
ibes
a u
niqu
e 10
0m b
y 10
0m sq
uare
on
the
map
. It i
s wis
e to
spen
d so
me
time
mak
ing
sure
yo
u kn
ow h
ow to
do
this
bef
ore
head
ing
for t
he h
ills,
as a
gri
d re
fere
nce
is re
quir
ed sh
ould
you
nee
d to
pa
ss y
our l
ocat
ion
onto
som
eone
els
e, su
ch a
s a
Mou
ntai
n Re
scue
Tea
m. W
hen
you
know
the
scal
e
of a
map
you
can
use
a ru
ler t
o m
easu
re th
e di
stan
ce
betw
een
two
poin
ts a
nd th
en co
nver
t thi
s to
a di
stan
ce
on th
e gr
ound
. On
1:25
,000
map
s, 4m
m is
equ
ival
ent
to 1
00m
on
the
grou
nd; o
n 1:
40,0
00 m
aps,
2.5m
m is
eq
uiva
lent
to 1
00m
on
the
grou
nd; a
nd o
n 1:
50,0
00 m
aps,
2mm
is e
quiv
alen
t to
100m
on
the
grou
nd.
Sett
ing
the
map
This
is o
ne o
f the
mos
t im
port
ant n
avig
atio
n sk
ills,
and
enta
ils p
ositi
onin
g th
e m
ap so
that
all
the
feat
ures
are
lin
ed u
p, w
ith y
our l
ocat
ion
as th
e ce
ntra
l poi
nt. W
hat
is in
fron
t of y
ou o
n th
e gr
ound
will
be
in fr
ont o
f you
on
the
map
, wha
t is t
o yo
ur le
ft on
the
grou
nd w
ill b
e to
you
r lef
t on
the
map
, and
so o
n.
It do
es n
ot m
atte
r if t
he m
ap is
ups
ide
dow
n, a
s you
do
not
nee
d to
read
the
text
. Ins
tead
, you
nee
d to
read
th
e m
ap sy
mbo
ls, l
inin
g th
em u
p w
ith th
e fe
atur
es y
ou
can
see.
Rot
ate
the
map
to k
eep
it se
t whe
n yo
u ch
ange
5 | N
avig
atio
n
13Na
viga
tion
Wat
erpr
oof B
ritis
h M
ount
ain
Map
s cov
er m
any p
opul
ar w
alki
ng a
reas
Setti
ng th
e m
ap u
sing
land
scap
e fe
atur
esSe
tting
the
map
usi
ng th
e co
mpa
ssTh
e re
latio
nshi
p be
twee
n co
ntou
rs a
nd a
hill
25
13
4
1
23
4
5
Sho
relin
e2
323
B R
otat
e th
e co
mpa
ss h
ousi
ng to
alig
n th
e or
ient
atin
g lin
es w
ith
the
nort
h-so
uth
grid
line
s on
the
map
D R
emov
e th
e co
mpa
ss fr
om th
e m
ap, r
otat
e th
e co
mpa
ss so
that
the
nort
h en
d of
the
need
le a
nd th
e or
ient
atin
g ar
row
are
alig
ned
and
then
pro
ceed
follo
win
g th
e di
rect
ion
of tr
avel
arr
ow
A A
lign
the
com
pass
alo
ng th
e re
quire
d ro
ute
on th
e m
ap
C R
otat
e th
e co
mpa
ss h
ousi
ng to
com
pens
ate
for m
agne
tic v
aria
tion
14 B
MC
– N
ew H
ill W
alke
rs
Taki
ng a
bea
ring
Befo
re ta
king
a b
eari
ng, a
lway
s est
imat
e vi
sual
ly w
hat
the
bear
ing
will
be.
You
can
then
chec
k th
is a
gain
st th
e be
arin
g ta
ken
with
the
com
pass
to m
ake
sure
you
hav
e no
t mad
e a
basi
c er
ror.
In th
e fo
ur d
iagr
ams o
ppos
ite,
the
bear
ing
is ro
ughl
y no
rth
east
.
Wal
king
on
a be
arin
gW
ith th
e m
agne
tic b
eari
ng se
t, ho
ld th
e co
mpa
ss c
lose
to
you
r che
st a
nd lo
ok d
own
onto
it. R
otat
e yo
ur b
ody
until
the
north
end
of m
agne
tic n
eedl
e is
alig
ned
with
the
north
end
of t
he o
rient
ing a
rrow
. Hol
ding
the
com
pass
in
this
way
ens
ures
you
r bod
y fa
ces t
he d
irect
ion
you
need
to
wal
k. N
ow lo
ok u
p to
see
whe
re y
ou a
re h
eade
d.
Nex
t, id
entif
y a
feat
ure
whi
ch li
es o
n th
e be
arin
g be
twee
n yo
u an
d yo
ur fi
nal d
estin
atio
n. It
mig
ht b
e
a ro
ck o
r som
e ve
geta
tion.
Onc
e id
entif
ied,
ther
e
is n
o ne
ed to
use
the
com
pass
aga
in u
ntil
you
have
re
ache
d it.
You
can
take
any
rout
e ar
ound
obs
tacl
es
to g
et to
the
feat
ure.
It is
ess
entia
l to
mai
ntai
n yo
ur
fix o
n th
e fe
atur
e as
it m
ay c
hang
e in
app
eara
nce
as
you
get c
lose
r to
it. O
nce
you
reac
h th
e fir
st fe
atur
e,
repe
at th
e ex
erci
se u
ntil
the
who
le le
g is
com
plet
ed.
If w
alki
ng o
n a
bear
ing
is n
ew to
you
, why
not
pra
ctis
e in
you
r loc
al p
ark?
Estim
atin
g di
stan
cePa
cing
and
tim
ing
can
help
you
est
imat
e di
stan
ce.
The
first
stag
e is
mea
suri
ng th
e di
stan
ce o
n th
e m
ap,
whi
ch is
don
e us
ing
the
mill
imet
re o
r rom
er sc
ales
on
the
com
pass
bas
epla
te.
Paci
ngEs
timat
ing
dist
ance
by
paci
ng re
quir
es k
now
ing
how
m
any
doub
le p
aces
you
take
to w
alk
100m
. To
esta
blis
h th
is, i
dent
ify a
100
m fl
at st
retc
h on
a m
ap w
ith id
enti-
fia
ble
mar
kers
at e
ach
end,
such
as w
all j
unct
ions
, or
use
a m
easu
red
dist
ance
, suc
h as
a ru
nnin
g tr
ack.
M
ost p
eopl
e w
alk
betw
een
60 a
nd 8
0 do
uble
pac
es.
Paci
ng w
orks
bes
t for
shor
t dis
tanc
es, u
p to
500
m,
and
is b
est c
ount
ed in
100
m b
lock
s.
It’s i
mpo
rtan
t to
real
ise
that
pac
ing
is o
nly
estim
atio
n.
With
just
a 5
% e
rror
you
cou
ld b
e 25
m o
ut in
a
500m
blo
ck. W
hen
usin
g pa
cing
don
’t ex
pect
to
arri
ve e
xact
ly a
t you
r des
tinat
ion,
but
if a
ccur
ate,
yo
u sh
ould
be
very
clo
se.
Tim
ing
If yo
u kn
ow th
e sp
eed
you
wal
k, y
ou c
an e
stim
ate
th
e di
stan
ce tr
avel
led.
Rea
sona
bly
fit p
eopl
e w
alk
at
4 o
r 5 k
mh.
It is
usu
al to
add
up
to a
min
ute
for
ever
y 10
met
res o
f asc
ent;
whe
n go
ing
dow
nhill
, yo
u ca
n us
ually
igno
re th
e he
ight
loss
and
just
use
th
e tim
e fo
r the
hor
izon
tal d
ista
nce.
Tim
ing
wor
ks
best
whe
n a
stea
dy w
alki
ng p
ace
can
be m
aint
aine
d an
d a
long
dis
tanc
e is
bei
ng w
alke
d.
The
Glob
al P
ositi
onin
g Sy
stem
The
Glo
bal P
ositi
onin
g Sy
stem
(GPS
) can
be
a ve
ry
usef
ul n
avig
atio
n ai
d fo
r hill
wal
kers
. The
mos
t tan
gibl
e an
d ob
viou
s ben
efit
of a
GPS
rece
iver
is o
btai
ning
a
grid
refe
renc
e of
you
r pos
ition
, a v
ery
usef
ul a
id if
you
ha
ve b
ecom
e di
sori
enta
ted
or d
urin
g an
em
erge
ncy.
15Na
viga
tion
It is
impo
rtan
t to
reco
gnis
e th
at u
sing
GPS
rece
iver
s ca
nnot
be
a su
bstit
ute
for t
he e
ssen
tial n
avig
atio
n sk
ills,
such
as r
oute
cho
ice.
You
shou
ld n
ot b
ecom
e to
tally
relia
nt o
n a
GPS
rece
iver
, as y
ou m
ight
run
out
of b
atte
ries
or d
amag
e yo
ur re
ceiv
er. Y
et a
noth
er
reas
on w
hy b
eing
abl
e to
nav
igat
e us
ing
a m
ap a
nd
com
pass
is su
ch a
vita
l hill
wal
king
skill
.
A ty
pica
l hill
wal
king
com
pass
Furt
her I
nfor
mat
ion
on N
avig
atio
nBo
ok: N
avig
atio
n in
the
Mou
ntai
ns (M
LTU
K)DV
D: H
ill W
alki
ng E
ssen
tials
(BM
C)
N
W
S
E
N
W
S
E
Mag
nify
ing
lens
Dire
ctio
n of
trav
el a
rrow
Com
pass
nee
dle
Nor
th e
nd re
d
Orie
ntin
g lin
es
Orie
ntin
g ar
row
Bear
ing
num
bers
lines
nor
mal
ly in
2°
incr
emen
ts
Rom
er sc
ale
Com
pass
hou
sing
Base
plat
e
A
B
A
B
Dire
ctio
n of
trav
el
16 B
MC
– N
ew H
ill W
alke
rs
Just
as
a yo
ung
child
has
to le
arn
abou
t haz
ards
in
thei
r wor
ld, n
ovic
e hi
ll w
alke
rs w
ill e
ncou
nter
ch
alle
nges
whi
ch a
re n
ew to
them
.
Iden
tifyi
ng h
azar
dsIm
agin
e st
eppi
ng in
to th
e ro
ad o
nly
to se
e a
car
spee
ding
tow
ards
you
. Ins
tant
ly y
ou w
ould
iden
tify
the
haza
rd, a
sses
s the
risk
, and
then
act
app
ropr
iate
ly
- get
out
of t
he w
ay! W
hen
it co
mes
to h
azar
ds in
the
hills
, fol
low
the
sam
e pr
oces
s of i
dent
ify, a
sses
s and
act
.
List
en to
you
r ins
tinct
s, an
d st
op if
som
ethi
ng d
oesn
’t fe
el ‘q
uite
righ
t’. C
hang
ing y
our p
lans
due
to u
nfor
esee
n ci
rcum
stan
ces i
s a si
gn o
f goo
d ju
dgem
ent.
Carr
ying
bl
indl
y on
with
the
hope
that
‘thi
ngs w
ill w
ork
them
- se
lves
out
’ is n
ot!
It is
impo
rtant
to re
alis
e th
at y
ou ca
nnot
avo
id h
azar
ds.
Befo
re se
tting
out
ask
you
rsel
f wha
t haz
ards
are
pr
esen
ted
by g
roup
com
posi
tion,
ani
mal
s, te
rrai
n
and
wea
ther
. Rea
sses
s haz
ards
thro
ugho
ut th
e da
y.
Grou
p co
mpo
sitio
nM
anag
ing
grou
p dy
nam
ics i
s not
alw
ays e
asy.
If th
ere
is a
mis
mat
ch b
etw
een
grou
p m
embe
rs in
abi
lity
and
fitne
ss, t
hen
cons
ider
atio
n ne
eds t
o be
giv
en to
how
ev
eryo
ne’s
asp
irat
ions
can
be
met
. Mak
e an
hon
est
appr
aisa
l of w
hat i
s rea
listic
for t
he w
hole
gro
up.
Lear
ning
from
exp
erie
nced
hill
wal
kers
is u
ndou
bted
ly
effe
ctiv
e an
d re
war
ding
for a
ll in
volv
ed. T
his d
oes n
ot
mea
n th
at th
ose
with
less
exp
erie
nce
are
not a
lso
able
to
mak
e ke
y de
cisi
ons a
bout
thei
r ow
n sa
fety
and
pa
rtic
ipat
ion.
Cow
sM
ost m
embe
rs o
f the
pub
lic a
re w
ary
of b
ulls
, but
few
re
alis
e th
at c
ows,
part
icul
arly
thos
e pr
otec
ting
new
ly-
born
cal
ves,
can
also
be
dang
erou
s. Pe
ople
hav
e be
en
atta
cked
or t
ram
pled
to d
eath
by
cow
s whi
le q
uiet
ly
wal
king
thei
r dog
. The
cow
s are
thou
ght t
o ha
ve b
een
tryi
ng to
pro
tect
thei
r you
ng b
y dr
ivin
g of
f the
dog
s.
If yo
u ap
proa
ch a
fiel
d of
cow
s and
ther
e ha
ppen
to
be ca
lves
, try
to ch
oose
a d
iffer
ent r
oute
to a
void
them
.
The
coun
trys
ide
is a
gre
at p
lace
to e
xerc
ise
dogs
, but
it
is e
very
ow
ner’s
dut
y to
mak
e su
re th
eir d
og is
not
a
dang
er o
r nui
sanc
e to
farm
ani
mal
s, w
ildlif
e or
oth
er
peop
le. B
y la
w, f
arm
ers a
re e
ntitl
ed to
des
troy
a d
og
that
inju
res o
r wor
ries
thei
r ani
mal
s, th
eref
ore
dog
wal
kers
shou
ld k
eep
thei
r dog
s on
thei
r lea
d at
any
tim
e of
the
year
whe
n ne
ar fa
rm a
nim
als,
part
icul
arly
du
ring
the
lam
bing
seas
on.
Ther
e w
ill b
e ci
rcum
stan
ces w
hen
you
shou
ld re
leas
e yo
ur d
og fr
om it
s lea
d. If
you
find
you
rsel
f in
a fie
ld o
f w
ary
cattl
e, m
ove
away
car
eful
ly a
nd q
uiet
ly. I
f you
fe
el th
reat
ened
by
cattl
e re
leas
e yo
ur d
og fr
om it
s lea
d;
let i
t run
free
rath
er th
an tr
y to
pro
tect
it a
nd e
ndan
gerin
g yo
urse
lf. T
he d
og w
ill o
utru
n th
e co
ws a
nd y
ou.
Rem
ove
the
lead
to a
void
the
risk
of s
tran
gula
tion.
Thos
e w
ithou
t can
ine
com
pani
ons s
houl
d al
so m
ove
away
care
fully
and
qui
etly
. The
cow
s will
pro
babl
y le
ave
you
alon
e on
ce th
ey e
stab
lish
that
you
pos
e no
thre
at.
6 | H
azar
ds
17Ha
zard
s
Tick
sTi
cks a
re sm
all a
rach
nids
, whi
ch li
ve o
ff th
e bl
ood
of
bird
s and
mam
mal
s – in
clud
ing
you.
Tic
ks c
limb
tall
gras
s, sh
rubs
, bus
hes a
nd lo
w le
vel t
ree
bran
ches
. W
hen
you
or a
n an
imal
bru
sh p
ast t
hey
can
atta
ch
them
selv
es a
lmos
t any
whe
re b
ut p
refe
r dar
k cr
ease
s lik
e th
e ar
mpi
t, gr
oin
and
back
of t
he k
nee.
Lym
e Di
seas
e is
cau
sed
by a
bac
teri
a ca
rrie
d by
tick
s in
man
y po
pula
r wal
king
are
as. B
eing
bitt
en b
y a
tick
does
not
mea
n yo
u w
ill c
ontr
act L
yme
Dise
ase,
but
ta
king
step
s to
prev
ent t
ick
bite
s is t
he b
est p
lan
to
follo
w. A
void
unn
eces
sary
bus
hwac
king
, kee
p yo
ur
arm
s and
legs
cov
ered
, and
che
ck y
our c
loth
es a
nd
skin
freq
uent
ly. W
here
pos
sibl
e, u
se a
n ef
fect
ive
tool
an
d te
chni
que
to re
mov
e tic
ks.
Sym
ptom
s of L
yme
Dise
ase
typi
cally
show
a fe
w d
ays
to se
vera
l wee
ks a
fter b
eing
bitt
en. E
arly
sign
s mig
ht
incl
ude
a re
d ri
ng-s
hape
d ra
sh w
hich
gra
dual
ly
spre
ads f
rom
the
site
of t
he ti
ck b
ite, u
sual
ly w
ith
a fa
ding
cen
tre.
If le
ft un
trea
ted
a w
hole
rang
e of
sy
mpt
oms c
an d
evel
op, i
nclu
ding
a fl
u-lik
e ill
ness
, sw
olle
n gl
ands
, mild
hea
dach
es, t
ired
ness
and
ach
ing
mus
cles
and
join
ts.
For m
ore
info
rmat
ion
wat
ch th
e tic
k aw
aren
ess f
ilm
on b
oth
the
BMC
Hill
Wal
king
Ess
entia
ls D
VD a
nd th
e BM
C w
ebsi
te a
t ww
w.th
ebm
c.co
.uk/
tick
s
Terr
ain
Look
at t
he m
ap b
efor
e le
avin
g an
d se
e w
here
you
r ro
ute
will
take
you
. If y
ou k
now
wha
t to
expe
ct y
ou
will
be
muc
h be
tter p
lace
d to
dea
l with
it.
Mov
emen
t ski
llsA
sim
ple
slip
is o
ne o
f the
mos
t com
mon
cau
ses o
f in
jury
to h
ill w
alke
rs; t
he m
ore
unev
en o
r ste
eper
the
grou
nd, t
he g
reat
er th
e po
tent
ial f
or a
slip
. Tho
se n
ew
to h
ill w
alki
ng m
ay fi
nd th
e un
even
and
var
iabl
e te
rrai
n ch
alle
ngin
g at
firs
t. W
eari
ng a
pai
r of g
ood
boot
s is
impo
rtan
t, bu
t usi
ng th
em e
ffect
ivel
y is
wha
t will
get
yo
u ar
ound
the
hills
.
Smal
l ste
ps w
ill h
elp
you
posi
tion
your
cen
tre
of
bala
nce
over
you
r fee
t as y
ou w
alk.
Mak
ing
a st
able
pl
atfo
rm w
ith e
ach
step
, usi
ng a
s muc
h of
the
sole
as
poss
ible
is a
lso
impo
rtan
t. It
is e
asie
r to
mak
e su
ch
a pl
atfo
rm o
n gr
assy
and
mud
dy sl
opes
with
stiff
er
boot
s tha
n w
ith tr
ail s
hoes
and
soft
boot
s.
Wal
king
up,
dow
n an
d ac
ross
Stee
p gr
ound
is a
lway
s eas
ier t
o as
cend
in co
ntro
l tha
n it
is to
trav
erse
or d
esce
nd. T
he g
roun
d ah
ead
is c
lose
at
han
d w
hen
asce
ndin
g, a
nd w
ith sh
ort s
teps
, foo
t pl
acem
ents
are
eas
y to
spot
. On
desc
ents
, in
cont
rast
, yo
u ha
ve to
ext
end
dow
nwar
ds w
ith e
ach
step
, mak
ing
plac
emen
ts m
ore
diffi
cult
to se
ttle
on. T
rekk
ing
pole
s ca
n he
lp g
reat
ly in
thes
e si
tuat
ions
. Pra
ctic
e in
secu
re
plac
es o
n sh
ort s
lope
s.
Rem
ovin
g a
tick
with
fine
end
ed tw
eeze
rs a
nd sp
ecia
list t
ools
A fe
edin
g tic
k’s b
ody
beco
mes
swol
len
with
blo
od
Mos
t cow
s are
just
cur
ious
Desc
endi
ng c
an b
e tr
icki
er th
an a
scen
ding
18 B
MC
– N
ew H
ill W
alke
rs
The
tend
ency
whe
n tr
aver
sing
is to
cre
ep d
own
the
slop
e. In
som
e si
tuat
ions
this
may
not
be
a pr
oble
m,
but t
rave
rsin
g a
stee
p sl
ope
for a
long
tim
e ca
n be
ve
ry ti
ring
.
Gras
s slo
pes
Stee
p gr
ass s
lope
s can
be
extr
emel
y ha
zard
ous,
not
only
in w
et c
ondi
tions
, but
als
o w
hen
the
gras
s is l
ong
and
dry.
It is
not
the
grou
nd u
nder
foot
that
def
ines
the
seri
ousn
ess o
f a si
tuat
ion,
but
the
cons
eque
nces
of
a fa
ll. A
n un
brok
en st
eep
gras
sy sl
ope
may
be
mor
e se
riou
s tha
n a
stee
per,
but s
hort
rock
y sl
ope.
Scre
eSc
ree,
com
pose
d of
loos
e su
rfac
e ro
cks,
is c
omm
only
en
coun
tere
d in
the
mou
ntai
ns, a
nd is
ofte
n tir
ing
to
asce
nd. I
n w
et co
nditi
ons,
scre
e ca
n be
diff
icul
t to
cros
s, be
ing
both
uns
tabl
e an
d sl
ippe
ry, a
nd g
reat
car
e sh
ould
be
take
n. S
cree
runn
ing,
whi
ch is
slid
ing
dow
n w
ith th
e flo
w o
f the
scre
e in
stea
d of
taki
ng sm
all f
oot-
step
s, sh
ould
be
avoi
ded,
as i
t acc
eler
ates
ero
sion
and
is
env
iron
men
tally
dam
agin
g.
Rock
sM
any
clas
sic
wal
king
rout
es m
ay h
ave
one
or m
ore
shor
t roc
ky st
eps,
sect
ions
whe
re c
are
and
atte
ntio
n
is re
quir
ed. T
houg
h no
t tec
hnic
ally
dem
andi
ng,
the
cons
eque
nces
of a
fall
in th
e w
rong
pla
ce c
ould
be
ver
y se
riou
s. Co
nfid
ence
in y
our m
ovem
ent
skill
s is v
ital;
be a
war
e th
at ro
ck st
eps c
an b
e m
ore
chal
leng
ing
in d
esce
nt th
an a
scen
t. Th
eref
ore,
if a
bi
t mor
e ad
vent
ure
is w
hat m
akes
you
tick
, ado
pt
a pr
ogre
ssiv
e ap
proa
ch to
you
r day
s out
, bui
ldin
g
on p
ast e
xper
ienc
es a
s you
dev
elop
new
skill
s.
Loos
e ro
ck tu
mbl
ing
dow
n th
e hi
llsid
e is
als
o a
haza
rd.
If w
alki
ng w
here
you
thin
k th
ere
mig
ht b
e lo
ose
rock
ab
ove,
cons
ider
if a
ny p
eopl
e or
ani
mal
s cou
ld d
islo
dge
rock
s ont
o yo
u.
Hid
den
haza
rds
A co
nvex
slop
e is
shap
ed li
ke a
dom
e, sh
allo
w a
t the
to
p an
d st
eepl
y si
ded.
Thi
s mea
ns th
at th
e vi
ew o
f w
hat l
ies a
head
is o
ften
obsc
ured
. In
desc
ent,
a co
nvex
sl
ope
may
hid
e re
al d
ange
rs su
ch a
s a li
ne o
f clif
fs,
a st
eep
gras
s slo
pe o
r a sn
ow p
atch
.
The
cont
ours
des
crib
ing
a co
nvex
slop
e w
ill b
e fu
rthe
r ap
art n
ear t
he to
p an
d cl
oser
toge
ther
as t
he sl
ope
stee
pens
. Not
icin
g su
ch p
atte
rns o
n a
map
will
hel
p
with
rout
e pl
anni
ng, a
nd m
ap sy
mbo
ls w
ill sh
ow if
an
y ha
zard
s lie
en
rout
e.
Wat
er h
azar
dsIt
is fa
ir to
say
that
hig
h ra
infa
ll is
a c
hara
cter
istic
of
our
hill
s and
mou
ntai
ns. C
onse
quen
tly, t
he w
ater
le
vels
of s
trea
ms,
rive
rs, b
ogs a
nd la
kes c
an v
ary
grea
tly th
roug
hout
the
year
. Pro
long
ed h
eavy
rain
fall
can
lead
to fl
ash
flood
ing,
with
pat
hs b
eing
tran
s-fo
rmed
into
stre
ams.
Unl
ess i
nten
ding
to sw
im in
a m
ount
ain
lake
, no
one
plan
s to
get w
et w
hen
out w
alki
ng. C
onsi
deri
ng th
at
peop
le d
o dr
own
in u
plan
d ri
vers
and
lake
s, av
oidi
ng
wat
er h
azar
ds is
the
best
pol
icy.
Wea
ther
Alw
ays g
et a
wea
ther
fore
cast
, a m
ount
ain
spec
ific
one
if po
ssib
le a
s the
re a
re m
ajor
diff
eren
ces
betw
een
urba
n an
d up
land
wea
ther
. The
se a
re
avai
labl
e on
line
for s
ome
area
s at w
ww
.mw
is.o
rg.u
k an
d w
ww
.met
offi
ce.g
ov.u
k. U
se th
e in
form
atio
n fr
om th
e fo
reca
st a
s par
t of y
our p
lann
ing.
Be
awar
e th
at th
e w
eath
er c
an b
e m
ore
extre
me
in th
e hi
lls
than
in th
e ci
ties.
Gene
ral f
orec
asts
are
for s
ea le
vel,
and
you
can
pret
ty m
uch
guar
ante
e th
at it
will
be
cold
er, w
ette
r and
win
dier
the
high
er y
ou c
limb.
Hill
wal
kers
shou
ld d
evel
op th
eir u
nder
stan
ding
of
the
typi
cal B
ritis
h w
eath
er sy
stem
s, an
d le
arn
how
to
inte
rpre
t a se
a le
vel f
orec
ast f
or th
e m
ount
ain
envi
ron-
m
ent,
incl
udin
g th
e cr
ucia
l con
nect
ion
betw
een
a fo
reca
st a
nd h
ow th
e w
eath
er w
ill fe
el. A
s for
ecas
ts
are
just
a p
redi
ctio
n, th
e w
eath
er y
ou e
xper
ienc
e co
uld
be m
ore
or le
ss se
vere
than
pre
dict
ed.
19Ha
zard
s
Win
dW
hat f
eels
like
a st
iff b
reez
e in
the
valle
y ca
n be
com
e a
gale
hig
h in
the
hills
, mak
ing
the
goin
g ha
rder
than
ex
pect
ed. E
xpec
ting
two
to th
ree
times
the
win
d sp
eed
on th
e su
mm
its to
that
at s
ea le
vel i
s a u
sefu
l rul
e of
th
umb.
If a
gen
eral
fore
cast
says
it w
ill b
e qu
ite b
reez
y,
you
may
wan
t to
thin
k tw
ice
befo
re h
eadi
ng o
ut o
n
an e
xpos
ed ri
dge.
Win
d te
nds t
o co
me
from
a sp
ecifi
c di
rect
ion,
so p
icki
ng ro
utes
on
a hi
ll’s s
helte
red
side
sh
ould
resu
lt in
the
win
d’s f
ull s
tren
gth
bein
g av
oide
d un
til n
ear t
he su
mm
it.
Tem
pera
ture
Air c
ools
with
alti
tude
. Dry
air
coo
ls a
t abo
ut 1
°C p
er
100
met
res a
nd m
oist
or f
oggy
air
abou
t hal
f as q
uick
ly.
If th
e fo
reca
st sa
ys th
at N
orth
Wal
es w
ill e
xper
ienc
e a
clea
r day
, with
Ban
gor a
t a re
spec
tabl
e 10
°C, t
hen
the
sum
mit
of S
now
don
coul
d be
a c
hilly
zer
o. B
rrrr
rrr!!
Win
d ch
ill, t
he c
ombi
ned
effe
ct o
f win
d an
d te
mpe
r-
atur
e, is
a m
ajor
mou
ntai
n ha
zard
and
a c
omm
on
cont
ribu
tory
fact
or in
hyp
othe
rmia
cas
es. S
ome
mou
ntai
n sp
ecifi
c w
eath
er fo
reca
sts,
such
as t
hose
pr
oduc
ed b
y th
e M
ount
ain
Wea
ther
Info
rmat
ion
Serv
ice,
pro
vide
win
d ch
ill in
dica
tions
.
Prec
ipita
tion
Brita
in re
ceiv
es m
uch
war
m a
nd w
et so
uth
wes
terly
ai
r fro
m th
e G
ulf o
f Mex
ico,
the
so c
alle
d G
ulf S
trea
m.
On
mee
ting
cold
er A
rctic
air
this
war
m a
ir ri
ses,
form
ing
wea
ther
dep
ress
ions
. The
resu
lt is
our
pr
edom
inan
tly w
et w
eath
er.
Cons
ider
the
dire
ctio
n of
the
prev
ailin
g w
ind
give
n
in a
fore
cast
. Thi
s will
hel
p yo
u to
pre
dict
the
char
ac-
teri
stic
s of a
ny w
eath
er sy
stem
s car
ried
by
that
win
d.
Nor
th a
nd w
est o
f Bri
tain
are
oce
ans a
nd so
nor
ther
ly
and
wes
terly
air
flow
s com
mon
ly b
ring
pre
cipi
tatio
n.
Sout
h of
Bri
tain
is m
ainl
y la
nd; w
ind
from
this
di
rect
ion
will
gen
eral
ly b
e dr
yer a
nd w
arm
er.
Nor
ther
lies a
re c
old
as th
ey o
rigi
nate
in th
e Ar
ctic
. Th
e on
ly ‘o
dd’ w
inds
are
eas
terli
es. T
hey
are
usua
lly
drie
r tha
n th
ose
whi
ch tr
ack
over
the
sea,
but
refle
ctin
g th
e la
nd th
ey p
ass o
ver,
are
bitin
gly
cold
in w
inte
r yet
ca
n be
qui
te b
alm
y in
sum
mer
.
Com
bine
d w
eath
er e
ffec
tsTo
geth
er, c
old
tem
pera
ture
s, ra
in a
nd w
ind
can
crea
te
a se
nse
of a
nxie
ty a
nd u
rgen
cy. T
his m
ay le
ad to
hu
rrie
d an
d un
cons
ider
ed d
ecis
ions
bei
ng m
ade.
G
ood
plan
ning
shou
ld p
redi
ct th
e lik
elih
ood
of th
ese
cond
ition
s and
allo
w so
me
criti
cal d
ecis
ions
to b
e m
ade
in a
dvan
ce.
The
wea
ther
can
affe
ct y
our r
ate
of tr
avel
. Bat
tling
a
head
win
d ca
n sl
ow y
ou. P
oor v
isib
ility
will
requ
ire
mor
e de
taile
d na
viga
tion,
whi
ch w
ill ta
ke ti
me.
Sn
ow a
nd ic
e, if
met
une
xpec
tedl
y, m
ay n
eces
sita
te
a de
tour
. Som
etim
es it
can
be to
o w
arm
. On
hot s
umm
er
days
take
you
r tim
e, u
se su
n pr
otec
tion
and
drin
k pl
enty
of l
iqui
d as
hea
tstr
oke
and
dehy
drat
ion
are
extr
emel
y de
bilit
atin
g.
In su
mm
ary,
und
erst
andi
ng h
ow w
eath
er ‘w
orks
’, pay
ing
atte
ntio
n to
fore
cast
s, be
ing
read
y fo
r abr
upt c
hang
es,
bein
g w
ell e
quip
ped
and
able
to n
avig
ate
if ca
ught
ou
t, w
ill a
ll go
tow
ards
redu
cing
the
risk
s pos
ed b
y Br
itain
’s m
ount
ain
wea
ther
.
Air
‘squ
eeze
d’ov
er h
ill to
pA
ir ed
dies
beyo
ndco
nstr
ictio
n
Air
funn
elle
din
to v
alle
y
Air c
hann
elle
d by
the
hills
‘Blin
d’ A
rea
Conv
ex sl
ope:
clif
f haz
ard
not v
isib
le fr
om a
bove
Clou
ds c
an b
uild
qui
ckly
in th
e hi
lls
Furt
her I
nfor
mat
ion
on H
azar
dsBo
ok: H
ill W
alki
ng (M
LTU
K)W
eb: w
ww
.lym
edis
ease
acti
on.o
rg.u
k
20 B
MC
– N
ew H
ill W
alke
rs
The
hills
and
mou
ntai
ns c
an b
e sn
ow a
nd ic
e fr
ee
over
Chr
istm
as, b
ut c
ram
pons
and
axe
s ar
e of
ten
esse
ntia
l whe
n cl
imbi
ng B
en N
evis
in A
pril.
Whe
n ve
ntur
ing
into
the
mou
ntai
ns in
win
ter,
the
terr
ain
unde
rfoo
t is
wha
t’s re
leva
nt. M
ovin
g ar
ound
in th
e w
inte
r env
iron
men
t req
uire
s sp
ecif
ic s
kills
and
eq
uipm
ent o
ver a
nd a
bove
thos
e us
ed in
spr
ing,
su
mm
er a
nd a
utum
n.
Clot
hing
and
equ
ipm
ent
As it
is c
olde
r in
win
ter y
ou w
ill n
eed
mor
e cl
othe
s. Ju
st a
s in
sum
mer
, a fl
exib
le cl
othi
ng sy
stem
is re
quire
d,
alon
g with
som
e ex
tra in
sula
ting l
ayer
s. Go
od in
sula
tion
for t
he h
ead,
nec
k an
d ha
nds i
s ess
entia
l. Alw
ays t
ake
a
spar
e pa
ir o
f glo
ves o
r mitt
s; if
you
lose
one
you
can
in
capa
cita
te y
our h
ands
, or w
orse
still
, get
fros
tbite
. Sk
i gog
gles
will
ena
ble
you
to lo
ok fo
rwar
d w
hen
snow
is b
eing
bla
sted
into
you
r fac
e by
stro
ng w
inds
. O
n cl
ear d
ays,
sung
lass
es a
nd su
nscr
een
will
pro
tect
th
e ey
es a
nd fa
ce.
A pa
ir of
win
ter w
alki
ng b
oots
will
kee
p yo
ur fe
et w
arm
an
d pr
ovid
e yo
u w
ith th
e re
quir
ed g
rip
and
supp
ort.
Cram
pons
are
atta
ched
to y
our b
oots
for s
afer
trav
el
over
har
d pa
cked
snow
or i
ce. A
part
from
kno
win
g ho
w to
use
them
effe
ctiv
ely,
wha
t is m
ost i
mpo
rtan
t is
ens
urin
g th
e cr
ampo
ns a
re c
ompa
tible
with
you
r bo
ots,
and
then
fitti
ng th
em p
rope
rly. A
n ax
e is
a
vita
l pie
ce o
f win
ter e
quip
men
t and
has
a v
arie
ty
of fu
nctio
ns; i
t can
be
used
for s
uppo
rt a
nd to
stop
yo
u sh
ould
you
slip
.
Wal
king
is m
ore
phys
ical
in w
inte
r, so
mor
e en
ergy
fr
om fo
od is
requ
ired
. Tak
ing
on e
noug
h flu
id is
im
port
ant t
oo. A
hot
flas
k pr
ovid
es a
wel
com
e w
inte
r w
arm
er; i
f pos
sibl
e, fi
ll yo
ur w
ater
bot
tle w
ith h
ot w
ater
, to
pre
vent
it fr
eezi
ng.
Fina
lly, w
ith th
is e
xtra
food
, flu
id, c
loth
ing
and
equi
p-
men
t you
will
nee
d a
good
size
d ru
cksa
ck b
etw
een
40
and
50
litre
s to
carr
y it
all.
Win
ter h
azar
dsIn
win
ter t
he w
ind
can
be so
stro
ng a
s to
blow
you
ove
r, a
pote
ntia
lly v
ery
seri
ous s
ituat
ion
if w
alki
ng o
n a
stee
p sl
ope
or ri
dge.
Nee
dles
s to
say,
a fo
reca
st w
ill
help
you
pla
n yo
ur d
ay a
ppro
pria
tely
. Don
’t fo
rget
to
take
into
acc
ount
that
win
ter d
ays a
re sh
ort;
in th
e Sc
ottis
h H
ighl
ands
in m
id-w
inte
r the
re is
less
than
se
ven
hour
s of d
aylig
ht.
Nav
igat
ing
in w
inte
r is m
ore
diffi
cult.
Sno
w c
over
can
hi
de fe
atur
es, a
nd th
e gr
ound
can
appe
ar d
iffer
ent f
rom
in
dica
tions
giv
en b
y th
e m
ap’s
con
tour
s. In
sum
mer
, if
you
mak
e an
err
or, y
ou a
re u
nlik
ely
to w
alk
off a
clif
f ed
ge, a
s you
will
mos
t lik
ely
see
the
drop
firs
t. N
ot so
in
win
ter w
hen
whi
te-o
ut c
ondi
tions
or a
cor
nice
can
ob
scur
e yo
ur v
iew
. Bef
ore
expl
orin
g th
e w
inte
r hill
s, sh
arpe
n up
on
your
sum
mer
nav
igat
ion.
In a
sing
le d
ay y
ou co
uld
wal
k ov
er a
var
iety
of t
erra
in,
incl
udin
g: u
nfro
zen
and
froz
en g
roun
d; so
ft, h
ard
pack
ed o
r fro
zen
snow
; and
pat
ches
of i
ce a
nd ic
e co
vere
d ro
ck. Y
ou n
eed
to b
e pr
epar
ed fo
r sud
den
chan
ges i
n te
rrai
n; a
pat
ch o
f ice
on
a pa
th c
ould
cat
ch
you
unaw
ares
. The
poi
nts a
bout
mov
emen
t ski
lls n
oted
on
pag
e 17
are
of e
ven
grea
ter i
mpo
rtan
ce in
win
ter
as th
e co
nseq
uenc
es o
f a sl
ip c
an b
e m
ore
seri
ous.
You
can
leav
e a
rela
tivel
y sa
fe sp
ot fo
r one
with
real
ob
ject
ive
dang
er in
onl
y a
few
foot
step
s. Fe
el co
nfid
ent
mov
ing
arou
nd in
sum
mer
firs
t, an
d th
en p
rogr
essi
vely
de
velo
p yo
ur m
ovem
ent s
kills
in w
inte
r.
7 | W
alki
ng in
Win
ter
21W
alki
ng in
Win
ter
Aval
anch
es o
ccur
whe
n on
e la
yer o
f dep
osite
d sn
ow
slid
es o
n an
othe
r or t
he w
hole
snow
cove
r slid
es o
n th
e gr
ound
. 90%
of a
ll av
alan
ches
invo
lvin
g hum
an su
bjec
ts
are
trig
gere
d by
thei
r vic
tims.
The
evol
utio
n of
the
snow
pack
is d
eter
min
ed b
y th
e w
eath
er; b
y st
udyi
ng
wea
ther
info
rmat
ion
befo
re se
tting
out
and
obs
ervi
ng
snow
pack
cond
ition
s en
rout
e ha
zard
ass
essm
ents
can
be m
ade.
On
mos
t hill
s in
Brita
in, a
vala
nche
haz
ard
ca
n be
avo
ided
by
sens
ible
cho
ice
of ro
ute.
Whe
n sn
ow is
dep
osite
d on
the
leew
ard
edge
of a
ri
dge
or p
late
au, c
orni
ces a
re fo
rmed
. The
se o
ver-
ha
ngin
g ba
nks o
f sno
w a
re e
xtre
mel
y se
riou
s haz
ards
. Co
rnic
es o
bscu
re c
liff e
dges
, and
can
col
laps
e un
der
your
wei
ght.
Care
shou
ld a
lso
be ta
ken
whe
n w
alki
ng
unde
rnea
th th
em.
Win
ter w
alki
ng o
n Sn
owdo
n
This
boo
k an
d
DVD
show
the
tech
niqu
es a
nd
skill
s req
uire
d fo
r
wal
king
in w
inte
r
Furt
her I
nfor
mat
ion
on
Wal
king
in W
inte
rBo
ok: W
inte
r Ski
lls (M
LTU
K)DV
D: W
inte
r Ess
entia
ls (B
MC)
22 B
MC
– N
ew H
ill W
alke
rs
Mou
ntai
n la
ndsc
apes
may
see
m v
ast a
nd o
ur
pres
ence
in th
em in
cons
eque
ntia
l. H
owev
er,
all l
and
belo
ngs
to s
omeo
ne s
o w
e m
ust a
ct
in a
con
side
rate
and
resp
onsi
ble
man
ner.
Acce
ss in
Eng
land
& W
ales
Acce
ss is
all
abou
t bal
anci
ng ri
ghts
, res
pons
ibili
ties
and
rest
rict
ions
. A ri
ght o
f acc
ess m
ust b
e us
ed
resp
onsi
bly.
On
occa
sion
, res
tric
tions
bas
ed o
n a
le
ast r
estr
ictiv
e ap
proa
ch m
ay b
e ne
eded
to p
rote
ct
cons
erva
tion
inte
rest
s. Ig
nori
ng re
stri
ctio
ns c
ould
at
wor
st le
ad to
acc
ess b
eing
with
draw
n fo
r eve
ryon
e.
The
Coun
trys
ide
Righ
ts o
f Way
Act
200
0 (C
RoW
) is
the
mai
n pi
ece
of le
gisl
atio
n go
vern
ing
acce
ss
to th
e up
land
s of E
ngla
nd a
nd W
ales
. If y
ou a
re
unsu
re o
f you
r rig
hts a
nd re
spon
sibi
litie
s, th
en v
isit
w
ww
.cou
ntry
side
acce
ss.g
ov.u
k
The
Publ
ic R
ight
s of W
ay (P
RoW
) net
wor
k in
Eng
land
an
d W
ales
is a
uni
que
asse
t. Th
e re
stri
ctio
ns th
at a
re
som
etim
es u
sed
on C
RoW
acc
ess l
and
do n
ot a
ffect
pu
blic
righ
ts o
f way
, so
you
can
wal
k al
ong
them
eve
n w
hen
surr
ound
ing
acce
ss la
nd is
clo
sed.
How
ever
, pu
blic
righ
ts o
f way
can
som
etim
es b
e di
vert
ed,
rem
oved
, cre
ated
or h
ave
the
righ
ts su
spen
ded.
Whe
re n
eces
sary
the
BMC
liais
es w
ith la
ndow
ners
an
d co
nser
vatio
n bo
dies
to n
egot
iate
vol
unta
ry a
cces
s ar
rang
emen
ts. T
he B
MC
also
has
a n
etw
ork
of o
ver
30 lo
cal a
cces
s rep
rese
ntat
ives
to e
nsur
e an
y ac
cess
or
con
serv
atio
n is
sues
are
reso
lved
.
Wal
king
with
dog
sIt
is a
crim
inal
offe
nce
to a
llow
you
r dog
to w
orry
stoc
k.
On
open
acc
ess l
and
in E
ngla
nd a
nd W
ales
dog
s mus
t be
kep
t on
a sh
ort l
ead
from
1st
Mar
ch to
31s
t Jul
y
and
at a
ll tim
es w
hen
in th
e vi
cini
ty o
f liv
esto
ck. T
hey
may
be
excl
uded
at a
ll tim
es o
n so
me
grou
se m
oors
. In
fiel
ds o
f adu
lt an
imal
s the
y m
ust b
e ke
pt u
nder
cl
ose
cont
rol o
n a
shor
t lea
d. D
ogs c
an c
ause
oth
er
prob
lem
s – d
istu
rbin
g w
ildlif
e, b
arki
ng, d
isru
ptin
g
othe
r use
rs, d
efec
atin
g ne
ar p
aths
. Alw
ays c
onsi
der
the
inte
rest
s of o
ther
s who
use
the
land
.
Acce
ss in
Sco
tland
Diffe
rent
acc
ess l
egis
latio
n ap
plie
s to
Scot
land
, w
here
ther
e is
free
dom
of a
cces
s acr
oss a
lmos
t al
l lan
d. T
hese
righ
ts w
ere
mad
e st
atut
ory
thro
ugh
th
e La
nd R
efor
m (S
cotla
nd) A
ct 2
003.
For
gui
danc
e se
e th
e Sc
ottis
h O
utdo
or A
cces
s Cod
e at
w
ww
.out
door
acce
ss-s
cotl
and.
com
8 | A
cces
s an
d th
e En
viro
nmen
t
23Ac
cess
and
the
Envi
ronm
ent
Trea
d lig
htly
Muc
h ca
n be
don
e to
min
imis
e er
osio
n an
d di
stur
banc
e by
app
lyin
g co
mm
on se
nse:
Path
sPa
ths h
ave
been
con
stru
cted
in m
any
area
s to
prot
ect
and
repa
ir m
ount
ains
from
the
eros
ion
that
is c
ause
d by
the
shee
r vol
ume
of v
isito
rs. U
se th
ese
path
s whe
r-
ever
pos
sibl
e ra
ther
than
taki
ng sh
ortc
uts.
Path
s are
of
ten
only
the
wid
th o
f one
per
son;
wal
k in
sing
le fi
le
on su
ch se
ctio
ns.
Wild
fire
sPe
at a
nd v
eget
atio
n w
hich
gro
w in
upl
and
area
s can
be
com
e dr
y an
d fla
mm
able
. Acc
iden
tal f
ires c
an d
estro
y ha
bita
ts a
nd k
ill w
ildlif
e. D
o no
t lig
ht fi
res o
n m
oorla
nds,
not e
ven
gas s
tove
s or b
arbe
cues
, and
nev
er st
ub
mat
ches
or c
igar
ette
s out
in th
e ve
geta
tion.
Res
pect
al
l war
ning
sign
s and
if y
ou se
e a
fire,
don
’t as
sum
e th
at so
meo
ne e
lse
has c
alle
d th
e em
erge
ncy
serv
ices
. N
ote
your
loca
tion
and
dial
999
.
Boun
darie
sCl
imbi
ng o
ver w
alls
and
fenc
es w
ill d
amag
e th
em;
use
stile
s and
gat
es w
here
ver p
ossi
ble.
Litt
erTa
ke li
tter h
ome
with
you
– if
you
’ve
carr
ied
it in
, yo
u ca
n ca
rry
it ou
t. W
here
pos
sibl
e, p
ick
up o
ther
pe
ople
’s li
tter,
espe
cial
ly n
on-b
iode
grad
able
mat
eria
l. O
rgan
ic li
tter t
akes
long
er to
bre
ak d
own
than
mos
t pe
ople
thin
k; it
als
o at
trac
ts c
erta
in p
reda
tor s
peci
es,
so ta
ke it
hom
e. R
educ
e th
e lit
ter y
ou n
eed
to c
arry
out
w
ith y
ou b
y re
pack
agin
g yo
ur fo
od b
efor
e yo
u se
t out
.
Tran
spor
tTr
affic
con
gest
ion
and
park
ing
prob
lem
s are
an
is
sue
in m
any
popu
lar u
plan
d ar
eas.
You
can
mak
e
a di
ffere
nce
by ta
king
pub
lic tr
ansp
ort,
car s
hari
ng
and
usin
g de
sign
ated
par
king
pla
ces.
Shop
loca
llyTh
e lo
cal s
pend
ing o
f hill
wal
kers
is v
ital t
o th
e co
nser
v-
atio
n an
d de
velo
pmen
t of m
any
upla
nd a
reas
. Whe
reve
r po
ssib
le, s
uppo
rt lo
cal i
ndep
ende
nt b
usin
esse
s suc
h as
gro
cers
, out
door
reta
ilers
, caf
es a
nd re
stau
rant
s.
Sani
tatio
nTh
ere’
s a re
luct
ance
to ta
lk a
bout
wha
t is o
ne o
f ou
r mos
t nat
ural
func
tions
! And
yet
by
not t
hink
ing
care
fully
abo
ut th
is w
e ca
n en
dang
er h
uman
hea
lth
and
pote
ntia
lly p
oiso
n th
e up
land
env
iron
men
t.
A m
ount
ain
stre
am is
ofte
n se
en a
s the
epi
tom
e of
pu
rity
– so
don
’t po
llute
it. S
trea
ms a
re a
vita
l sou
rce
of fr
esh
wat
er fo
r hill
farm
ers a
nd fo
r cam
pers
. It w
ill
also
be
a ho
me
to, o
r a w
ater
sour
ce fo
r, w
ildlif
e.
Ensu
re y
ou a
re a
t lea
st 3
0 m
etre
s aw
ay fr
om ru
nnin
g w
ater
whe
n yo
u de
feca
te. W
hen
cam
ping
, def
ecat
e an
d ur
inat
e do
wnh
ill fr
om y
our c
amps
ite; c
olle
ct
drin
king
wat
er fr
om a
bove
you
r cam
p.
It ca
n be
an
unpl
easa
nt a
nd u
nnec
essa
ry so
uven
ir
to e
ncou
nter
hum
an w
aste
on
or c
lose
to a
pat
h.
Be co
nsid
erat
e of
oth
ers a
nd d
efec
ate
at le
ast 5
0 m
etre
s fro
m p
aths
. Car
ry a
ligh
twei
ght t
row
el to
care
fully
cut o
ut
and
repl
ace
the
top
turf
. Dig
a 1
5 cm
(6”)
dee
p ho
le to
bu
ry y
our e
xcre
men
t. If
this
is n
ot p
ossi
ble,
kee
p w
ell
away
from
pat
hs a
nd sp
read
the
excr
emen
t thi
nly
to
incr
ease
the
rate
of i
ts d
ecom
posi
tion
(squ
ashi
ng it
un
der a
bou
lder
will
slow
dec
ompo
sitio
n). O
n es
peci
ally
se
nsiti
ve h
igh
plat
eaux
, exc
rem
ent s
houl
d be
car
ried
do
wn
to le
ss se
nsiti
ve lo
catio
ns fo
r bur
ial,
or e
ven
bette
r, ca
rrie
d ou
t. In
snow
, dig
dow
n in
to th
e so
il. G
ive
a th
ough
t to
the
cons
eque
nces
whe
n th
e sn
ow m
elts
!
The
smel
l fro
m u
rine
and
exc
rem
ent i
s unp
leas
ant.
Avoi
d go
ing
to th
e to
ilet i
n en
clos
ed sp
aces
(cav
es,
ruin
ed b
uild
ings
etc
). Co
nsid
er u
sing
a ‘p
ee b
ottle
’.
Toile
t pap
er is
slow
to d
ecom
pose
and
may
be
dug
up
by
anim
als.
Carr
y it
out i
f pos
sibl
e. C
ome
prep
ared
w
ith p
last
ic b
ags –
dog
poo
bag
s are
idea
l for
the
purp
ose.
Tam
pons
and
sani
tary
tow
els s
houl
d be
carr
ied
out –
pla
stic
scre
w-to
p co
ntai
ners
are
con
veni
ent.
Keep
con
trol
of y
our d
og
Mak
e a
diffe
renc
e, ta
ke th
e bu
s
Whe
re p
ossi
ble,
use
pat
hs to
min
imis
e er
osio
n
24 B
MC
– N
ew H
ill W
alke
rs
Cam
ping
in th
e hi
llsSp
endi
ng a
nig
ht in
a te
nt c
an b
e an
unf
orge
ttabl
e ex
perie
nce
– an
d ho
pefu
lly a
pos
itive
one
! A m
ulti-
day
trip
in th
e hi
lls, c
arry
ing
all y
ou re
quir
e in
a ru
cksa
ck
prov
ides
a g
reat
sens
e of
free
dom
and
with
car
eful
pl
anni
ng is
rela
tivel
y st
raig
htfo
rwar
d to
ach
ieve
.
In a
val
ley
with
road
acc
ess u
se a
reco
gnis
ed ca
mps
ite,
as y
ou sh
ould
onl
y w
ild c
amp
if hi
gh in
the
hills
, aw
ay
from
civ
ilisa
tion.
Wild
cam
ping
is n
ot p
erm
itted
by
righ
t on
open
acc
ess l
and
in E
ngla
nd a
nd W
ales
w
ithou
t exp
ress
per
mis
sion
of t
he la
ndow
ner,
but i
t is
perm
itted
in S
cotla
nd o
n th
e pr
ovis
o th
at y
ou fo
llow
th
e Sc
ottis
h O
utdo
or A
cces
s Cod
e (S
OAC
). W
hen
high
in
the
hills
the
lega
l situ
atio
n is
the
sam
e as
in th
e va
lleys
, but
you
r im
pact
can
be
mor
e ea
sily
man
aged
.
Cam
ping
equ
ipm
ent
Addi
tiona
l equ
ipm
ent o
ver a
nd a
bove
that
requ
ired
fo
r a d
ay’s
hill
wal
king
incl
udes
: ten
t; sl
eepi
ng b
ag a
nd
slee
ping
mat
; sto
ve a
nd u
tens
ils; w
ater
con
tain
er;
mor
e fo
od; a
nd a
big
ger r
ucks
ack
to c
arry
it a
ll in
!
For a
n ov
erni
ght c
ampi
ng tr
ip h
igh
in th
e hi
lls y
ou a
re
likel
y to
nee
d a
ruck
sack
of a
t lea
st 5
0 lit
res c
apac
ity.
Thin
k ca
refu
lly a
bout
how
larg
e a
sack
you
wou
ld fe
el
happ
y to
car
ry a
s thi
s will
hel
p to
focu
s you
r min
d w
hen
choo
sing
wha
t to
take
, and
wha
t to
leav
e be
hind
.
On
retu
rnin
g fr
om y
our t
rip
revi
ew w
hat y
ou to
ok.
Som
e pa
ckin
g de
cisi
ons c
ome
dow
n to
com
fort
. In
the
end,
it’s
all
abou
t com
prom
ise!
Choo
se a
tent
whi
ch is
ligh
t, st
rong
and
eas
y to
put
up.
W
inds
are
muc
h st
rong
er in
the
hills
than
in th
e va
lleys
, an
d a
tent
des
igne
d fo
r val
ley
cam
ping
may
be
unsu
it-
able
for t
he u
plan
ds. A
s with
all
aspe
cts o
f hill
wal
king
, ge
t a fo
reca
st, p
lan
a ro
ute
and
asse
ss if
you
and
you
r ki
t are
up
to th
e ch
alle
nge.
Cam
ping
and
the
envi
ronm
ent
With
no
faci
litie
s at h
and
you
need
to th
ink
care
fully
ab
out y
our i
mpa
ct –
bot
h ph
ysic
al a
nd v
isua
l. W
hen-
ev
er y
ou w
ild c
amp
leav
e th
e si
te a
s you
find
it.
Keep
you
r gro
up sm
all a
nd a
s dis
cree
t as p
ossi
ble.
Ca
mp
in o
ne p
lace
for 1
or 2
nig
hts o
nly
and
on d
ry /
wel
l-dra
ined
gro
und
that
won
’t be
eas
ily d
amag
ed.
If yo
u ha
ve to
was
h, d
ispo
se o
f soa
py w
ater
wel
l aw
ay
from
wat
er c
ours
es.
25Em
erge
ncy
Proc
edur
es
9 | E
mer
genc
y Pr
oced
ures
Mou
ntai
n in
cide
nts
rang
e fr
om in
conv
enie
nt to
life
th
reat
enin
g. T
here
is n
o go
lden
rule
on
how
to a
ct
but t
here
are
som
e w
ell e
stab
lishe
d pr
inci
ples
.
Wha
t to
doSt
ay c
alm
and
ass
ess t
he si
tuat
ion.
Con
side
r wha
t sh
ould
be
done
imm
edia
tely
to sa
fegu
ard
ever
yone
. If
poss
ible
det
erm
ine
your
exa
ct p
ositi
on o
n th
e m
ap
and
cons
ider
the
optio
ns fo
r wal
king
dow
n, se
ndin
g fo
r hel
p, o
r fin
ding
shel
ter.
Whi
lst m
obile
pho
nes c
an b
e ve
ry u
sefu
l any
tem
ptat
ion
to u
se th
em to
cal
l mou
ntai
n re
scue
in n
on-e
mer
genc
y ci
rcum
stan
ces s
houl
d be
resi
sted
. If y
ou a
re n
ot su
re
whe
ther
it is
an
emer
genc
y, in
vest
igat
e a
little
you
rsel
f be
fore
sum
mon
ing
outs
ide
help
.
Wal
king
dow
nIf
som
eone
is in
jure
d, o
nly
min
or in
juri
es sh
ould
co
me
with
in th
e sc
ope
of tr
eatm
ent a
nd e
vacu
atio
n
by o
ther
gro
up m
embe
rs. F
or a
ll ot
her c
ases
mak
e
the
casu
alty
safe
, sta
rt fi
rst a
id, a
nd se
nd fo
r the
ap
prop
riat
e em
erge
ncy
serv
ice.
Send
ing
for h
elp
Whe
n ph
onin
g di
al 9
99 a
nd a
sk fo
r:
POLI
CE a
nd th
en M
OU
NTA
IN R
ESCU
E.
Whe
n co
nnec
ted
prov
ide:
1 Lo
catio
n of
the
inci
dent
2 N
umbe
r and
nam
es o
f peo
ple
in th
e pa
rty
and
thei
r con
ditio
n.
3 An
y in
juri
es a
nd n
ames
of c
asua
lties
.
Be re
ady
to p
rovi
de th
e fo
llow
ing
addi
tiona
l in
form
atio
n:
• Num
ber o
f the
pho
ne y
ou a
re u
sing
and
any
oth
er
phon
es in
the
grou
p.
• The
nat
ure
of th
e in
cide
nt –
wha
t hap
pene
d?
• Tim
e of
the
inci
dent
.
• Equ
ipm
ent w
hich
is a
t the
acc
iden
t site
(w
arm
clo
thin
g, g
roup
shel
ter e
tc.).
• Any
dis
tingu
ishi
ng fe
atur
e / m
arke
r /
colo
ur a
t the
acc
iden
t site
.
If th
ere
is n
o co
vera
ge a
t you
r loc
atio
n co
nsid
er
wal
king
uph
ill to
find
a b
ette
r sig
nal.
If no
sign
al
can
be o
btai
ned,
one
or m
ore
relia
ble
mem
bers
of
the
part
y, w
ith fu
ll in
form
atio
n ab
out t
he a
ccid
ent,
shou
ld b
e se
nt to
find
the
near
est t
elep
hone
. At
leas
t one
per
son
shou
ld st
ay w
ith th
e ca
sual
ty.
A te
xt m
essa
ge c
an b
e se
nt to
sum
mon
hel
p w
hen
poor
rece
ptio
n do
es n
ot a
llow
voi
ce c
alls
. You
mus
t te
xt ‘r
egis
ter’
to 9
99 in
ord
er to
use
this
serv
ice.
Co
mpl
ete
this
one
-off
regi
stra
tion
befo
re y
ou se
t off!
A he
licop
ter m
ay a
rriv
e be
fore
the
Mou
ntai
n Re
scue
Te
am. E
xtin
guis
h al
l fla
mes
and
secu
re a
ll eq
uipm
ent.
Lack
of h
elp
You
have
a d
iffic
ult d
ecis
ion
whe
n a
casu
alty
is
inju
red,
and
you
are
alo
ne a
nd u
nabl
e to
mak
e a
phon
e ca
ll. T
ry to
sum
mon
hel
p by
shou
ting,
giv
ing
the
dist
ress
cal
l of 6
whi
stle
bla
sts o
r 6 fl
ashe
s with
a
torc
h, re
peat
ed re
gula
rly. I
f the
re is
no
resp
onse
, as
sess
the
rela
tive
dang
ers o
f lea
ving
the
casu
alty
or
faili
ng to
get
hel
p. A
ct d
ecis
ivel
y in
the
inte
rest
of
the
casu
alty
, but
not
in w
ays t
hat w
ill e
ndan
ger y
ou.
Tea
tast
es e
ven
bette
r afte
r a g
ood
wal
kLi
ghtw
eigh
t col
laps
ible
cam
ping
trow
el I
nset
: Clo
sed
trow
el
Furt
her I
nfor
mat
ion
on A
cces
s an
d th
e En
viro
nmen
tBo
ok: G
reen
Gui
de to
the
Upl
ands
(BM
C)W
eb: w
ww
.theb
mc.
co.u
k/gr
eeng
uide
s
Firs
t Aid
Man
y pe
ople
do
not c
onsi
der t
he im
port
ance
of
first
aid
trai
ning
unt
il st
andi
ng n
ext t
o an
inju
red
com
pani
on o
n a
rem
ote
mou
ntai
nsid
e. A
larg
e ra
nge
of fi
rst a
id p
ublic
atio
ns a
nd c
ours
es a
re a
vaila
ble,
m
any
of w
hich
are
tailo
red
to h
ill w
alke
rs.
Find
ing
shel
ter
An u
nint
entio
nal n
ight
out
can
resu
lt fro
m a
nav
igat
iona
l er
ror o
r une
xpec
ted
cond
ition
s. It
is o
ne o
f tho
se
thin
gs a
hill
wal
ker s
houl
d be
pre
pare
d fo
r, al
thou
gh
it ca
n of
ten
be a
void
ed w
ith g
ood
plan
ning
, tak
ing
a
torc
h an
d m
akin
g an
ear
ly st
art.
Gro
up sh
elte
rs a
nd b
ivi b
ags p
rovi
de p
rote
ctio
n
from
the
elem
ents
. If y
ou a
re c
augh
t out
, con
side
r th
e fo
llow
ing:
• See
k sh
elte
r fro
m th
e el
emen
ts.
• Put
all
your
spar
e cl
othi
ng o
n, in
clud
ing
hats
an
d gl
oves
.
• Sit
on a
nyth
ing
that
will
pro
vide
insu
latio
n fr
om th
e gr
ound
, suc
h as
you
r ruc
ksac
k.
• See
k w
arm
th fr
om o
ther
par
ty m
embe
rs
by h
uddl
ing
toge
ther
.
• Kee
p an
eye
on
othe
r peo
ple
for s
igns
of
hyp
othe
rmia
.
Com
e fir
st li
ght,
if ev
eryo
ne is
fine
, con
tinue
with
you
r jo
urne
y. G
et w
ord
out a
s soo
n as
pos
sibl
e to
put
a st
op
to a
ny se
arch
that
mig
ht h
ave
begu
n.
Supp
ort M
ount
ain
Resc
ueM
ount
ain
Resc
ue T
eam
s are
run
by v
olun
teer
s and
de
pend
upo
n ch
arita
ble
dona
tions
to o
pera
te. Y
our
cons
ider
atio
n an
d su
ppor
t go
a lo
ng w
ay to
ens
ure
th
e se
rvic
e co
ntin
ues.
Colle
ctio
n bo
xes a
re lo
cate
d
in p
ubs a
nd o
utdo
or sh
ops i
n m
ost u
plan
d ar
eas.
Yo
u ca
n al
so d
onat
e on
line
at
ww
w.m
ount
ain.
resc
ue.o
rg.u
k an
d w
ww
.mrc
ofs.
org
TH
E O
FFIC
IAL
HA
ND
BO
OK
S o
f Mo
unta
in L
eade
r Tra
inin
g’s
awar
d sc
hem
es, p
acke
d w
ith
advi
ce fo
r w
alke
rs
Aw
ard-
win
nin
g m
aps
cove
ring
man
y o
f Brit
ain’
s be
st w
alki
ng
area
s
A p
ock
et g
uide
to
saf
ety
on
the
hill
BM
C B
OO
KS
& D
VD
s co
verin
g th
e sk
ills
and
tech
niq
ues
for
sum
mer
an
d w
inte
r w
alki
ng,
as
wel
l as
esse
ntia
l in
form
atio
n o
n c
arin
g
for
the
mo
unta
in
envi
ron
men
t
OR
DER
DIR
ECT
AT
w
ww
.bm
csh
op.
co.u
k
BM
C O
NLIN
E SH
OP
GR
EAT
TITL
ES
FRO
M
THE
26 B
MC
– N
ew H
ill W
alke
rs
Som
e re
scue
s req
uire
hel
icop
ter e
vacu
atio
nTa
ke a
firs
t aid
kit
– an
d kn
ow h
ow to
use
it!
Furt
her I
nfor
mat
ion
on
Emer
genc
y Pr
oced
ures
Book
: Cal
l Out
Mou
ntai
n Re
scue
? (M
REW
)