Fury of climbers still banned from the hills

hillwalkers have criticised government advice that they can travel only five miles in order to be able to enjoy their hobby, insisting the rule makes no sense.

Nicola sturgeon announced on Thursday that some of scotland’s lockdown measures will be eased next week.

Under stage one of a four-phase plan, activities such as golf, hiking, canoeing, outdoor swimming and angling will be allowed – if carried out locally.

The First Minister has suggested that a distance of up to five miles might be considered local.

But some angry outdoor enthusiasts have taken to social media to vent their frustrations.

One wrote: ‘so we have to stick to walking in the same place we have been walking in for the last two months.’

another added: ‘we should be allowed on the hills. we need some sort of normality back. This is not a dictatorship, we should all be trusted to manage our own risk.’ in another post, a hillwalker said: ‘aye right, but you can head to B&Q, McDonald’s, Burger king and 90 per cent of supermarkets. But you can’t travel 20 to 30 [miles] to climb a hill.’

On whether people can visit the hills again, scottish Mountain rescue, which represents 24 volunteer teams, said: ‘if you are lucky enough to meet the scottish Government travel guidelines for phase one (permitted to travel short distances for outdoor leisure and exercise, but the advice is to stay within a short distance of your local community, broadly within five miles, and travel by walk, wheel and cycle where possible), then, yes, welcome back!’ But the group warned: ‘You may well have to wait longer than we would normally like for a rescue, so group shelter or survival bag, extra warm clothing and food are a good idea. assume you’ll be out overnight if that helps to plan, although we hope it won’t be the case.

‘also, a small hand sanitiser, face covering such as a buff and thin rubber gloves could be added.’

The Mountain Bothies association, a charity which looks after more than 80 hill shelters, warned that its bothies remain closed because of the coronavirus crisis.

it added: ‘it seems unlikely that they will be able to reopen until such time as government guidance permits public gatherings in enclosed spaces without the need for social distancing.’

a statement from Mountaineering scotland said: ‘we are pleased to see “hiking” referred to in phase one, which means we can start planning a safe and responsible return to the hills.’

But the group added: ‘Further assessment of the [Government’s] route map is needed to establish what this means for climbers.’ its chief executive officer, stuart Younie, said: ‘we understand the Government is having to make some extremely tough decisions and the need to be cautious about easing lockdown.

‘while the document [on easing the restrictions] has some good news in it and we can start to prepare for a return to the hills, the next few weeks are going to be hard, particularly for our members living in the Central Belt and larger cities.

‘They have had limited opportunity to enjoy the outdoors during lockdown and further clarity is required.’

‘We should be allowed on hills’