In case of an emergency call 07710…
“Hubby, come and get me, I’m lost…”
Simply DON’T!!!!!!!!
You’d be lost forever…
ADVICE
- Always know your routes! It’s so easy to lose sense of orientation when you don’t have anything in front of you besides mountains and more mountains, so better learn how to properly navigate using a map and compass. You can either go on youtube for tutorials on navigation or you can go on a course (see the useful links page for suggestions). Lots of Munros are remote, and most of times you don’t have phone signal if you get lost. Given this, I would always advise to take a map (OS Landranger series) not just a little printout that covers a little part of the area, specially in case of those more remote munros, as if you get lost it won’t be of any use. And please don’t rely on phone apps, as without signal you won’t be able to see anything. On this, I would actually advise you to get the yearly membership with Ordinance Survey as it only costs around £24 (or £3 for a month) and allows you to plot and download your route, therefore you can constantly track wherever you are even with no phone signal.
- Check the weather before you leave, and remember the weather in the mountains is not the same at it is in lowlands, such as in the closest village. Therefore, it is useful to check websites such as the Mountain-Forecast.com to have a more accurate prediction.
- Be honest to yourself about your ability, and remember that even a simple 5-mile walk feels much harder when you’re going uphill.
SAFETY
- Tell people where you’re going and try to leave a route description and an estimated return time with someone who can call for help if you don’t come back on schedule.
- Always carry ID in your backpack… I also like to carry a bank card and some cash just in case.
- Download the What3Words App as it will give a precise location, which is easy to find, share and save as the developers have divided the world into 3 meter squares and given each square a unique combination of three words. That way, you can always know your precise location in a 3 meter radius and is as accurate as GPS coordinates.
- Respect your surroundings (it helps to know the Scottish Outdoor Access Code)
- Take care all the way. It’s easy to relax when the car park is in sight, and accidents tend to happen when you’re not focused on your footing.
Useful Links
USEFUL SKILLS COURSES
Navigation skills & Others
Braemar Mountain Festival – usually around March there’s a weekend of activities and courses to get registered for.
Glenmore Lodge – offers courses in a variety of activities throughout the entire year, including navigation skills for several different purposes.
USEFUL APPS
- What3Words
- OSmaps
- Komoot
- Trailforks
USEFUL WEBSITES
Walk Highlands – from local walks to bagging mountains or Islands, you can find all the guidance here.
National Trust for Scotland – ideas of things to do around Scotland.
Wild Scotland – from news to activities and other adventures, you can find it all here.
Scottish Wildlife Trust – scottish nature reserves and local wildlife.
Wilderness Scotland – a comprehensive guide on Munro bagging and wild tours.
Majestic Aberdeenshire – what to do and see around Aberdeen.
Hidden Scotland – amazing photos of places around Scotland.
Weather Forecast – remember the weather can have a major impact on the outcome of your adventure.
OTHER AMAZING WEBSITES
(I’ll keep updating as I go along…)