Walkhighlands

Sunset tripper wrote:
For a hill walker or a cyclist the advice for phase 1 and phase 2 if taken literally is stricter than the initial full lockdown advice because originally their was no 5 mile limit

I don't think they thought it through, and now on Twitter Traffic Scotland, Cairngorms NP Authority and others are posting about it as if it is a strict rule not 'advice' or 'broadly'. I was out in the hills yesterday, somewhere I know is quiet, bit more than 5 miles away but away from the crowds which is what they say they want people to avoid!

Mountain Rescue are emphasising a 5-mile limit, Sturgeon is emphasising being sensible about that in order to avoid overcrowding (because that's the real worry).

I'm going with the latter.

Does anyone really want clarity? When politicians say "now let's be clear" you know obfuscation is about to follow, and so long as it's not clear both sides have some "wriggle room", which suits everyone.

rabthecairnterrier wrote:Just as there is no curfew on when you may go hillwalking, cycling or whatever (we're coming up to the best time of year for those who enjoy a bit of night walking) there is no ban on staying outdoors overnight. For obvious reasons there is a restriction in overnighting in a household other than your own, but not on camping/bivvying solo or with other members of your household.
The risk of spreading/contracting covid-19 is no different from just being there in the first place.

Worth mentioning that there is no ban in Scotland, but in England you cannot stay overnight. Not sure about Wales/NI.

UK gov text for England is "You can travel to outdoor open space irrespective of distance, as long as you can return the same night"

Social distancing is 100% over in Glasgow. Walked the dog in Kelvin Park. Thousands of people. Hoaching. Large groups. Huge groups. Intermingling groups. It's the busiest & most densely packed I've ever seen it.

I guess this is what happens when you "slightly" reduce the lockdown measures on the hottest day of the year?

Get over it , hit the hills

rabthecairnterrier wrote:Just as there is no curfew on when you may go hillwalking, cycling or whatever (we're coming up to the best time of year for those who enjoy a bit of night walking) there is no ban on staying outdoors overnight. For obvious reasons there is a restriction in overnighting in a household other than your own, but not on camping/bivvying solo or with other members of your household.
The risk of spreading/contracting covid-19 is no different from just being there in the first place.

Oops, you are right. The updated guidance for Scotland makes no mention of not staying away from home (as the English guidance does). Suspect that's an oversight rather than an indication that wild camping is now acceptable though.

Of course, the actual legislation never specifically prohibited staying away from home at all ..... Albeit the intent was clearly there and you would even now have to demonstrate "reasonable excuse" for doing so.

Marty_JG wrote:Social distancing is 100% over in Glasgow. Walked the dog in Kelvin Park. Thousands of people. Hoaching. Large groups. Huge groups. Intermingling groups. It's the busiest & most densely packed I've ever seen it.

I guess this is what happens when you "slightly" reduce the lockdown measures on the hottest day of the year?

I live near a rural Aberdeenshire town and lockdown here in the 15-25 year old age group is well and truly over.Friday night and all day yesterday large groups of youths out drinking .(mine included I'm afraid) .serous words had today!!

Absolute carnage.And you can't go hillwalking.

Nicola your having a laugh.Get this shambles sorted.

rodderss wrote:

Marty_JG wrote:Social distancing is 100% over in Glasgow. Walked the dog in Kelvin Park. Thousands of people. Hoaching. Large groups. Huge groups. Intermingling groups. It's the busiest & most densely packed I've ever seen it.

I guess this is what happens when you "slightly" reduce the lockdown measures on the hottest day of the year?

I live near a rural Aberdeenshire town and lockdown here in the 15-25 year old age group is well and truly over.Friday night and all day yesterday large groups of youths out drinking .(mine included I'm afraid) .serous words had today!!

Absolute carnage.And you can't go hillwalking.

Nicola your having a laugh.Get this shambles sorted.

Kids!! Always looking for ways to bend the rules 😂

Silver Bear wrote:Get over it , hit the hills

After what I've read, seen and heard this weekend I think I've probably changed my mind on following the 5-mile rule. Might as well got some hills in before we're back to full lockdown!

iain_atkinson_1986 wrote:

Silver Bear wrote:Get over it , hit the hills

After what I've read, seen and heard this weekend I think I've probably changed my mind on following the 5-mile rule. Might as well got some hills in before we're back to full lockdown!

There won't be another lockdown
The Covid19 pandemic has been overstated since day 1
Most countries have lifted restrictions and are now getting on with life
Meanwhile in Scotland

Silver Bear wrote:

iain_atkinson_1986 wrote:

Silver Bear wrote:Get over it , hit the hills

After what I've read, seen and heard this weekend I think I've probably changed my mind on following the 5-mile rule. Might as well got some hills in before we're back to full lockdown!

There won't be another lockdown
The Covid19 pandemic has been overstated since day 1
Most countries have lifted restrictions and are now getting on with life
Meanwhile in Scotland

There will if we get a second surge in cases. There might even be seasonal lockdowns if COVID rears its ugly head during the colder months. Don't take anything for granted.

We won't be properly out of it until a vaccine is developed and made available to the population, then COVID will have a similar impact as the winter flu.

One issue in the near future is now everyone has been told to avoid public transport if they can help it (because of social distancing difficulties), the primary roads are probably going to be even more rammed full for years, and am I ever going to be able to use the sleeper to nip up to the highlands for a long weekend backpacking?

I don't see why you think it has been overstated. Given the devestating impact to the economy and the government's tax revenue and budget, it is not in the interest of the government to blow it out of proportion, in fact it would be beneficial for them to play it down or use denial.

al78 wrote:.

One issue in the near future is now everyone has been told to avoid public transport if they can help it (because of social distancing difficulties), the primary roads are probably going to be even more rammed full for years, and am I ever going to be able to use the sleeper to nip up to the highlands for a long weekend backpacking?

Aye, and this is why I am more crotchety than many: I can only get to the hills by train. So, for now, they are excluded to me even if wild camping is permitted.

And if it were teemed acceptable to take an 11 hour train journey for leisure purposes (or even a 4-5 hour one if I went to Wales, N England or Dartmoor), I still wouldn't be comfortable doing so.

So those flouting the rules/guidance p*ss me off even more. But hey, some hillwalkers are nothing if not selfish

iain_atkinson_1986 wrote:

Silver Bear wrote:Get over it , hit the hills

After what I've read, seen and heard this weekend I think I've probably changed my mind on following the 5-mile rule. Might as well got some hills in before we're back to full lockdown!

OK for some I guess, but I'd need to stretch it to about 10 miles just to get to my local sub2k hill and am not planning to do so. I had planned to finish off the corbetts this year starting with a trip to Knoydart in April then Harris in May but that's all off now - to go up any of my unfinished corbetts would mean about 320 miles plus a boat trip or 440 miles in the car (both round trips).

So, I'm going nowhere for the time being, awaiting phase 3 with eager anticipation and sticking to very local walks, cycles and (very slow as I'm not much good at it) runs/jogs.

Meanwhile my better half is out on the golf course as we speak

rockhopper wrote:OK for some I guess, but I'd need to stretch it to about 10 miles just to get to my local sub2k hill and am not planning to do so. I had planned to finish off the corbetts this year starting with a trip to Knoydart in April then Harris in May but that's all off now - to go up any of my unfinished corbetts would mean about 320 miles plus a boat trip or 440 miles in the car (both round trips).

So, I'm going nowhere for the time being, awaiting phase 3 with eager anticipation and sticking to very local walks, cycles and (very slow as I'm not much good at it) runs/jogs.

Meanwhile my better half is out on the golf course as we speak

I'm of similar mind RH. Given the mayhem in the Trossachs, Glencoe etc this weekend, I'm going nowhere near the hills until Autumn. This has the added bonus of no clegs and midges also

I'll be golfing and cycling until then.