Acessing the hills and mountains by car
The British Mountaineering Council recently published a plan of action for people getting back out into the hills for walking, climbing and mountaineering, which is a very sensible publication. Statistically, hillwalking and climbing combined are the most popular form of recreational exercise in the country. And in terms of risk, climbing, walking and mountaineering are the safest activities in the UK, with jogging, cycling and team sports resulting in far more injuries for participants. So given that the activity is inherently safe, then my proposal is that car or bike based access to the hills and mountains of Scotland be allowed when the time is right. Travelling by car isolates us from crowds of people on public transport, and if fuel and food etc are purchased before leaving town, there's no need to put any strain on local, rural economies. Perhaps a limit of 150 miles of travel could be applied, and obviously strict social distancing measures should be followed at all times. The beauty of the outdoors in Scotland is its vastness, so it's very unlikely that walkers and climbers are going to find themselves pushed together into crowds or bottlenecks, although parking areas in popular locations like Glencoe may need to be 'managed' to ensure people park sensibly and stay spaced out. I personally would also be happy if some kind of 'access fee' were put in place to support these local communities who are suffering from the lack of tourism etc. Say a permit, bought online, a bit like the Trossachs and Loch Lomond camping permits.
Why the contribution is important
Climbing, hillwalking and mountaineering are an integral part of so many people's lives in Scotland, benefiting both our physical and mental wellbeing. Mountain based activities are also an integral part of the national character of Scotland, with the desperate need to return these activities, which are so beneficial to local, rural economies.
by AshtonEaster on May 08, 2020 at 04:59PM
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