Allow traveling to go hillwalking

Whist I understand that unnecessary travel may lead to accidents on the road, I would like the ability to drive to be able to undertake the daily exercise whilst also observing social distancing. I believe that it should be possible to be allowed to be outside for longer than one hour per day, and be able to go hillwalking. Even on nice days the number of people you come across is relatively low, and social distancing would be easily achieved.

Why the contribution is important

Exercise away from the home gives the mind and body a break from the feeling of being stuck in one place. I also feel that being able to be outside of the house whilst maintaining social distancing is easily achieved out with city and town centres.

by GReid_1990 on May 08, 2020 at 11:53AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.5
Based on: 22 votes

Comments

  • Posted by GeorgeMac May 08, 2020 at 12:52

    It's ridiculous to expect mountain rescue and other services to deal with incidents involving mass transit to the remotest of locations.

  • Posted by Sulphonamide May 08, 2020 at 12:54

    In principle, yes absolutely (as one who would normally be out every weekend) but with some guidance and controls to stop a repeat of what happened the final weekend before lockdown. It is not fair to expect mountain rescue to run the risk of catching the disease when rescuing people who really ought not to have been out under any conditions, but have suddenly been loosed on the great outdoors. I think most mountaineers are susceptible to the power of shame - if asked by mtn rescue not to do anything risky then most will not....but those who are likely to get lost or expect assistance if they twist an ankle are probably not the sort to care. It will just take one frenetic weekend of idiocy and the papers will be covered in vitriol about thoughtless "mountaineers" and we'll be banned until 2021.

  • Posted by kirst10 May 08, 2020 at 13:12

    Agree. No risk of transmission while someone is in a car travelling, and then arrive at a remote location to walk apart from others.
    We have a beautiful country and we should be allowed to explore it.

  • Posted by JLMBD May 09, 2020 at 16:47

    kirst10, can you guarantee 100% that you will not have an accident, that your car will not break down, or that you will not slip, trip or break a leg? Do you not need to put fuel in your car or can you do that without touching the pump in the process? Travel of any kind increases the risk of transmission. Unless you have had a negative test and not seen anyone or touched anything outside of your house since then you can't be sure you are not carrying the virus. It might not kill you but it might kill my Mum and Dad.

  • Posted by JuliaM May 11, 2020 at 08:44

    Would love to travel to the mountains but the time is not right. We should not be travelling to other areas of the country, yet.

    I could choose a remote spot but, more likely, there is a risk that honey pots in the Cairngorms, Loch Lomond etc are inundated as those are well-known & frequented places (as Snowdon was inundated just before lockdown).

    I would like to return to local hills within a short drive.
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