Open the hills

There's been a lot of suggestions to open golf clubs, I would like to suggest opening the hills again. Allowing people to go and enjoy the great outdoors. This we know is proven to improve your mental health. Hillwalking is usually a social distancing activity. We're you are out for 5 to 12 hrs. I'm not suggesting that everyone runs to the hills, but rather those that have previous navigation and skills do. A consern was over mountain rescue being called. I'd be interested in the stats of how many rescue annually are of 'locals'

Why the contribution is important

This we know is proven to improve your mental health. Hillwalking is usually a social distancing activity.
There needs to be hope and being stuck in this rut of fear is not beneficial for anyone's overall health and has already crippled the economy. The cost of hillwalking is minimal, cost of petrol really (a 2.5 hr drive for 7 hrs on the hills, great return) . As suggesting for those with previous experience, so kits would be already covered

by June2005 on May 08, 2020 at 07:35AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.5
Based on: 14 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Dave_H May 08, 2020 at 10:42

    Hillwalking is usually undertaken in small groups or solo, is outdoors and does not pose a risk of spreading this disease.

    This and other outdoor sports like golf and sailing should be allowed, as should a reasonable journey in your car to get to your chosen sport.

  • Posted by matheson May 08, 2020 at 11:15

    Would support if restricted to hills within 2 hrs of first-home.

  • Posted by Barbara1407 May 08, 2020 at 11:24

    I’m supporting this idea. It’s important to be able to spend more time outdoors especially being surrounded by beautiful nature

  • Posted by ap26 May 08, 2020 at 11:24

    As long as extra care is observed, outdoor recreational activities should be allowed as social distancing can be maintained.

    Sure, extra care when outdoor will be required to ensure unnecessary pressure is not placed on the emergency services...

  • Posted by BarryM May 08, 2020 at 11:26

    Hillwalking should not be allowed. The reason being that should be get into difficulty, which they will, would put strain on Mountain Rescue Teams, Police and NHS. All the emergency services would need to then be in physical contact with people who may or may not have Covid 19. Until a vaccine for emergency workers is available then walking should only be allowed in area that are easily accessible.

  • Posted by MitherTap May 09, 2020 at 12:30

    There are often golf courses far closer to peoples homes than the hills that many people would wish to travel to.
    In any conversation regarding the increase of access back to our hills, rivers, crags and the more remote parts of the country, best practise must be established. To reduce the risk of the virus being spread to different parts of the country and communities that have perhaps avoided the worst of it so far.

  • Posted by JuliaM May 11, 2020 at 08:48

    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.

    The hills must be open to all when the time is right, not now. It is impossible to control the restriction to the hills to those who know how to navigate. And we all get it wrong sometimes.

    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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