|
|
Fitness & terrain |
What to bring - suggestions |
|
Easy |
The EASY walks are typically 2 to 3 hours in duration, generally on good paths with only short and modest uphill and downhill sections. Some of the EASY walks can have a very short but stiff climb and may have some rough ground to cross (e.g. Dundurn Hill fort) so check the descriptions carefully if you're planning to bring baby and the buggy.
Although the terrain on the EASY walks is generally suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities, you'll still get wet if it rains and you're not prepared. Check the weather forecast before you set out so you're not fooled by our increasingly wonderful Scottish morning sunshine into turning up in flip-flops and beach shorts |
Food and drink. If you bring children, remember to bring stuff for them too (as if you'd forget!). Bring around a litre of (non-alcoholic) fluid per adult for every 3 hours of walking with corresponding amounts for children depending on their age and body size.
Waterproof jacket
Easily dried warm trousers - preferably not jeans as on a walk they tend not to give in the right places and they can rub in all the wrong ones; and then it rains.
Warm hat and gloves or mitts. 'Country' footwear
Skin protection (just in case!)
A suitable bag to carry stuff
Your medication (or your kids') if you have any you'd need to take during a walk.
|
|
Medium |
The MEDIUM walks are longer, mostly 3 to 5 hours, and involve longer or steeper ascents with the occasional bit of rough ground thrown in. If you've NEVER walked for this long before, we'd recommend you stick to the EASY walks, or make sure you do some practice before you arrive.
Please check our suggestions of what to bring with you to help make your walk a really beautiful experience. |
Everything listed for EASY walks PLUS
Definitely a back-pack to carry stuff.
Waterproof trousers Good, ankle-supporting boots with suitable socks.
An extra fleece (not too thick) for under your jacket.
A map and compass if you want to practice your map-reading( Ordnance Survey 1:25000 or 1:50000 series maps are good).
A walker's satellite navigation (GPS) system if you have one and want to practice.
Mobile phone - so you can find out that there really are places in the UK where they still don't work.
|
|
Hard |
The HARD walks are either long-distance or involve steep ascents of local mountains with some rough terrain and are only suitable for fit and well-equipped walkers. Don't over-estimate your ability to complete a HARD walk without slowing the rest of the group down.
Ask yourself:
Have I recent experience of walking for 6-8 hours in the Great Outdoors? Have I recently walked up (and down) a mountain of over 3000ft in height without physical distress? Do I play an aerobic sport (e.g. football, squash, swimming, running) pretty much every week? Do I have other evidence that I am noticeably fitter than my peers? Am I free of medication for conditions that really shouldn't be taken up a remote mountain where only helicopters could rescue me? If your answer to all these questions is "No", we'd guess you'd be happier doing the MEDIUM walks. Where's the fun in lagging behind with sore feet and muscles and feeling bad both physically and psychologically? We're into FUN so we don't want you to miss out by overdoing it. |
Everything for MEDIUM walks PLUS
A serious day rucksack that you can carry comfortably all day. A rucksack of around 25-30 litres capacity is ideal; smaller may not allow you to carry the fluids and spare clothing you'll need and larger will probably encourage carrying too much.
The best walking trousers you can afford, the kind with more pockets than a herd of kangaroos and made of stuff that dries very quickly. The best walking jacket you can afford, preferably breathable.
Small personal first aid kit, the kind with plasters for blisters and small abrasions.
Bivouac safety bag if you have one. Don't buy one specially as the Walk Leader will also have one.
Rucksack liner. This will keep all the stuff in your pack dry and safe; most rucksacks will eventually succumb to persistent Scottish rain.
Whistle. Six beeps at one minute intervals is the emergency signal. Wolves are no longer wild in Scotland so wolf whistles are not required.
Torch. Please test it before you leave and bring spare batteries. A small high-powered torch is better than a heavy-duty unit; don't forget you have to carry it.
A small waterproof mat to sit on when you stop for food and drink.
At least 0.5L (1 pint) of hot drink irrespective of the temperature in Crieff. Temperatures at 3000ft and above can be 10C lower than street level. Don't blame us though if the summits turn out to be warm enough to sunbathe (really happened on Carn Mairg on 7 October 2007 - honest).
Extra food in relation to the effort you'll be expending. Nuts and raisins are excellent to munch as you go.
Spare batteries for your GPS.
Any supplies you consider appropriate to 'wild toileting'.
Weigh your back-pack before you leave (if you're not coming from your own home with your own scales, we're sure your local friendly host will help). Unless you're SAS-trained, you don't want to carry more than about 10%-15% of your body-weight. Women, in the main, should aim for no more than about 10%, men up to 15%.
|
|
Xtra-hard |
The EXTRA HARD walks require a HIGH LEVEL of FITNESS as these walks are organised for EXPERIENCED WALKERS capable of walking routes of 20kms and upwards - with steep ascents and descents - in less than 8 hours.
You don't need to be ex-SAS or under 35; we have regular EXTRA HARD walkers in their 60s. BUT we have learned we should not underestimate the challenge that our EXTRA HARD walks present to those not quite ready for them. Ask yourself:
Have I recently walked up (and down) a mountain of over 3000ft in height within 8 hours without physical (or mental) distress?
Am I an at-least-occasional 10k or half marathon runner?
Do I play an aerobic sport (e.g. football, squash, swimming) to a high level regularly?
Do I have other, real evidence that I am far fitter than the majority of my peers?
Am I free of medication for conditions that really shouldn't be taken up a remote mountain where only helicopters could rescue me?
If your answer to all these questions is "No", we'd guess you'd be happier doing the HARD (or maybe even the MEDIUM) walks. As noted previously, we're into FUN so we don't want you to miss out by overdoing it. |
Everything for HARD walks PLUS
Bivouac shelter if you have one.
Extra pair of thin inner socks if wet feet bother you. In some places, the walking is through streams and very boggy ground and keeping your feet dry - even with the very best of footwear - is not easy. Being able to change into dry socks can be a significant psychological lift.
Extra pair of thick outer socks. Ditto.
Waterproof cover for the back-pack.
Extra calories - more nuts and raisins maybe?
Extra fluids, especially if the weather is warm and dry. In Scotland, mountain water is generally safe to drink, so you may also be able to refill en route.
|