Of course, it isn't always necessary to go out
walking with a John Dye Expedition - this is a
wonderful area for anyone at all to walk, with
mountains and secret glens, hill tracks and beaches.
We have deserted villages, archaeological remains,
abundant and often rare wildlife, geological wonders
and above all beautiful, empty landscapes.
This section has a selection of seasonally-chosen
walks based on John Dye Expeditions, information
on conditions you may meet, equipment you should
take, some things you must beware of, and notes
on the Right to Roam legislation.
Read this section - it may make all the difference
to your day out.
Click here to see a seasonal selection of local
walks.
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Get ready to walk
Conditions for walking here in Moidart and Ardnamurchan
vary from the sublimely easy to the extremely
hard - and the weather is equally variable. Conditions
can change very rapidly and without warning, especially
in the mountains, and you must be prepared for
this.
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Go properly equipped with good
footwear (boots or walking shoes - going
on the hills in trainers is asking for
a broken ankle).
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Air temperature drops by one
degree Celsius for every five hundred
feet of altitude - that's a six degree
difference at the top of some of our
local hills, so carry warm clothing
- multiple layers are better than one
heavy item. Take waterproof jackets
and trousers - even on a dry day they
can provide much-needed wind protection.
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Pack food and drink - water
is best, since tea and coffee have a
dehydrating effect.
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Midges can be an occasional
nuisance on still, humid days, so don't
forget the "midge stuff" (and
note that Smidge, available locally,
is an excellent alternative to those
preparations that melt your eyeballs).
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Take a map, and if you're going
into wild country (that's nearly everywhere
around here), a compass - and know how
to use both. GPS is useful to pinpoint
your position, but only if you can read
a map as well - and only if the batteries
work.
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Tell someone where you are going and
when you expect to be back. Don't put your
trust in mobile phones to get you out of any
trouble - they often don't work in the hills.
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Deer stalking, using high-powered
rifles, brings substantial benefits
to the economy. The stalking season
is from 1 July to 15 February. September
and October are the busiest months.
Deer stalking should not take place
on Sundays. Check locally before you
walk - estate staff are always willing
to advise on safe walking areas on particular
days.
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A Right to Roam - the Scottish Outdoor Access
Code
Scotland has long had a tradition of open walking
and this has now been formalised in the Land Reform
(Scotland) Act 2003. This established the Scottish
Outdoor Access Code, commonly known as the Right
to Roam and which came into force in February
2005. Unlike England and Wales, the Scottish system
does not have defined areas where you can roam
at will - in Scotland you can walk anywhere, but
you must do so intelligently and with consideration.
For really detailed information you can go to
the Scottish
Outdoor Access Code website, or you can
follow the links below.
A leaflet on the Scottish Open Access
Code is available
for download here.
The full code is
available here.
In a nutshell, the code is based on three common-sense
principles:
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1. Respect the interests of other
people.
Acting with courtesy, consideration and
awareness is all-important. If you are exercising
access rights, make sure that you respect
the privacy, safety and livelihoods of those
living or working in the outdoors, and the
needs of other people enjoying the outdoors.
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2. Care for the environment.
If you are exercising access rights, look
after the places you visit and enjoy, and
leave the land as you find it.
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3. Take
responsibility for your own actions.
If you are exercising access rights, remember
that the outdoors cannot (and should not)
be made risk-free and act with care at all
times for your own safety and that of others.
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