Phones separate walkers and stalkers

The hunting season is about to begin

Hillwalkers in Scotland are to use an innovative telephone system to avoid deer and stag stalkers.

The Hillphones telephone message system provides information on a daily basis about the location of stalkers, enabling walkers to plan their routes around those areas.

The scheme, which runs from August until October, was set up in 1996 by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS).

Its aim was to enable stalking and hillwalking to take place on mountains at the same time.

We hope that walkers will call Hillphones in the same way as they would check the weather before they set out

Caroline Fyfe
SNH

Hillphones covers 12 areas and a quarter of Scotland's Munros, as well as many other hills under 3000 feet.

During last year's season, hillphones took an estimated 4000 calls from hillwalkers who wanted to avoid areas where stalking was taking place.

SNH spokeswoman Caroline Fyfe said: "Hillphones have helped to improve co-operation between hill users and foster a responsible attitude to land access, which will become increasingly important when new access legislation is enacted.

Answerphone message

"The system allows walkers to enjoy the freedom of the hills, in the knowledge that they are also taking steps to avoid disturbing estate management activities.

"In the long term we hope that walkers will call hillphones in the same way as they would check the weather before they set out."

During the stag stalking season, participating estates leave a daily answerphone message informing walkers about which areas will be affected by stalking to enable walkers to plan their routes accordingly.

'Well-used'

Leaflets with the relevant telephone numbers and stalking dates are distributed to tourist information centres, outdoor shops, activity centres, hotels and B&Bs.

The scheme is also publicised in mountaineering magazines and the mainstream press.

Andrew Bruce-Wootton, factor of Atholl Estate and part of the hillphones network, said the scheme was "well-used" by the public.

Mike Dales, from the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, said the recorded message had proved very popular.