So you want to walk up a mountain

Every year in all seasons visitors to mountain areas of Britain find themselves in difficulties. A phrase I heard frequently when I lived in Snowdonia was ‘Oh well it is only Snowdon’. With an average of 8 deaths a year and 180 -210 rescue calls, from the mountain, few visitors realise how serious the challenge of reaching the summit is.

Over the last two years record numbers have made their way up the tourist route to the top and the number needing assistance has rocketed due to those heading out for a walk not being fit enough and or not properly equipped. With the cafe closed and no dates for when it will open this adds even more problems not to mention litter and lack of toilet facilities.

Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain at 4413 feet, is at any time of year a very serious undertaking and should never be attempted unless you are fit and well equipped and experienced. With an average of 8 deaths a year with well over 100 rescues, some involving rescue helicopters. The Ben, as it is known, creates its own weather, often very severe.

The English Lake District with over 15 million visitors a year has the highest call out in the UK with over 300 in 2022 and 26 deaths in the same period. Tourists have little conception of the difficulties awaiting them on the fells so it takes the mountain rescue teams to save them.

If you are thinking of walking off that Christmas dinner look to locations such as the delightful Malvern Hills, the National Parks (links to all of which can be found on this web site) which cover vast and equally stunning scenery and safe walking across so much of the country, and don’t forget to check the weather, have appropriate clothing, your mobile phone and for upland areas Ordnance Survey map and Silva compass and know how to use them.