Hillwalking

FS120454

(Published March 2016, last reviewed 2021 with no updates)

What is Hillwalking?

Hillwalking is the movement on foot over hills and mountains. It takes place on a variety of terrain types and in a variety of environments.

What is a Hillwalking Permit?

The adventurous activity permit scheme is designed to ensure that only people with the relevant skills and experience lead adventurous activities for the young people. Therefore all activities classed as adventurous can only be led by someone holding the appropriate permit. Young people (under 18) can take part in adventurous activities for themselves with personal activity permits or by holding the appropriate permit to lead others.

A Hillwalking permit is required for all hillwalking activities that take place in Terrain one or Terrain two. Definitions of these terrains can be found in POR. Hillwalking activities in Terrain zero do not require a hillwalking permit.

Levels of Permit

There are four levels of permit available for Hillwalking. These are:

• Terrain 1 Summer conditions
• Terrain 1 Winter conditions
• Terrain 2 Summer conditions
• Terrain 2 Winter conditions

Definitions of summer and winter conditions can be found below.

Additionally, each of these permits can be further restricted to end up with an individual permit to the level of the competence and requirements of the individual.

Types of Permit

There are three types of permit available for Hillwalking. These are:

Personal – Allows a young person (under 18) to take part in Hillwalking with others with a personal Hillwalking permit

Leadership – Allows the permit holder to lead Hillwalking for a single group

Supervisory –  Allows the permit holder to remotely supervise more than one Hillwalking group.

Designations

When remotely supervising groups the holder of a hillwalking supervisor permit needs to designate a leader for each group. This designation lasts only for the current activity while the permit holder is supervising.

People designated as group leaders should hold the skills and be responsible enough to lead a group safely in the terrain in which they are. There is no problem with making young people group leaders if they have the correct skills, as this can be a useful development tool.

Supervision

The total number of people being supervised should always be kept to a manageable level and supervision should be provided in the immediate vicinity of the group. This distance may be increased if travelling between checkpoints by vehicle, however, the risk associated with check-pointing should be a consideration when travelling between checkpoints. You should also ensure that adequate systems have been set up to monitor and communicate with the group. The difficulties of remote supervision should not be underestimated especially under winter conditions with the additional potential hazards associated with reduced visibility and snow covered terrain.

Further guidance can be found in the publication Remote Supervision Guidance Notes 2016, covering the supervision of groups operating independently. Download guidance from Mountain Training.

Further Definitions

Winter refers to when winter conditions, including snow and ice, prevail or are forecast. This cannot be defined by a portion of the year. Snow/ice cover is not the only defining feature. Severe cold, high winds and shortened daylight hours should also be considered.

Summer means any condition not covered under winter.

Scrambling is defined as those routes or areas where the average person would need to use their hands at least for balance if not for actual progress. This does not stop people from using their hands as an aid to confidence.

Travelling Time means the time it would take a person to walk by the quickest safe route; and for this purpose a person shall be deemed to walk at 5 kilometers per hour and to take, in addition, one minute for every 10 meters of increase in the height above sea level of any uphill section of that route.

Valid First Aid Qualifications as required for hillwalking can be found under First Aid and First Response (POR 9.7.1.9).