tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22403989.post6382500232057470932..comments2024-01-18T10:54:54.459+00:00Comments on Iain Macwhirter Now and Then: Waymarking in the Scottish hills. The time has come.iain macwhirterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486911281896217461noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22403989.post-90199115958907081292009-10-06T12:57:45.532+01:002009-10-06T12:57:45.532+01:00If you know how to use a compass and read an OS ma...If you know how to use a compass and read an OS map you dont need waymarking. If you can't use a map and compass you should avoid hills. Waymarking will bring about a false sense of security which may be fatally dashed by low cloud or carelessness.Springingtigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15187255191342296306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22403989.post-61027353824436393912009-10-05T17:30:27.232+01:002009-10-05T17:30:27.232+01:00On this issue you could not be more wrong Iain. La...On this issue you could not be more wrong Iain. Lack of waymarks and signposts is one of the main features of hillwalking in Scotland (and the rest of Britain and Ireland incidentally) that sets it apart from the tamer, more spoiled continental norm. This uniqueness should be celebrated, not eroded by misguided emulation of other traditions - and there are plenty of dedicated continental walkers who would agree. It is not lost walkers who cause erosion so much as too many walkers all following the same route; something that signposts would only exacerbate. Waymarking is not a good way to improve safety either, since poor visibility is common throughout the year (far commoner than on the Continent); fail to spot the next sign through the mist and you'd need a map and compass after all, plus the ability to use them of course. That's not elitist or nihilist (whatever do you mean by that comment anyway?); it's simply the minimum sensible level of ability required of anyone who hopes to remain safe in the hills. We lack the traditional infrastructure of manned huts common in the Alps - and without that, signposts are simply redundant at best. Marking trails would encourage more ill-prepared under-skilled people to go to places they really shouldn't; it would lead to more accidents, not fewer. Signposts would also undermine the unique selling point of the British hills, small but serious mountains in which self reliance is the key to wellbeing. People ought to be encouraged to learn the required skills, not to seek to reduce the mountains to their inadequate level of expertise. If you genuinely cannot master the key navigation skills as you claim (though they are not rocket science) then I would humbly suggest that you try harder. You dispaly both arrogance and ignorance on this topic. It is tempting to suggest that you stick to political reporting, and I mean that helpfully, not in a derogatory way.dannyboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16654884990874046121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22403989.post-87561938555494973802009-10-05T16:51:10.890+01:002009-10-05T16:51:10.890+01:00A very expertly written article - well done. Howev...A very expertly written article - well done. However I disagree with all the above as you show a complete lack of understanding of the issue. I also disagree with deleting comments that don't support your argument.Steven Delaneynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22403989.post-4346936757478273902009-09-26T10:23:00.199+01:002009-09-26T10:23:00.199+01:00i have to say i have mixed views on this.i selfish...i have to say i have mixed views on this.i selfishly perhaps enjoy the solitude that you sometimes you have in the hills.i suppose waymarking would increase the amount of people accessing the hills.what you said about landowners did get me thinking are we just following their idea of 'guarding'the hills for our own benefit.this possibly is not in the mind set of the say the germans or french. so easier access is not a bad thing.however waymarking tends to channel people onto 'routes' which the landowners may prefer.hectorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01582727949532480051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22403989.post-17536579599364159892009-09-26T02:07:59.811+01:002009-09-26T02:07:59.811+01:00Completely support you in this Iain. Although I&#...Completely support you in this Iain. Although I'm no hillwalker I live in an area of Perthshire which attracts hillwalkers from all over and, with the exception of the Cataran Trail, there are no waymarkings.<br /><br />Walkers from Europe are particularly confused when they are so used to good signage in their own countries and I think many decide not to return to visit our beautiful country.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.com