Recommendations from the team
Here are some top tips from our team about enjoying the fells safely:
Pole position
"I used to think walking poles were a silly marketing gimmick that you didn’t really need. Then over ten years ago I started suffering from knee problems. I reluctantly borrowed a pair of poles, and immediately went out and bought my own. They take a tremendous weight off your knees, making hill walking a pain-free pleasure again. If I’d started using them earlier, I would no doubt have better knees now. They are also invaluable for river crossings." - Richard Fox, Fix the Fells project officer for the Lake District National Park Authority
Always have a plan B
"I once met a couple who were completely lost in the mist and had a map but no compass. I showed them where they were on their map and asked where they were heading. They had a fairly ambitious plan to reach several summits. As the weather wasn't likely to get much better I advised them that perhaps an alternative route may be more sensible. They wholeheartedly agreed and set off on a less ambitious route which was far easier to follow in the conditions and would soon lead them out of the clouds. They may not have reached their intended goals for the day but hopefully got back to their car safely." - John Atkinson, Fix the Fells representative for the National Trust
Whistle while you walk
"If you take nothing else on the hill, always take a whistle. A very experienced fell-running colleague once broke his leg in a remote part of Scotland. He had minimal gear and was a long way off any beaten track, but he attracted attention to himself by blowing his whistle. He was airlifted to hospital before he was even due back to the car."- Richard Fox, Fix the Fells project officer for the Lake District National Park Authority
Don't be a litter lout
"When out walking it's best to adopt a "Leave no Trace" policy, We get a lot of complaints about litter and its such an easy problem to solve if everyone helps.
Remove all litter (even other people's!) Think ahead and only carry in what you are prepared to carry out.
Do not bury or hide litter under stones as it can harm wildlife and offends those who visit after you.
Food scraps (even when buried) attract scavenging birds and animals. Carry all scraps of food out with you.
Consider not only your own impact, but repeated impact by others
By following these guidelines, we can save the areas we enjoy from being spoiled." - John Atkinson, Fix the Fells representative for the National Trust
