'Hillphones'

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Walkers venturing out into the hills can use the 'Hillphones' service to plan their walks to avoid disturbing deer stalking.  There are a number of areas covering many Munros and several other popular summits.  The Hillphones service provides daily answermachine messages for hillwalkers about stalking activities.  The service aims to improve communications between deer stalking and hillwalking, and is organised by SNH, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and the participating estates.

The service usually operates for a three month period from August 1st to October 31st, and calls are charged at normal rates.  Messages are available from around 8 am each day and will indicate where stalking is taking place.  Wherever possible they will also indicate walking routes which will be unlikely to affect stalking and give a forecast of stalking activities over the next few days.  It helps to have a map beside you when you call the Hillphone.  There is no stalking in any of these areas on Sundays.

There is also a Hillphones web site!

Posters and leaflets with maps showing the boundaries of the Hillphones areas will be available from shops, campsites, hostels, pubs and B&Bs close to the areas, and from most Outdoor Shops in Scotland, from the SNH or from the MCofS.

Hillwalkers planning to walk elsewhere in the Scottish hills during the stalking season can use the book Heading for the Scottish Hills, published jointly by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) and the Scottish Landowners Federation (SLF), to find contact numbers for estates in all the main walking areas.  This book is available from most outdoor shops and many book shops in Scotland, and can also be purchased at a reduced price from the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (01738 638227).

Hillwalkers can also help to minimise disturbance during the stalking season by following the main established hill paths, and by keeping to prominent ridges and spurs on the hills.  The main places to avoid are corries, and cutting across open hillsides.  If there are no paths or ridges and you do need to cross an open hillside, it usually helps to follow rivers and burns.  When walking through the glens, walkers can minimise disturbance by following the main established routes or following rivers.  If you do meet a stalking party it is worth discussing your plans; the stalkers may be able to suggest a change to your walking route which can enable you both to enjoy your day out without disturbing each other.

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