Birdwatching in Scotland: Mountains, Safety Note
The mountains of Scotland are small in world terms, yet claim the lives of many visitors each year. Why? It all boils down to one thing really- the weather. Each year the Cairngorms in particular see visits from very experienced rock-climbers, hillwalkers and others from the much higher and more rugged mountains
around the world, who expect the Scottish mountains to follow the same basic
rules of nature. This can be a fatal mistake. The weather in the mountains here
can be sunny, calm and warm at 8a.m., blowing a gale and raining at 9a.m., foggy, still and freezing at 10a.m. and then back to sunny and warm at 11a.m. I am not exaggerating! What this means in effect is that walkers and climbers must set out equipped for all conditions. Even at the height of summer walkers may be faced with a sudden snow fall on the highest tops, or a blinding torrent of horizontal hail, or fog so thick that you can't see your feet, when ten minutes ago it was a beautiful day. When
you know there are cliffs nearby, this is frightening. Believe me, people die of hypothermia up there at the same time as others are baking in the sun down on the beach.
We have excellent mountain rescue teams in Scotland, but don't waste their time by being stupid and not taking the right equipment. Calling out these services unnecessarily could put someone else's life at risk.
Back to Deeside and the Cairngorms
Personal help to find the more difficult birds