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Hillphones

5 August 06
Highland estates open lines on phones for the hills

A successful telephone service which brings hillwalkers and deer stalkers together is now operating on estates in the West Highlands (see notes for all estates). The ‘Hillphones’ scheme, which is now in its 11th year, provides telephone messages to inform hillwalkers of stag stalking activity throughout Scotland.

Hillphones was set up in 1996 by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) and now covers 16 areas around Scotland, including 92 of Scotland’s Munros and 34 Corbetts (mountains between 2500 and 3000 feet), as well as many other hills. In 2005 around 2750 calls were made to Hillphones. During the stag stalking season from 1 July to 20 October, participating estates provide regularly updated answerphone messages for walkers detailing which areas will be affected by stalking. This helps walkers to find alternative routes to minimise the risk of disturbing red deer stalking, which is an important source of income for rural areas.

Fiona Cuninghame, Hillphones coordinator for SNH said: “Hillphones is a great example of how cooperation has enabled two very different activities to be successfully carried out on Scotland’s hills. Most hillwalkers do not want to disrupt deer stalking as they appreciate it is an important part of the rural economy and hillphones provides an easy way of finding out where stalking is taking place. Hillphones has helped improve communication between the two interest groups and its success is due in no small part to the efforts of deer stalkers and their families, who provide the messages for free. We hope the service will continue to be well used this year when people use their right of responsible access to the hills.”

Dougal Roy at the Mountaineering Council of Scotland said: "The MCofS has been involved with Hillphones since its inception. It has worked well over the years, providing a service for hillwalkers, the vast majority of whom recognise the importance of the stag stalking season for estates. Many more estates would find it of benefit and I would encourage them to join Hillphones next year."

Hillphones is particularly relevant in the light of the statutory rights of responsible outdoor access which came into effect in February last year. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which provides guidance on the responsibilities of those exercising access rights and of land managers, specifically mentions Hillphones as an example of a system which helps communication between recreational users and land managers. Information on access rights, responsibilities, and how to manage access can be found on the Outdoor Access website at www.outdooraccess-scotland.com

Hillphones leaflets and posters with the relevant telephone numbers and main stalking dates are distributed to tourist information centres, outdoor shops, activity centres, hotels, B&Bs, bunkhouses and campsites, and the scheme is publicised in walking and mountaineering magazines and the mainstream press. Information is also available on the Hillphones website at www.hillphones.info

Hillphone numbers are listed below, on the Hillphones leaflets and posters, and on www.hillphones.info - it is best to phone with a map in front of you.

1.The areas covered by the service in 2006, telephone numbers and main stalking dates are:
· Paps of Jura Tel: 01496 820151 (July 1st - October 20th)
· North Arran Hills Tel: 01770 302363 (Mid August - October 20th)
· Glen Fyne/Glen Falloch Tel: 01499 600137 (mid August - October 20th)
· Balquhidder Tel Estates directly: Monachyle Mhor - 01877 384622 or 01877 330596, Inverlochlarig
  01877 384232 and Ballimore 01877 384255 (October 1st - October 20th)
· Glen Dochart / Glen Lochay Tel: 01567 820886 (August 28th - October 20th)
· Drumochter Tel: 01528 522200 (Mid September - October 20th)
· Atholl and Lude Tel: 01796 481740 (August 1st - October 20th)
· Fealar Tel: 01796 481731 (July 1st - October 20th)
· Glen Shee Tel: 01250 885288 (August 28th - October 20th)
· Callater and Clunie Tel: 013397 41997 (Mid September - October 20th)
· Invercauld Tel: 013397 41911 (Mid September - October 20th)
· Balmoral / Lochnagar/Glen Clova Tel: 013397 55532 (Mid August - October 20th)
· Grey Corries / Mamore Tel: 01397 732362 (August 1st - October 20th)
· Corrour Tel: 01397 732343 (July 1st - October 20th)
· Glen Strathfarrar Tel: 01463 761360 (July 1st - October 20th)

Calls are charged at normal call rates according to time of day.

2. The Hillphones website www.hillphones.info  provides further information about the Hillphones
    service.
3. Scottish Natural Heritage is the Government’s statutory advisor in respect to the conservation,
   enhancement, enjoyment, understanding and sustainable use of the natural heritage. Visit
   www.snh.org.uk  for more details.
4. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is the representative body for hill walkers and
   climbers, with membership available to individuals and clubs.
  Visit www.mountaineering-scotland.org.uk  or tel: 01738 638 227 for details.
5. 92 out of Scotland’s 284 Munros (mountains over 3000 feet) and 34 Corbetts (mountains between
   2500 and 3000 feet) are covered by Hillphones.