FELL
WALKS on CD-ROM
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FELL
WALKS on CD-ROM
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| Safety on the Fells |
The Coniston Fells in Winter |
In
clear, warm and dry weather the Lakeland Fells look rather friendly, although
you can still fall over crags, break your legs on rough ground, slip, trip,
get lost etc., etc.. In mist, rain, sleet, snow, ice, strong wind, etc.
they are even more dangerous.
By world standards the Lakeland Fells are pimples. But no-one lives very high up on them. It's simply too exposed and cold up there, because Lakeland is so far north. Mexico City is more than twice as high as Scafell Pike, but you won't find any Mexicans living on our fell tops! DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE FELLS - THEY ARE DEADLY DANGEROUS! We give below some basic advice for safety on the fells. If you follow it you should have no more problems than the thousands of walkers who tramp around Lakeland daily without incident. |
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TAKE IT SERIOUSLY! |
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| CLOTHING:
DON'T wear flat soled shoes, or shoes without ankle support. Even where paths are made to a high standard there are plenty of opportunities for slipping, falling, twisting your ankle, or worse. Sticks of one form or another, while very popular, can be a mixed blessing, as they can make scrambling ascents and descents much more difficult should you need both hands. But they can make normal walking easier and more secure. |
Waterproofs and Boots - Soggy Crisps and Silly Hat are less important |
Do take a good map - you may even need it to get out of the car park!
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MAPS
AND COMPASS:
DO take a 1:25 000 map with you, such as Ordnance Survey Outdoor Leisure Maps No. 6 "The English Lakes - South Western area", and No. 7 "The English Lakes - South Eastern area" which cover the area. These are available locally from Tourist Information Centres, Outdoor Shops, Newsagents, Petrol Stations, etc.. DO take a compass - it's easy to lose your direction in poor visibility, and paths are not always easy to see. |
| EMERGENCY
GEAR & PRECAUTIONS: Particularly if you are going alone tell someone
where you are going, just in case you don't come back!
DON'T go in bad weather unless you are an experienced walker and well equipped. DO stay on the paths (when they exist). |
Rescue helicopter - make sure it's not for you! |
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MINES
AND QUARRIES
The Coniston Fells bring you the special dangers of old mine shafts (up to 1000 ft in depth), old quarries, crumbling industrial archaeology, and deep water in old workings. NEVER enter these unless you are sure that you know what you are doing, and have the correct equipment. For example many mine supports were made out of wood - jolly good in the 1930s but a bit frail in year 2000!
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We show opposite a picture of a water-filled shaft. While the composition is light hearted the message is deadly serious. There have, for example, been serious accidents where people have fallen down shafts covered over by snow. |
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TAKE A GOOD MAP AND COMPASS TAKE A WHISTLE AND A FIRST AID KIT TELL SOMEONE WHERE YOU ARE GOING DON'T GO IN BAD WEATHER STAY ON THE PATH BEWARE OF MINES AND QUARRIES But please don't be put off. For careful and well prepared walkers the Lake District can be as safe crossing the road! DISCLAIMER: NVM DIGITAL cannot accept any responsibility for loss or injury sustained during fell walking. The advice given above is based on our own best practice learned through many years of fell walking, and is offered without guarantee. We believe in the principle that individual adult walkers are responsible for their own safety. |
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NVM Digital Home Page Delivery, payment & refund policy Site Map NVM Digital, PO Box 1, Bentham Lancaster, LA2 7GA, England Phone/Fax +44 (0)15242 62445 E-mail info@nvmdigital.com |
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