04 May ‘Munro Moonwalker’ praises fellow hikers for staying off the hills

‘Munro Moonwalker’ Alan Rowan, who has written three books on his adventures over the years hiking Scotland’s mountains during the night, has praised the hiking community for following the Scottish Government and Scottish Mountain Rescue’s calls to stay off the hills during the lockdown.

Scottish Mountain Rescue tweeted on April 17th thanking hillwalkers for 26 days without a single call out – the longest time between call outs since the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001. And although the Ochils mountain rescue team had to be deployed a few days later, for the most part teams across the country haven’t been called into action.

Speaking on the Mountains Mend Minds podcast, the author said he believes the outdoors community are responsible and have heeded the advice. He said:

“An accident on the hills will take a lot people and a lot of resources away from what’s really important at the moment. It’s great that folk are [following advice].

“I think the more that we do that, the better the chance of us getting back to it quicker.

“It’s just one of these things, it’s not ideal. But it’s good that people are playing by the rules.

“I think generally the outdoors community is pretty responsible with things like that.”

And like other avid Munro baggers, Alan, who is based in Tayside and is used to hiking at least twice a week, has had to find other ways to keep active through his daily allowance of outdoor exercise.

“I’ve got a nice wee walk here where I can get down to the beach and it’s almost like the 1970s football training where you’re going through the sand dunes!

“It’s a necessity. I find I’m out every morning for an hour, an hour and a half, and putting in 5-6 miles a day. I’ve actually lost weight since the lock down!

“The mountains will be there when it’s finished. It’s more important that we do what we have to do at the minute.

“But getting out for this walk is good for mental health I think. I know a lot of people if you sit in the house too much and let the problems get to you.

“I’ve also got the running machine in the garage – which I hate! – but I just put it on four miles an hour walking speed with the big rucksack and do that for a wee bit as well. It’s just a case of keeping going the now.”

Listen to the full interview in the Mountains Mend Minds podcast, where Alan Rowan talks about his books and his most memorable night time hikes on the hills.