Hillwalking Safety in the UK: Kit, Navigation and Calling Mountain Rescue

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A hill day can go wrong over something small: a wrong turn, a flat phone, a sudden drop in the weather. This guide covers the kit worth carrying, how to navigate when the cloud comes down, and exactly what to do and say if you need to call for help.

Navigation: map, compass and phone

Carry a paper map and a compass, and know how to use them. They need no battery and no signal, and Mountain Rescue advice says a paper map is the reliable option. Your phone is a good backup, not your only plan.

• Paper map and compass first. An OS Explorer 1:25,000 map covers most UK walking areas. Learn to take a bearing before you need one, ideally on a clear day.
• A navigation app on your phone as a backup. Apps such as OS Maps let you see your position on a map, and you can download the map for offline use before you leave, so it still works without signal.
• Know your grid reference. If you ever call for help, a grid reference is the location rescuers prefer. An app such as OS Locate can give you a six-figure grid reference.

Our two compass picks are on the gear page: the simple Silva Classic for learning and as a backup, and the Silva Expedition 4 if you want a more capable compass for serious navigation.

The kit to carry

A good rule is to pack for the day going wrong, not for the day going to plan. For most UK hill days that means:

• Waterproof jacket and trousers, plus a warm layer, hat and gloves, even in summer
• Food and water, with extra food in case you are out longer than planned
• Map, compass and a charged phone, plus a power bank and cable
• Head torch, with spare batteries or a charged spare
• First aid kit and a whistle
• Storm shelter (bothy bag)
• Sturdy boots, and trekking poles if they help you on descents

Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back, and tell them again when you are down.

A head torch you can rely on

Days get shorter fast in autumn and winter, and a delay on the hill can turn into a walk out in the dark. A head torch leaves both hands free for poles, map and compass.

The Petzl Actik Core is a compact, rechargeable option that can also run on AAA batteries as a backup. The Petzl Tikka is the simpler, lower-output choice, and a good spare to keep in your pack.

Storm shelter

A storm shelter, also called a bothy bag, is a lightweight waterproof bag you and your group pull over yourselves. It gets you out of the wind and rain quickly, which matters if someone is injured or you have to wait for help. They weigh around 350 g and pack small, so there is little reason not to carry one.

We cover two: the Lifesystems Survival Shelter and the cheaper Lomo Emergency Storm Shelter. Both are emergency items, not comfortable camping shelters.

First aid kit and whistle

First aid kit. Carry a small, waterproofed kit with the basics: plasters and blister plasters, a few dressings and a bandage, tape, gloves, and a foil blanket. Keep any personal medication with it. A kit is only useful if you know how to use it, so a short first aid course is worth doing.

Whistle. The recognised distress signal is six blasts in a minute, then a one-minute pause, repeated. The reply is three blasts. A whistle carries further than a shout and is easier to pick out in poor visibility. Many rucksacks have one built into the chest strap. Only use the distress signal in a real emergency.

Satellite messengers: inReach

Large parts of the UK uplands have no mobile signal. A satellite messenger lets you send an SOS, and text, from anywhere with a view of the sky. The SOS button connects to a 24/7 response centre that can coordinate with local rescue services. You need a paid subscription to message and track.

• Garmin inReach Mini 2: shows your track on a basic on-device map page and pairs with Garmin Explore. Better if you want navigation backup as well.
• Garmin inReach Messenger: cheaper, with a longer battery life, but no mapping on the device. Better if all you need is a way to call for help.

A satellite messenger does not replace map and compass skills. It is a way to ask for help when everything else has failed.

Trekking poles

Poles can help take some of the load off your knees on long descents and give extra stability on rough or slippery ground. They are most useful with a heavy pack, on steep ground and on long days when your legs are tired. Many walkers find them worth carrying for those reasons.

The Leki Makalu FX Carbon is a light folding pole that packs small. The Black Diamond Trail is a tough, mid-priced telescoping pole with FlickLock levers that work with gloves.

How to call for help

If someone is injured, lost with no way of finding the route, or in danger, call for help early rather than late.

1. Dial 999 (or 112).
2. Ask for the Police, then ask for Mountain Rescue. This is the advice from Mountain Rescue England and Wales and Scottish Mountain Rescue. In Scotland the wording adds Cave Rescue, if that applies. The police take the call, create an incident and contact the nearest mountain rescue team.
3. Give your location. Use a grid reference if you can, ideally with a description of where you are and what is nearby. Rescue teams prefer a grid reference, and some have noted that apps like what3words have occasionally given wrong locations. Use whatever you have, but try to give a grid reference too.
4. Say what has happened. How many people, who is hurt and how, what the weather is doing, and what kit and shelter you have.
5. Stay where you are unless it is dangerous to do so. Do not move until the rescue team contacts you.
6. Keep your phone on and charged. The team may call you, and may send a text with a link that helps them find your phone's location. Open it when it arrives.

Texting 999

If you cannot make a voice call, you can text 999, but you must register first with the emergencySMS service. Register before you need it: text the word "register" to 999 and follow the replies. Registration steps can change, so check the current instructions on the emergencySMS site before relying on it.

When you text, say which service you need (police, then mountain rescue), what the emergency is, and where you are.

Quick answers

What number do I call for mountain rescue in the UK?

Dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue. The service is free.

Is a phone enough for navigation?

A phone is a useful backup, but batteries run out and signal drops. Carry a paper map and compass, and download offline maps on your phone before you go.

What is the distress signal on a whistle?

Six blasts in a minute, then a one-minute pause, repeated. The reply is three blasts.

Do I need a satellite messenger?

It is not essential for popular, well-signalled routes, but it can be valuable in remote areas with no mobile signal. It needs a paid subscription for messaging and tracking.

Sources

• Scottish Mountain Rescue: how to call out mountain rescue
• Met Office: calling out Mountain Rescue
• OS: advice from Mountain Rescue
• GPS Training: how to give Mountain Rescue your exact location
• Alpine distress signal (whistle)