Hiking etiquette?

[BuilderBetty]

Took the kids hiking this weekend for the first time…challenging climb - not quite a Munro but tough enough - and was amazed at the number of people blaring music out of their speakers as they were climbing and the ever present smell of weed! Also a few groups of people chugging back beers as they were climbing. Is this a thing now or did we just get unlucky? It fair spoiled the view having competing speakers blaring at the top of the hill.

Ah maybe just unlucky!

kids are 8 and 10

hapoens on the more popular hills. But yeh grim.

Climbed many hills and not had this. Phew. Do name and shame for the rest of us please, sounds v unusual!

I do feel a bit bad naming and shaming but it was Goatfell.

Really? Goodness me. We climbed Goatfell last week and saw/heard nothing like that. I think you must have been unlucky. I was marvelling the whole way at the speeds of the Goatfell Racers a few days earlier. The winner ran to the top and back to the start in 1hr 19 minutes. I am old and not very fit and it took us all day (no running involved, lots and lots of stops). It was worth it, but never again!

1 hr 19? Oh my goodness!!! It took us about 5 hours 😂

Ok this is a relief…perhaps just caught it on a bad day….ill not let it put us off another hill climb.

I really wish I had some kind of unobtrusive electronic blocking device that would silence the the radios etc of these Ned’s who go to beautiful tranquil places and ruin it for everyone else. There's a special place I shell for them grrrrrrrr!

We hike a lot. Usually in a very popular anrea with other hikers, dog walkers.
Over the past year we’ve noticed more lads/men hanging round & the smell of weed, whereas we never have before.
I hate it. Tbh they’re intimidating and I wouldn’t like it if I wasn’t with DH. Lots of women like to walk that route alone.

It seems to be a thing on the most popular mountains . I was running with friends in the Loch Aber region this weekend. Only Ben Nevis was like this. Only saw a few people on other routes and they were your standard hikers, runners and families . No music, tinnies or weed. Get your OS maps and a good guide book and explore and you will still find lots of peace and quiet. Its great that a wider demographic of people are getting out on the hills but it basic etiquette is required by all. I think it is a post covid/ Instagram thing.

Solo hikers here in Canada have a bit of music playing so the bears can hear them coming 😁

we and the dogs wear bear bells and are told to chat or sing - not be quiet

no weed or beer as a rule though 😁

The easier the access the worst the problems. A friend is a mountain rescue volunteer and said drunk people in inappropriate clothing were an increasing concern

What a shame for you. LOVE Goatfell (and Arran). Honestly, although some of the hills can be busy eg Arrochar alps mid summer, people are generally really well behaved. Don't let it put you off.

Surprised at this on Arran. We had this up at the Munros on Loch Tay. It’s astonishing really. Although people blasting music in their gardens is equally inconsiderate. I try not to do popular hill at weekends now.

I've started to notice this on the more popular routes near the central belt, Ben A'an for instance.

I knew it would be Goatfell before you said it- it’s not new there 20y+ ago I remember turning back on the path as we were walking out if the tree line into a thunderstorm with a lot of lightning, and meeting neds in trackies, trainers and drinking tennants and Buckie wondering obliviously on up. Don’t think they got frazzled! I think any of the few hills that are easily accessible by public transport attract this on a sunny day (as does eg Loch Lomond and the Ayrshire beaches.) Never seen it in the more remote areas.