Hi all,

I'm walking the 'Highland High Way' in the first two weeks of August. It's an unofficial 'route' following the West Highland Way but talking in lots of mountains along the way.  I've been trying to work out whether we're going to have any problems with deer stalking.

So far it looks as if the following areas have no deer stalking (please correct me if I'm wrong!):

- Anywhere south of and around Drymen, including Conic Hill.

- Ben Lomond and surrounds

- Ben Vorlich and surrounds

- Glen Nevis/Ben Nevis and the Western Mamores

- Buachaille Etive Mor

The areas of concern are the following:

- The area east of Inverarnan, including  An Caisteal and the Ben Glas Burn.

- Ben Lui/Ben Oss and surrouning area

- Ben Dorain near the Bridge of Orchy 

-The Black Mount

- The area around the Devil's Staircase (on the WHW) and west of here (i.e. the infamous Aonach Eagach surounds). 

Can anyone confirm that the 'safe' areas do indeed have no stalking? Also, does anyone know the names of the estates I should contact about the areas of concern, or have any info about them? I am hoping that stalking might not have got going yet in the first two weeks of August.

Thanks!

Tom

Thanks for that link. 

For some reason it only covers certain areas, and many of the above are missing...

I found a few problems with Hillphones. I have a booklet "Heading for the Scottish Hills" compiled by the MCofS and the Scottish Landowners Federation. However as far as I am aware it is now out of print although there was talk of issuing a new booklet but I don't know the current situation. Some local reference libraries have a copy, well I know Inverness has one as I updated my book from their copy.

This web site might also be useful to ascertain which Estate to contact and they also have some useful phone numbers.

I don't think there is a problem of being shot, the main thing is that you must be "reasonable" (in terms of the Land Reform Scotland Act 2003) as must the estate staff and that means as you indicated above that you wish to ensure stalking is not taking place in the areas you are walking.

If we don't act reasonably we could loose out in any review as estates like Lister's don't want to see walkers.

Over the last few years I have noticed that keepers are a lot more friendly, well maybe not the old hands, and welcome a call and are appreciative of walkers going out of their way to contact them.

 I was recently up in the Far North-West and came across a keeper and his paying client. We got on well and in the end I got to walk the route planned. At the end of the day I even got a photo of the shot stag on the pony as it came off the hill.