Scotland May Get Free Mountain Weather Forecasts

Walkers and climbers in Scotland may get access to free, detailed mountain weather forecasts along the lines of a six-month Welsh trial that has just come to an end.

The Scottish National Executive has reportedly asked the Mountaineering Council of Scotland to monitor the results of the Welsh trial with a view to introducing a similar programme in Scotland.

Some 80,000 people climbers and walkers are estimated to have used the excellent Welsh service which covered the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia National Parks. The detailed mountain forecast was produced daily by the Met Office and posted both on their web site, that of the Welsh Tourist Board and on strategic display boards.

The pilot programme was funded by the Welsh National Assembly on safety grounds and Plas y Brenin director Iain Peter believes: '"It's something that should be provided free through the Met Office services across the country. It could save public money in the long term, as it is a fraction of the cost of mountain rescue."

As yet there's no funding available for such a service in Scotland, but Mountaineering Council of Scotland safety adviser Roger Wild is quoted sa saying: "It's a very exciting project and it will be something well worth pursuing, if we can nail it down and if the cost is right."

For full, exhaustive detail on the story, see this article in the Scotsman.