MARHOFN 58.03 - MAY 2001

Ethical Bagging

Carl Willits:

I have imposed on myself a rule to the effect that an ascent is proportionately related to the difference between 500ft and the actual vertical height covered. For a 0ft ascent I've set an (admittedly arbitrary) upper limit of 3.5 miles. So one gets this table:

The values are worked out from MWD = (1-VH/500)3.5 miles. Only a few summits, at least in the northern parts of Britain, need such an application, but it seems to me hardly a 'climb' if it involves both very little vertical height and horizontal traverse. Anyhow, I won't be stopping the car for just three minutes at Bishop Wilton Wold.

David Purchase:

I am sure that most serious Marilynists take the general stance that one should not, or should not have to, ask permission, but this is not a universal view. If there is a reasonable attitude on both sides then I prefer to go with permission. This has worked very well on a number of low Marilyns and Subs, e.g. Myarth, Alderton Hill, Ffridd Cocyn, and rather formally on Mickle Fell, but conspicuously not on Seager Hill. If there is an obvious farm on whose land the summit is, e.g. Hope Mountain or Crugiau Merched, then it is courteous to ask. But I have little sympathy for those who expect you to seek permission but make it almost impossible actually to find out whom to ask.

Some problems with the 'never ask permission' philosophy are (a) that on a few lower hills it is well-nigh impossible to pretend that you did not know there was no right of way etc, and (b) from time to time you meet a landowner or factor on the hill. What else can you do but ask 'is it all right if I walk up?'. Usually, though not invariably, you get a positive answer (if you are clearly alone and do not have a dog). My most memorable such experience was on Lamington Hill (28B). Having already climbed a padlocked gate I was rather pessimistic, but was told 'yes, that is fine... as long as you are not RSPB'.

West from Sgurr na Dubh-chreige (10D).
Photo: Richard Webb