A rather pointed incident report by Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue today highlights the importance of not just relying on walk instructions when walking on the fells but to ensure you can also navigate.
The man they rescued had slipped on wet ground and sustained a lower leg injury. It wasn't easy to locate him, since he had no map or other means of determining his position. He did have a pamphlet describing his walk, and luckily the weather was clear, so they could spot him once they were in the area but he wasn't anywhere close to a path when he was located.
At the bottom their report included this safety tip:
Make sure you can navigateIt is essential that you can navigate. Relying solely on a GPS, either free standing, or software on a smart phone, is a hazardous strategy, and can land you in trouble. Being able to orientate a map to the ground you're are on, recognise features on the ground as they appear on a map and being able to tell you direction of travel and distance travelled are skills that not only make remote area travel safer, but it is also VERY satisfying. If your party gets lost, you cannot blame someone else for navigation errors. It's EVERYONE'S responsibility! Courses are available and they are often taught on a day out, so you don't waste time sat in a classroom. The ability to navigate and keep moving in poor visibility, extreme weather, darkness and in unfamiliar terrain is a vital skill.
Not taking a map and compass in the first instance is unforgiveable!!
We can only agree and, as you can see, at the top of this and every page on our site we have a tab devoted solely to safety issues. Included in there is a link to the excellent How to Stay Safe and Enjoy the Fells (Adobe/PDF, 1.2MB), a leaflet by the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association in conjunction with Cicerone Press which we recommend for new fell walkers.
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