Thankfully accidents in the countryside are rare, and the majority are relatively minor. Blisters, probably the most common affliction among hillwalkers, should be dressed to avoid further rubbing. Relieve sprains and twists by binding tightly with a crêpe bandage to enable the casualty to return, albeit slowly, to civilisation where the injury can be properly treated.
More testing (and thankfully infrequent) conditions such as hypothermia and heat exhaustion are best combatted through good preparation and early recognition. Wearing adequate warm clothing and avoiding long stops in cold weather will prevent hypothermia. Early signs include tiredness, listlessness and irritability. Heat exhaustion can be avoided by regularly taking on fluids. Early symptoms include tiredness, light-headedness and muscle cramps. Rest up in a shady place, drink plenty and, if possible, eat sweet and salty foods.
In the event of serious injury or illness the rescue services may need to be contacted, although making such a call is not a matter to be treated lightly.
The casualty must be made as comfortable as possible, and the injuries assessed. If he cannot be moved, expert help will have to be called. The rescue services will need as much information as possible so make a written note of the casualty’s name, age and the type of injuries; details on the cause of the accident and the time it occurred; the terrain and any potential hazards (prevailing weather conditions, avalanche, rock fall and so on). Record the grid reference and details of the availability of torches, mobile phones, group shelters and medical personnel at the scene.
If there is a mobile phone signal dial 999, ask for police, and explain the situation clearly and concisely. If there is no signal, try climbing to a higher point where one may be found. If this fails, send the most able person in the group for help. If this is not possible – or if you are the casualty and alone – signal for help with a whistle and/or torch.
The International Distress Signal consists of six blasts of the whistle (or flashes of the torch), followed by a minute’s silence, then another six blasts. This drill is repeated every minute. The response is three whistle blasts, followed by a minute’s silence, then another three blasts. Continue giving the signal at regular intervals until help arrives. Make the location of the casualty site as prominent as possible: use brightly coloured clothes and kit, light a fire and make as much noise as possible.
Await rescue and never give up hope. One of the most vital aspects of first aid in such a situation is to maintain individual and/or group morale.
Getting there and where to stay
A wealth of landscape and wildlife information can be found at Glen Doll Ranger Base (Walks 12–16, 27 and 28)
The Angus glens are all accessed by road from the south. For Isla, Prosen and Clova, Kirriemuir, six miles west of the county town of Forfar, is the main gateway. Leave the A90 at Kirriemuir Junction, just north of Forfar. Isla can also be approached from Alyth in Perthshire, to the south, or from Glen Shee, to the west. Lethnot and Esk are accessed from Brechin, also on the A90, via Edzell. The glens are all well signed from the A90.
While accommodation and other services are limited in the glens themselves, a good selection of places to stay and eat and a full range of services can be found in Forfar, Kirriemuir and Brechin. There are campsites in Forfar and Brechin and near Kirriemuir. The nearest city is Dundee, to the south.
Isla has one hotel, at Kirkton of Glenisla (www.glenisla-hotel.com). Accommodation can also be found to the north, outwith the glen, at Spittal of Glenshee where there are two hotels (www.spittalofglenshee.co.uk and www.dalmunzie.com) and a bunkhouse (www.gulabinoutdoors.co.uk). There is a guesthouse at Glenmarkie (www.glenmarkie.co.uk) and various self-catering lets in the glen. There are no shops or campsites in Isla. Public toilets are located at the Backwater Dam.
Prosen has a bunkhouse (www.prosenhostel.co.uk) in Glenprosen Village and there are various self-catering lets in the glen. There are no shops, campsites or public toilets in Prosen.
Glen Clova has a hotel and bunkhouse (www.clovahotel.com) in the hamlet of Clova. While older maps show a youth hostel and campsite near Acharn in Glen Doll, both have been closed for a number of years. There are three designated short-stay wild camping sites in Glen Doll – one on Jock’s Road (NO 252 766), one in a former quarry above Acharn (NO 280 764) and one by the River South Esk to the south of Moulzie (NO 285 768). Elsewhere in the glen, there is a scattering of self-catering cottages. There are no shops or formal campsites in Clova. Public toilets can be found in the car park at Milton of Clova and at Glen Doll Ranger Base.
Lethnot has no accommodation or services.
Esk has a formal campsite (www.gleneskcaravanpark.co.uk) at the southern end of the glen and an informal camping field at Tarfside with public toilets in the adjacent car park. There are a number of self-catering holiday cottages in the glen and refreshments can be found during the summer season at The Retreat, near Tarfside (www.glenesk.dreamhosters.com).
As there are no fuel stations in the glens, motorists should ensure tanks are filled in one of the main towns before setting off.
See Appendix B for more information to help you plan your trip.
Public transport
The Goal from Craigs of Lethnot on the elevated Airlie Ridge (Walk 8)
The main gateways to the glens – Forfar, Kirriemuir and Brechin – are well served by buses. Stagecoach Strathtay (www.stagecoachbus.com) operates local services and there are regular links to Dundee, while Scottish Citylink’s Dundee to Aberdeen coach service (www.citylink.co.uk) stops in Forfar.
By contrast, the glens themselves are not easily accessed by public transport (www.angus.gov.uk/transport). Careful planning is required along with an acceptance that a good number of the routes in this guidebook are currently outwith the scope of the bus network. What services there are tend to revolve around school runs – term-time only – and Demand Responsive Services where travellers request a timetabled journey in advance otherwise it will not operate.
With this in mind, it is possible to travel from Kirriemuir to Clova and Braedowie, in Glen Doll; from Kirriemuir to Dykehead, at the junction of Clova and Prosen; from Brechin to Invermark in Glen Esk; from Brechin to Tillybardine, in Glen Lethnot; and from Kirriemuir or Blairgowrie to Kirkton of Glenisla and on to Auchavan in Glen Isla.
Rail services (www.scotrail.co.uk) in Angus are confined to the coast and walkers arriving in the county by train are advised to alight in Dundee for the best selection of onward bus services or car rental opportunities. Dundee also has an airport (www.hial.co.uk/dundee-airport) with flights to and from London City.
See Appendix B for further information.
Access: Rights and responsibilities
A perfect pitch – wild camping by the Firmounth above Glen Esk (Walk 29)
Walkers