Hill Walking Permits

For activities in Terrain One and Two as defined in Rule 9.12.7:

9.12.6.1
Parties must consist of no more than eight, but no less than four people, except as provided for in Rule 9.12.6.4 below. Where a permit holder is directly with a group they are included within these party sizes.

9.12.6.2
Each party must have a leader holding a permit or a designated party leader.

9.12.6.3
If more than one group is formed the parties must use different routes or, if using the same route, leave a clear time and distance interval between them – so that they do not become mixed.

9.12.6.4
When walking directly to, and off the hills after, a multi pitch climb the party size may be less than four.

9.12.6.5
A leader with a permit to supervise the activity must do so with no more than three parties and must be in a position to respond to any of these groups.

9.12.6.6
When permit holders are checking on the safety of Scout parties or their routes, the party size may be less than four. All the members of such a reduced party must each have the skills and experience required to travel safely in the hills in such circumstances, must follow rules regarding route plans and should plan to spend the minimum of time on their own.

Terrain Zero describes terrain which meets one of criteria (a) or (b):

a) is below 500 metres above sea level,
AND
is within 30 minutes travelling time from a road which can take an ordinary road-going ambulance or a building which is occupied (such as a farm) or another means of summoning help (such as a telephone box)
AND
has no steep slopes or rocky terrain, where a slip may result in a fall.
(Routes or areas where the average person would need to regularly use their hands at least for balance if not for actual progress. This does not stop people from using their hands as an aid to confidence.)

b) terrain which is a road, or path adjacent to a road, on which you would expect to see traffic.

Activities undertaken in Terrain Zero must follow the guidance in Terrain Zero Activities (FS120426).

Terrain One describes terrain which meets all of criteria (a) and (b) and (c) and (d):

a) is below 800 metres but more than 500 metres above sea level
OR
is more than 30 minutes but less than three hours travelling time from a road which can take an ordinary road-going ambulance or a building which is occupied (such as a farm) or another means of calling help (such as a telephone box).

b) has no steep slopes or rocky terrain, where a slip may result in a fall (routes or areas where the average person would need to regularly use their hands at least for balance if not for actual progress. This does not stop people from using their hands as an aid to confidence.)

c) is not a road, or path adjacent to a road, on which you would expect to see traffic.

d) is not Terrain Two.

Terrain Two describes terrain which meets both of criteria (a) and (b):

a) is over 800 metres above sea level,
OR
lies more than three hours travelling time from a road which can take an ordinary road-going ambulance or a building which is occupied, such as a farm, or another means of calling help, such as a telephone box,
OR
has steep slopes or rocky terrain, where a slip may result in a fall including routes or areas where the average person would need to regularly use their hands at least for balance if not for actual progress. This excludes the planned use of ropes, but ropes may be used to give confidence, or in an emergency situation. This also excludes climbing activities.

b) is not a road, or path adjacent to a road, on which you would expect to see traffic.

When in terrain or using skills that have When in terrain or using skills that have not been assessed for a Terrain Two hillwalking or a climbing permit, such as glaciers, scrambling and via ferrata, then specific approval is required for the activity from the relevant Lead Volunteer based on advice from someone with knowledge and experience of the activity. Specific approval must only be granted a holder of a Terrain Two hillwalking or climbing permit.

Note 1: Such specialist terrain could be considered to be mountaineering terrain rather than hill walking terrain.

Note 2: Rock climbing is considered a totally separate activity. See the Kent County Climbing Team website for more information

For activities in Terrain One and Terrain Two as defined in Rules 9.12.7.2 and 9.12.7.3:

9.12.9.1
A detailed route plan must always be left with a responsible person not taking part in the activity.

9.12.9.2
Any route planning forms produced locally must contain at least the same information as sought in the example route plan form.

9.12.9.3
The route plan should be cancelled or collected when the activity is completed.

9.12.9.4
The party must carry emergency cards.

9.12.9.5
Any emergency cards produced locally must contain the same information as sought in the example route plan form.

9.12.9.6
When members take part in non-Scout activities, the above rules may be varied at the discretion of their County (^[NI] Country) Lead Volunteer.

9.12.8.1
All activities in Terrain One or Two must be under the direct control of, or supervised by, a person holding the appropriate permit (see Rule 9.7).

9.12.8.2
All activities in Terrain Zero must be approved by the relevant Lead Volunteer (see Rule 9.1.2).

There are three types of permit available for Hillwalking. These are:

Personal permit
Allows a young person (under 18) to take part in Hillwalking with others with a personal Hillwalking permit
Personal permit limitations
If you hold a personal hillwalking permit you can go hillwalking with others who hold a personal hillwalking permit. It does not allow you to go hillwalking with anyone not holding a hillwalking permit

Leadership permit
Allows the permit holder to lead Hillwalking for a single group
Leadership permit limitations
If you have a permit to lead hillwalking then you will need to be with your group at all times. Details of group sizes for hillwalking can be found in POR.

Supervisory permit
Allows the permit holder to remotely supervise more than one Hillwalking group.
Supervisory permit limitations
If you hold a permit to supervise hillwalking then you can supervise up to three groups remotely. This should be from no further away than 3km if on foot, or 10km if in a vehicle. You should also ensure that adequate system have been set up to monitor and communicate with the group. You remain responsible for all the groups you are supervising, but will need to designate someone with the appropriate skills to be the leader of each group.

Designations

When remotely supervising groups the holder of a hillwalking supervisor permit needs to designate a leader for each group. This designation lasts only for the current activity while the permit holder is supervising.

People designated as group leaders should hold the skills and be responsible enough to lead a group safely in the terrain in which they are. There is no problem with making young people group leaders if they have the correct skills, as this can be a useful development tool.

Supervision

The total number of people being supervised should always be kept to a manageable level and supervision should be provided in the immediate vicinity of the group. This distance may be increased if travelling between check-points by vehicle, however, the risk associated with check- pointing should be a consideration when travelling between check points. You should also ensure that adequate systems have been set up to monitor and communicate with the group. The difficulties of remote supervision should not be underestimated especially under winter conditions with the additional potential hazards associated with reduced visibility and snow covered terrain.

Further guidance can be found in the publication Remote Supervision Guidance Notes 2016, covering the supervision of groups operating independently. Click to download this guidance from Mountain Training.

The Scout Association recognises two types of conditions:

Summer conditions
Refers to any conditions not considered to winter conditions.

Winter conditions
Refers to when winter conditions, including snow and ice, prevail or are forecast. This cannot be defined by a portion of the year. Snow/ice cover is not the only defining feature. Severe cold, high winds and shortened daylight hours should also be considered.

Winter conditions could be considered to be mountaineering rather than hill walking.

The process and terrain definitions for winter permits are exactly the same as for summer permits. However, winter conditions are a much more serious undertaking and as such are assessed separately from summer. By default it requires much more experience and therefore takes a lot longer to obtain a winter permit. You are usually expected to hold a summer permit before being allowed to apply for a winter permit.

Scrambling is defined as those routes or areas where the average person would need to use their hands at least for balance if not for actual progress. This does not stop people from using their hands as an aid to confidence.

Note: As a general rule, the Kent Scout hill walking assessors cannot assess Scrambling

Travelling Time means the time it would take a person to walk by the quickest safe route; and for this purpose a person shall be deemed to walk at 5 kilometers per hour and to take, in addition, one minute for every 10 meters of increase in the height above sea level of any uphill section of that route.

Valid First Aid Qualifications as required for hillwalking can be found under First Aid and First Response (POR 9.7i).

Wild Camping falls under the Nights Away Permit Scheme (Rule 9.2)

Full details of the Nights Away Permit Scheme can be found on the Scout Association website but briefly and specifically for Hill Walking:

Nights Away Permits (9.2.3.1)
There are four categories of Nights Away permit:

Indoor – for staying in a building that has built in lighting and cooking facilities, toilets plumbed into a waste disposal system (such as, a cess pit, storage tank or mains drains) and has running drinking water

Campsite – for staying at a site that has toilets plumbed into a waste disposal system (such as, a cess pit, storage tank or mains drains) and access to running drinking water

Green Field – for staying at any site where any of the above facilities do not exist – for example, a summer camp on a farmer's field

Lightweight Expedition – for staying at any site for not more than one night before moving on. The core activity is a form of expedition, not residential, and all the equipment is transported with the participants. For example, King's Scout Award or Duke of Edinburgh's Awards hikes, expedition hikes, canoe expeditions. 

Those holding a Hillwalking Permit that includes lightweight camping in remote areas may also run Lightweight Expedition events. 

Notes on how the assessors evaluate remote camping and guidance for permit holders regarding what camping they can expect on their permit can be found here