Access rights and responsibilities quiz

Do you know where you are - and aren't - allowed to walk freely? Do you know as much as you should about responsible access?

Take our fun access rights and responsibilities quiz to find out how well you know the law of the land and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Don't worry if you get any of the answers wrong: for every question we'll also provide a correct answer and explanation so that the next time you go into the great outdoors you'll really know the score.

Take the quiz now

Freedom to roam? Or a locked gate? Which is it for you?

No-one but you will see the results of the quiz (unless you want to share them on Facebook!) but if you want to make sure you get a score you can be proud of you can check out some access info and tips on the rest of our website.

Birds and nesting

Birds, whether ground-nesting or cliff-nesting, can be very sensitive to disturbance. Make sure you know the law and act responsibility when out and about.

Access rights and the SOAC

With your access rights come big responsibilities, and you should read up on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and on our minimal impact advice.

Deer stalking

Deer stalking takes place every year over a large part of the highlands. Does it mean you have to stop going to the hills during 'the season'? Not at all. Read on...

No-one but you will see the results of the quiz (unless you want to share them on Facebook!) but if you're worried you might disgrace yourself even if just in your own eyes, then check out some great winter skills tips on the rest of the website.

Coping with the weather

Scottish winter is notoriously fickle: you can have to cope with sunburn or whiteouts, blizzards or pouring rain. And the winds...! Check up on strategies to cope with whatever's thrown at you.

Avalanche!

Every year people are injured or die as a result of avalanches in the Scottish hills. Make sure you know as much as you can about avalanches and how to assess the risk.

The kit

Winter demands a higher skill level, but it also demands the proper kit. Read up on the changes you need to make to your summer kit list and the extra clothes and equipment you'll need.

Mountain navigation quiz

Are you a wayfinder or a lost sheep?

Take our fun navigation quiz to find out how well you can find your way around Scotland's hills and mountains. Don't worry if you get any of the answers wrong: when we tell you you're wrong we'll also point you in the right direction so that - when it comes to the real thing - you'll be better equipped to take on the challenge in the great outdoors.

Take the quiz now

"It's over that way."

No. I'm sure it's this way!"

No-one but you will see the results of the quiz (unless you want to share them on Facebook!) but if you're worried you might disgrace yourself even if just in your own eyes, then check out some great navigation tips on the rest of the website.

The map and how to use it

Maps needn't be a mystery. Despite all the wavy lines they're a great way of showing what the landscape and terrain all around you is really like, and how to find your way from one place to another.

Planning and following a route

There are a number of skills involved in planning and following a route, from deciding on your journey to fine-tuning your progress and correcting any errors while en route.

When navigation goes wrong

When the cloud descends and the weather turns foul it can be easy to lose track of where you are. But there are ways of locating yourself and getting back on track.

Can you trust a compass

Compasses tend to be regarded as failsafe, but they are vulnerable to the magnetic fields found around so much of today's technology. So read up on how to make sure your red always points north.

Electronic navigation aids

You can use both GPS devices and smartphones for navigation in the mountains, but there are drawbacks you need to be aware of - and the basic navigation skills still need to ba mastered.

Route cards

Are route cards anything to do with navigation? Well they certainly help the rescue team if anything goes wrong with your navigation, and should be part of your route planning.

If you're not already a member of Mountaineering Scotland - as an individual or through membership of a club -  there are so many reasons to join, but here are just five which will interest you as a hillwalker...