(Last updated on 26th March 2020)
Recreational walking in the great outdoors is a relatively low-risk activity when it comes to COVID-19. The fresh air and a well-separated population should help to minimise the virus's ability to spread outdoors.
However, we must not be complacent. There are a few things we should all consider while out walking. Keeping the walking community and the general population safe and healthy during this crisis is the most important thing right now. Here are some practical tips we have come up with to help recreational walkers limit the spread of the virus.
Depending on which part of Ireland you live in (i.e. Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland) your national government is likely to be issuing different advice from that across the border. During this crisis, we believe the most responsible approach we can take as an all-Ireland walking information service is to err on the side of caution. For this reason, we choose to base our walk-related advice on the most stringent guidance currently being issued by the Irish and / or British governments.
Travelling to walks
In normal times, we would encourage walkers to use public transport or car-share as much as possible to get to walks in order to minimise our collective carbon footprint. However, these are not normal times. This is no longer advisable. We recommend that all walkers heed the latest travel advice issued by official government sources in relation to COVID-19. Click here for Government links.
Start your walks from your front door if possible. Make your front door your new trailhead for the next while. Use a local park, forest, beach or other green space (if still open) where you can achieve the required minimum physical distancing of 2m. If you don't have any such facilities nearby, choose a safe route along local streets or country roads. With more and more walking locations closing to the public, it can be difficult to find places to walk. If you have your own garden, use it too.
Always maintain the recommended minimum 2m physical distancing from people who are not members of your household.
Consider other forms of home-based exercise to supplement your walking.
Physical distancing
Widely referred to as "social distancing", we prefer to call it "physical distancing". Basically, try to keep a minimum clear distance of 2 metres between yourself and other people. Don't shake hands, hug, fist-bump, high-five, knock elbows, etc. Parents and children who all live together in the same household should walk as a close family unit while staying at least 2m from everyone else.
Limit your group to just the members of your own household. Keep children under control and within arms reach. When other walkers are approaching in the opposite direction, your group should walk in single file as they pass to better facilitate the minimum 2m separation. Step off the path or cross the road / street if safe to do so.
Please, please do not hog the middle of the pavement when other walkers are approaching in the opposite direction. Move as close to one side of the pavement as possible so they can pass on the other without either of you having to step onto the carriageway. This is no time to be marking your territory. Hogging the middle of the pavement is totally unacceptable during this time, so please don't do it. The life you save might actually be your own.
To minimise the chances of encountering others on your walks, consider walking outside the peak times. Bear in mind that family groups are more likely to be out between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. With the days getting longer, there are growing opportunities for quiet walks in the early mornings and in the evenings.
Walking clubs and guides must suspend all organised walks.
Shared surfaces
As walkers, our hands are likely to come into contact with shared surfaces along the paths, tracks and trails we walk. These include gates, stiles, handrails, summit markers, information boards, etc. Experts tell us that the virus can live on surfaces for up to two days, although it is unclear how long it can survive in an outdoor environment. For this reason, we believe it is important to highlight these potential hazards as a sensible precaution. So far, outdoor contact points appear to have been overlooked in the advice provided by other sources. At this time, it is better to be safe than sorry. Err on the side of caution.
Compared to our normal everyday activities, walking brings our hands into contact with relatively few surfaces. However, our hands are likely to encounter a gate, stile, handrail or other contact point along most of the routes we walk. On very popular walking routes, some contact points could be touched by dozens or even hundreds of hands in a single day. Bear this in mind when choosing where to walk.
In addition to following the hygiene advice issued by official government sources in relation to COVID-19, we would also suggest that walkers take the following specific practical measures to help keep the walking community and the wider population safe and healthy.
Keep your hands clean
It is highly unlikely that you'll find hand-washing facilities along our walking routes. Walkers will need to be self-sufficient when it comes to good hand hygiene.
We recommend washing hands before setting off on a walk, ideally at the trailhead, and at the end. Bring your own personal bottle of hand sanitising gel or a packet of wipes with you on the walk. Clean your hands using the gel or a wipe immediately after you touch a surface.
On small group walks, a designated member of the group could act as a mobile hand-cleansing station. That person would carry a bottle of sanitising gel or packet of wipes and distribute to the rest of the group at arms length after each contact point (e.g. gate, stile, handrail, etc) and at the start of the lunch stop. Don't pass sweets and other foods around the group.
Always maintain the recommended minimum 2m physical distancing from other people.
Leave no trace
If using wipes, please place them in a plastic bag after use, bring them home along with all your other rubbish and dispose of properly in a bin.
Gloves
The virus can transfer from surfaces onto gloves. From here, it can further transfer to other surfaces and the wearer's own face. For this reason, we suggest walkers only touch gates, stiles, handrails, etc with clean ungloved hands, then clean the hands immediately using sanitising gel or wipes.
Taking photos
Only take photos using your own camera or phone. Don't ask others to take a photo of you using your device and don't offer to take a photo of others using their device. If you want a photo of yourself, take a selfie. Alternatively, ask a friend to take one using their device and email it to you later. Keep your photography devices and other handheld equipment clean.
Always maintain the recommended minimum 2m physical distancing from other people.
Don't take risks
Now is not the time to be taking risks. Know your limits and stick to the places you know best. At this time, hillwalking and mountaineering are not recommended. Focus on maintaining your fitness rather than progressing it for the time being.
Ireland's Mountain Rescue Teams will always aim to provide a 24/7/366 service. However, the teams will be required to implement special measures during this crisis in order to protect themselves and the wider population from the virus. Call-outs are now being limited to requests which involve serious injuries only and could take longer as a result of these additional measures. For everyone's health and safety, we urge you to stay away from the mountains and hills.
To minimise the risk of spreading the virus, Mountain Rescue Teams have discontinued some of their usual fundraising activities (e.g. walking events and street collections). We encourage all walkers to consider supporting these vital volunteers at this time by making online donations. Click here for links to all the Mountain Rescue Ireland team websites.
During this crisis, Irish hospitals are expected to come under increased pressure. They could really do without having to deal with avoidable recreation-inflicted injuries at this time.
We urge all walkers to avoid higher-risk walking routes. Hillwalkers and mountaineers need to stay in the lowlands close to home for now. Exposed summits, ridges, cliffs and gullys are particularly dangerous places to visit at the present time. Visiting them now would be irresponsible and shows a clear lack of consideration for the Mountain Rescue Teams. The mountains and hills will still be there waiting for you after this crisis is over. Imagine how pristine these places will be next time you're there. This could be their time to have a short break from us. Stick to the lower-risk paths, tracks and trails close to home for now. Start your walks from your front door.
Always maintain the recommended minimum 2m physical distancing from other people.
Events
In response to the virus, the Irish and British governments have imposed size restrictions on public gatherings. Please check the latest information issued by official government sources for current restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings. Click here for Government links.
Event organisers will be required to adjust their plans accordingly in order to comply with any restrictions in force at the time of their upcoming event. If you are planning to take part in a walking festival, challenge walk or charity walk, please check that event's official website for the latest updates.
When size restrictions are imposed on public gatherings, official end dates will be stated. Bear in mind that the respective government could extend restrictions beyond stated dates and / or amend maximum permitted numbers of people.
Official Government links
For the latest advice, guidance and instructions issued by official government sources in relation to the COVID-19 crisis, please refer to the following websites.
We will continue to monitor the latest advice, guidance and instructions issued by official government sources throughout this crisis. The practical considerations and advice detailed on this page are aimed specifically at recreational walkers. These are supplemental to the general advice, guidance and instructions issued by official government sources and will be updated accordingly as the crisis develops.
In addition to the above practical considerations and advice we are issuing to recreational walkers during the COVID-19 crisis, please also refer to our Countryside Etiquette page. The advice on that page will help to make walking much more pleasant for you, other walkers, landowners and other land users.
