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Cheers Duckman, but did that in January in a similar situation. Also got the bus to Banchory to go up Scolty Woods.
If its reasonable weather going walking isn't the issue, even just along the coast, Don or Dee. The issue I what to do if its a day of dirt other than a cafe crawl. Saying that I do have waterproofs!
Just noticed DFS is open, in tier 4.
Did they have a sale on?
I have been behaving and staying in or close to my own LA of South Lanarkshire, though living a couple of miles from GCC, East Ren and North Ayrshire, going a few miles into these areas to ride, or on a ride remains compliant and justifiable to my self.
I was just looking at a map there and discovered that, towards the south end of South Lanarkshire, the gem that is Drumlanrig is just under 5 miles from the LA boundary...
It feels wrong to drive an hour and a bit in current times, but it’s totally legit.. WWSTW do I wonder ..??
Rule #1 still applies
Colin, yes, that is very much my thought too, whilst totally within the rules it doesn’t feel right somehow !
Ach, it's easy for me to say. Even if we went to Tier 4 I could, in theory, ride Torridon, head up to Durness etc. It would feel like taking the piss though.
Colin, yes, that is very much my thought too, whilst totally within the rules it doesn’t feel right somehow !
Did I miss something? Has 5 miles from home gone out the window? (Please make it so)
You can travel up to 5 miles outside your LA for exercise. That could be to start/end exercise. It's plainly aimed at those living in the larger towns and conurbations, offering a degree of flexibility and thereby reducing overcrowding at more popular spots in these towns.
^^^ as Scotroutes says, and primarily designed to help those in dense urban conurbations. As with most laws there are loopholes, one of which I am seeing here, but, as previously also said, Rule #1 ought to prevail.
Yup, totally missed that. TBH it doesn't bring much temptation my way, think they only place it brings within the limit is somewhere I wouldn't bother with at the moment anyway
I don't see it as dickish at all for you to ride Drumlanrig. I get that druid's Aviemore is way different to where I am (and I don't approve) but folk here take the piss all day long. You won't put any one at risk if you are sensible.
I canny be arsed driving an hour for drumlanrig when it's not during restrictions! 😆
^^^^ I know what you mean but after months of Whitelee, Chaterherault and Blantyre, even Cathkin is becoming an attractive idea... (it isn’t really.. 😀)
Why that's just silly talk😆
Try living here, the closest you get to adventure biking is a ride through the bottom end of Stevenston or Bourtreehill.
Hunners of roads to ride if Carmageddon is your thing though.
Drove from Glasgow to Yorkshire last night (transiting through as the only flights we could get for an essential journey were via Scottish airports). No sign of any enforcement on either side of the border but roads pretty quiet.
mentioned I was jealous of folk living in the area
He's from down that way
In which case I stand corrected, and reported myself for being a bell-end
Shame I missed that. I'd have deleted the whole post as being contrary to the aims of the group anyway.
A specific question and looking for thoughts, as can’t see guidance online yet.
We live in South Lanarkshire and are hoping to have a few days, just the 4 of us, at an Air BnB in St Andrews between Christmas and New Year. It’s booked and fully refundable for another 3 weeks. I’m expecting we will be, at home, in L3 at best, or still L4 and destination area a little lower.
Currently it would be a no, which is fine and happy to stick with that, but messaging seems to be a relaxation in travel, primarily to facilitate seeing family, which would not be our purpose as it’s just our immediate household anyway.
It would be nice to get away, and it’s one of our boys 18th, hence the planned wee break.
Feel a bit torn on this one, gut feel is wait and see another few weeks but keen for some thoughts.
Wait and see.
If it was me I'd still plan on going!
Alright traveling between L3 & L4 areas is not advisable, but once you get there I'm assuming you'd pretty much be self-contained.
That's what we did in October, given it was the Isle of Lewis so social distancing wasn't too much of an issue.
iainc
Full Member
A specific question and looking for thoughts, as can’t see guidance online yet.We live in South Lanarkshire and are hoping to have a few days, just the 4 of us, at an Air BnB in St Andrews between Christmas and New Year. It’s booked and fully refundable for another 3 weeks. I’m expecting we will be, at home, in L3 at best, or still L4 and destination area a little lower.
Currently it would be a no, which is fine and happy to stick with that, but messaging seems to be a relaxation in travel, primarily to facilitate seeing family, which would not be our purpose as it’s just our immediate household anyway.
It would be nice to get away, and it’s one of our boys 18th, hence the planned wee break.
Feel a bit torn on this one, gut feel is wait and see another few weeks but keen for some thoughts.
I don't personally agree with the whole christmas thing, but I understand people will do it anyhow, so I understand the reasoning to give people some guidance..
But they are lifting travel restrictions, so **** it, get yerself off on holiday, go for it and enjoy. Yer boy will only be 18 once.
Well, he'll be 18 for 365 days...
^^^ hahaha 🙂 Indeed he will, but it would be 'nice' to get away, though by no means essential. Think will hold off calling it for a couple of weeks..
I would like to press the button on a ski season pass for *somewhere*. At one point or another I have held one for Cairngorm, Glencoe, Glenshee and Nevis.
Nevis are already out of the running this season, closed until further notice, and Cairngorm seem to have degenerated into such a basket case that they actively discourage their own customers from ever returning. For me, Lecht is just too far away.
I live in Perth & Kinross, and Glenshee is wholly within 5 miles of the PKC/Aberdeenshire boundary. Under the current guidelines I think skiing at Glenshee will be OK.
Normally I just have the "Will there be enough snow?" question to over think. Now I have the "Will I be allowed to travel?" one to ponder too. Is anyone else overthinking the same stuff?
Last year was apparently magic for snow, so this year will be terrible. Would this not be the year just to suck up the extra cost in day passes? Plus if it is open, Glenshee will be heaving due to the lack of competition and it is a special kind of hell then.
Last year was magic for howling westerlies every weekend until mid-March. Nevis was trial by ordeal, and even when "open", most of the lifts were closed. The tail end of March and April was great. Settled weather, great snow, no crowds. I watched it all via webcam...
A season ticket for Gondola Bike uplift at Nevis range may be a more realistic option!
Same way I viewed it TW, with the added pain of MWIS forecasting calm days.
A noticeable difference on social media this weekend.
I can see several posts on Facebook pages, Instagram, Strava etc of people ignoring the travel ban and going to the tweed valley, dunkeld etc.
Normally I just have the “Will there be enough snow?” question to over think. Now I have the “Will I be allowed to travel?” one to ponder too. Is anyone else overthinking the same stuff?
I don't think skiing using lifts etc is what they have in mind with informal exercise up-to 5miles beyond your LA boundary: I'm pretty sure that will fall within their definition of organised sport. In which case you'll not be able to cross into Aberdeenshire if either Aberdeenshire or P&K are level 4. However, my concern wouldn't be will you be allowed to travel it would be will ski-centres be open at all. Can you imagine a 2m socially distanced lift queue? Can you imagine any kind of surface sanitation process on "contact surfaces"? No pairing up with anyone outside your household on T-bars or chairs. Without those, I think it's difficult to imagine SportScotland sanctioning them to open. Other sports are being limited to things like 30 participants per hour, or per area, and usually 200 per day in total. Whilst outdoor activity is lower risk, there's definitely an association with cold damp conditions so I doubt they'll argue skiing is safer than anything else - unless the argument is with 40mph winds the virus is blown away before you have the chance to be infected!
Last year was apparently magic for snow, so this year will be terrible. Would this not be the year just to suck up the extra cost in day passes?
I'd have thought so - unless there's some sort of priority for season ticket holders - but if they are allowed to open it will all be pre-purchased tickets etc, and I'd imagine even season ticket holders will need to tell them they are coming (maybe even reserve a slot).
I heard it on the radio that the ski 'resorts' will only be doing advanced online ticket sales on a quota basis. There's certainly no snow at the Lecht as far as I could see driving down to Tomintoul from the north today, but due to get colder from the middle of the week.
I live an hour from Glenshee. Even without the covid risk, I don't buy a season ticket - the chances of the planets aligning in terms of conditions / work / risk of huge queues are few and far between. When they do however, I'm up there like a shot. I didn't ski in Scotland at all last year, the first time since I started skiing again in 2014.
If the snow is good this winter I think that I will likely be spending more days touring than resort skiing.
Travel is the big unknown apart from the normal Scottish weather issues...
Normally I just have the “Will there be enough snow?” question to over think. Now I have the “Will I be allowed to travel?” one to ponder too. Is anyone else overthinking the same stuff?
Same quandary, decision time tomorrow to get the early bird price! First world problems and all that!
I’m in Aberdeen city, tier 2 currently, same as the shire. The risk is if either city or shire change to tier 3 would mean we’re not supposed to travel. (I think ?)
Travel aside this could be a good year to have a season pass, sidestep ticket quota and needing to queue to collect on arrival. La Niña offers some hope of a decent winter too. Maybe worth just gambling on it, and consider it a charitable donation if it doesn’t work out!
Pretty sure Glenshee has info about ticket sales on their website.
Pretty sure it's pre-booking only, online 24 hours in advance.
Numbers will be limited to allow for social distancing.
You need to pay for the car park if you are not there to ski.
According to Ski-Scotland's promo video they brought out this week,
They will have enhanced cleaning regime.
Face coverings will be mandatory.
Only share lifts with members of your own household.
Thankfully I have a fair bit of leave to take so mid week skiing for me if we get some decent snow and there are no travel restrictions.
BoardinBob
Full MemberA noticeable difference on social media this weekend.
I can see several posts on Facebook pages, Instagram, Strava etc of people ignoring the travel ban and going to the tweed valley, dunkeld etc.
Honestly, I've been a good boy but the invitation of the 3rd wave and ****ing up of the entire current lockdown at christmas has pissed me off no end. Not least because I'll have to face the consequences of the <next> lockdown but also because I'll not get any real benefit from it at christmas. So for the first time ever I do feel a lot like just saying fine, if it's OK for everyone else to have an increased risk level at christmas (and for it to be set up so that it'll be massively abused/"misunderstood") then maybe I'll just craft my own increased risk level too.
Literally the first time I've really seriously considering breaking the rules.
We were meant to be in a pod in Glentress this Friday for the weekend... as a 2nd attempt at a hol since covid hit... but coming from north yorks it’s a no-no as looks like travel between the border for non-essential is not allowed... that’s right isn’t it?
that’s right isn’t it?
Yes.
Chrisyork - yes that’s right, you cannot travel into that zone.
Iainc - bubbling in Sc accommodation is specifically banned under the guidelines they published for Xmas. It’s listed in here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-55085345
Pretty much what we thought, was just praying there was some form of loophole.... luckily I’m mentally fine but it’s more for her, needs a break away but we’ll just have to wait a bit longer!
@Northwind I get that thinking, really do. If it wasn't for my missus and her strong morality, and my need to put all my rides and hillwalks all over social media, I may have strayed myself! 😆
Local riding spot car park was mobbed yesterday, was like a mini Golfie with the Transporters.
NZCol - thanks, but it wouldn't be a bubble, just the 4 of us who all live in the same house at present.
That said, I think the whole Tiering and travel restrictions will morally overrule...
Local riding spot car park was mobbed yesterday, was like a mini Golfie with the Transporters.
I did a road/ gravel ride on Saturday and riding through the crowds on the spine road at Whitelee was like cycling down Sauchiehall Street on a Saturday afternoon
A noticeable difference on social media this weekend.
I can see several posts on Facebook pages, Instagram, Strava etc of people ignoring the travel ban and going to the tweed valley, dunkeld etc.
I was at Golfie on Saturday and was the quietest that I've seen it in (genuinely) years. Saw maybe 10 - 15 people all day with the biggest group being 4, and that appeared to probably be two couples.
I've been riding ettrick valley more and seen a few groups, all of whom I've known and all are local. I'd guess if we'd dropped over to Yair the picture would have been different.
I did a road/ gravel ride on Saturday and riding through the crowds on the spine road at Whitelee was like cycling down Sauchiehall Street on a Saturday afternoon
Mibbe they saw a biker on the horizon, thought it was Iainc and that they'd be a shoe-in for 250 quid from you've been framed if they filmed long enough?:-)
😆
So no early finish for Scottish schools. Makes sense, why reduce face to face teaching time further?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55171623
Bairn will be gutted.
My two too 🤣
For some regions it would have been normal finish later return.
Seems a bit of a decision given lots will be kicking the arse out of it now we're all cured.
Hogmanay is going to be messy and return will just be at peak infectionability.
Mid/end of Jan will be a hoot.
level 4 areas should be coming out next week what level do you think you are will go to .
I am west dumbartonshire we should be level 2, but i would guess we will be level 3 for one reason or another
Borderline at the moment for us moving down to tier 3 next weekend. The numbers are still so high in and around Glasgow. I can only assume there's still mass non compliance with the social distancing rules
Tayside health board area isn't so good, it's higher than national average. Stirling Council however is lower than average, a big improvement on a few weeks ago.
I'm feeling it's better to keep on with Tier3 of restrictions though Christmas, perhaps January too, getting us nearer vaccination roll out, better weather etc. I do say that however as someone lightly affected by Covid restrictions.
West dumbartonshire was dropping when level 4 was introduced , Massively dropped in last couple of weeks , argyle has taken a slight rise outwith the outbreak at faslane , most of the cases in helensburgh and the rest spread between oban dunnoon and tarbert .
would prefer if west dumbartonshire and argyle were in the same level
Theoretically the 3 Ayrshire authorities should go into level 2, but I can see us being level 3, and I think that would be for the best.
Level 2 means rises
Level 3 stability, slow drop
Level 4 numbers drop
The likelihood of a drop from level 4 till 3 for the central belt regions will I think be entirely political and based on pressure on the government around opening of shops and hospitality for a wee blast before Christmas and into the Boxing Day sales...
It won't, the tiers are defined by infections per 100,000. If anything, no area should have been in tier 4 when the central belt moved into it, but it was to drop the numbers as they had stagnated a bit.
I don't think sturgeon will be swayed by such pressures, not now.
We’ll see I guess. I think she will feel that saying in Tier 4 will save lives, but closing down the nutters hitting Silverburn and Braehead at 7am on Boxing Day will lose her a huge slice of the vote.
westdumbartonshire is no far of level 1 but i dont think anywhere near glasgow could be dropped into that level
the shops will be manic next saturday when the level 4 is lifted
Its also worked our by percentage of positive tests for age groups and percentage of positive tests
. I could be wrong but i think it needs to be under 5 percent positivity rate
There are a number of factors that effect the determination of the level, with 7-day cases per 100,000 being one, and the test positivity rate being another, but there will also be consideration of intensity of testing and available NHS resource too.
Weekly Positivity Number per 100,000:
Level 0: 0-20
Level 1: 20-75
Level 2: 75-150
Level 3: 150-300
Level 4: 300+
Test Positivity rate:
Level 0: 0-1.5%
Level 1: 1.5-3%
Level 2: 3-5%
Level 3: 5-10%
Level 4: 10+%
Clackmannanshire has gone from dodging the worst of the Central Belt infection rate, to being the worst in Scotland; currently 217 cases per 100,000 over the past 7 days. This might be explained by more testing due to the mobile testing centre in Alloa, but Stirling was put into Level 4 at 149 c/100,00/wk. I would be surprised if Clacks wasn't moved to Level 4 on Tuesday.
They’re publishing the rationale for levels each week, a range of factors as mentioned.
Latest one:
partially selfish but these measures haven't really affected me much. Sure I'd like to go out on my bike but I'm too dam busy with work and family to go even if the weather was good.
It would have been good to see my dad on my mums death day last week but we could still communicate via video and phone.
Edinburgh cases are 63.8/100,000 which according to that table up there is level 1.
Can't find the positivity rate percentage though.
yourguitarhero
Free Member
Edinburgh cases are 63.8/100,000 which according to that table up there is level 1.
Can’t find the positivity rate percentage though.
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tbh I'd like to see them keep level 4 for another few weeks yet. I see no real benefit to coming out yet and think it'll be better in the long run to cut numbers as low as possible..
for comparison, there's the front end of this run.
It took 3 weeks, to go from similar levels to know top the peak of this current run.
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So we will be doing this well into the summer. I need to sell the hatch and get a van build going.
Just seems a bit pointless of the government to say, here are the tiers, here are the levels that put your area into a tier, but when the cases drop you don't go down a tier because "reasons". Why bother giving it all the "we're being transparent" chat when they don't stick to what they said?
Just seems a bit pointless of the government to say, here are the tiers, here are the levels that put your area into a tier, but when the cases drop you don’t go down a tier because “reasons”. Why bother giving it all the “we’re being transparent” chat when they don’t stick to what they said?
Very much this. I've been extremely sympathetic to the challenges the government have faced but they really cant put definitive criteria around the tiers, then not move regions in and out of them despite meeting the criteria. That if anything will just cause (even more) people to say **** it, and do whatever they want
Which criteria are you talking about? It’s not all based on the cases per 100k. That link I posted above to gov.scot page gives a summary table per region showing the criteria. And on the same site you can also download their evidence paper each week. Some of if might be a bit qualitative, but you’ve got to give it to them for at least trying to be transparent.
Well, in that link you've posted there are 5 criteria.
Falkirk has 4 Lows and 1 Very Low and they are in Tier 3? It even says "consistent improvement in case numbers and test positivity in last week" for them
Aberdeen have a Medium, a High, A very Low and two Lows and they are in Tier 2, lower than Falkirk.
Their thing says:
"case numbers and positivity rates rose again this week and are a cause for concern
there are some outbreaks in the area which are being managed locally which may be contributing to the observed increases
this will continue to be monitored closely
allocation unchanged"
It's nonsense!
I also remember clearly the first minister saying we would definitely move out of tier 4 on the 11th although what tier we would move to was not clear. They're now potentially backtracking on that
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55206120
I also remember clearly the first minister saying we would definitely move out of tier 4 on the 11th although what tier we would move to was not clear. They’re now potentially backtracking on that
Tier 5 🤣
Falkirk has 4 Lows and 1 Very Low and they are in Tier 3? It even says “consistent improvement in case numbers and test positivity in last week” for them
Aberdeen have a Medium, a High, A very Low and two Lows and they are in Tier 2, lower than Falkirk.
Right enough, that doesn’t make much sense. They seem to be pretty slow at moving tiers downwards, erring on the side of caution I suppose. Here in Aberdeen we got a reprieve as apparently a good chunk of the new cases were specific outbreaks that were being managed (one at the hospital apparently). If the numbers don’t improve this week I expect we’ll be going up.
Yeah, I wouldn't expect the high number of infections at Faslane to condemn the whole of Argyll and Bute.