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^ yeah too late, they left on Tuesday. Naughty though.
I wouldn’t be surprised that the ‘missing’ paddle was somehow assisted on it’s departure
😂
Walla-i-by surprised...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-56661833
Still no update on island travel. Still no news on when there might be an update. Still no strategy for it. Crowds at football matches will be fine though.
Article doesn’t make it clear if her was relieved of some of his pounds before departure?
I think almost certainly will have been - but a fixed penalty notice if paid quickly is less than the cost of fuel for the trip... its a parking ticket, hey if there was a £30 fee for camping on the island for the night they'd probably have paid it happily.
Still no update on island travel. Still no news on when there might be an update. Still no strategy for it. Crowds at football matches will be fine though.
Interesting priorities...
I'm 56, been informed that they have no record of a vaccination appointment for me and that I have to wait 4-6 weeks for resolution as they have a significant backlog of enquiries. Apparently my record has no date of birth, there's no escalation route and nothing I can do except wait...
Local upset re any changes in restrictions in that Islands consultation concluded over a fortnight ago and Shetland Islands Council (SIC) says it remains none the wiser as to whether the islands will be moved into new-look level three restrictions or whether more freedoms, such as household visits and extended opening hours for businesses, might be permitted.... And obviously no idea over travel to mainland either.
And... I really DGAS about footy and have been totally bemused all along about the exemptions been made for professional sport through this, particularly when it would seem they can't even behave themselves when they have been lucky enough to get exemptions.
https://www.scotland.police.uk/secureforms/covid19/This does make me worry a bit that after Co-vid we will have a grass culture where everyone thinks it is Ok to basically shop their neighbours for the slightest thing.
This does make me worry a bit that after Co-vid we will have a grass culture where everyone thinks it is Ok to basically shop their neighbours for the slightest thing.
What makes you think we didn’t have that culture before? What makes you think that form is doing anything other than letting police Scotland signpost people there so they can get on with the day job?
My interpretation of the “islands issue” is there is no clear single opinion from the islands themselves on the preference. Obviously plenty of tourist businesses very keen to open, but plenty of people not benefiting from tourism who would prefer not to take the risk; some of whom might want the freedom to leave the islands themselves.
Not an easy problem to solve; and of course you can probably extend the same discussions around other rural communities. Whilst I’ve been largely supportive of their approach I think they’ve made a mess of the levels - and either they need totally rewritten for the whole country or they need scrapped for the whole country. I think there is an argument for keeping them, but perhaps entire local authorities are too big (in West Lothian there are council wards which appear to have zero cases for several weeks, and council wards which are the worst in the country for a couple of weeks running), and the criteria are probably wrong in a post vaccination world.
I’m surprised we can’t just vaccinate the entire islands (and find a clinical justification because of lack of medical facilities) then open them a few weeks later. If there isn’t a clinical justification for that, I doubt there is a clinical justification for keeping them closed - in which case there seems to be human rights issue with restricting travel without a compelling public health basis.
And… I really DGAS about footy and have been totally bemused all along about the exemptions been made for professional sport through this, particularly when it would seem they can’t even behave themselves when they have been lucky enough to get exemptions.
I’m with you on that. Which political party is going to stick its head above the parapet and tell the football obsessed central belt, flag waving, agro population that football is not important a month before an election?
So far as football is concerned I think the exemption for some clubs has been a good thing for some people watching or listening to a match has been a major source of relaxation and enjoyment in bleak times. Not for me I'm a celtic fan 🙂
What makes you think that form is doing anything other than letting police Scotland signpost people there so they can get on with the day job?
See also dashcams/headcams. I doubt the Police will respond to any more than a tiny fraction of any complaints.
There is definitely a question of balance regarding the islands. However it's not just worried residents vs struggling business folk. Families are split up, normal travel across the country is affected, islanders are being isolated. So far, there hasn't even been any sort of strategy laid out, let alone dates.
WRT vaccinating whole islands, we can't be that far off it now for the adult population of Shetland. A few weeks back there was half the total population with their first jab and I know people in their 40s with no other factors who've had it and have heard of people in Thier 20s that have had it now here.
I've no idea about other island communities.
Yeh the levels by LA does seem a very blunt tool given that some are massive and one ward with high rates can lock down the whole LA.
Dates for the diary now seem to be 20th April to find out what's what, and then 17th May for any meaningful change for us up here, but what that change is we've no idea and our political leaders here are still saying they're in the blind.
For all a lot of Shetlanders have family on island, it's very common for islanders to have friends and family on mainland Scotland and esle where with regular trips both ways. This uncertainty of whether we will be able to travel to see family after this long when the rest of mainland Scotland will be able to seems cruel and unnecessary.
Must admit I’m finding all the news coverage of people out and about in pubs, shops, gyms etc south of the border rather unsettling. While we were all locked down it seemed easier to accept and comply. Now that we have a date of 2 weeks hence it somehow seems to be causing restlessness for me.
I guess that is coupled with so many folk I know locally travelling well outwith their own LA to go for away rides, take dogs to the beach etc. We are off work this week, as had to use up annual leave and boys are off school and college. Local walks from home, local road rides, local dog walks are all things we are blessed with the ability to do, but somehow feel cheated...
Though in the bigger picture we appear to have cheated death by COVID so need to keep in perspective...
Must admit I’m finding all the news coverage of people out and about in pubs, shops, gyms etc south of the border rather unsettling.
You are not the only one.
I just see it as NS being super cautious again and using England as the petri dish.
The 26th should see a bit of change for us up here. I don't get the big deal about the football either but it's obviously important to a lot of people. I just wanna sit outside the pub with a pint and maybe a bowl of chips after a nice long bike ride 😎
Must admit I’m finding all the news coverage of people out and about in pubs, shops, gyms etc south of the border rather unsettling. While we were all locked down it seemed easier to accept and comply. Now that we have a date of 2 weeks hence it somehow seems to be causing restlessness for me.
I suspect I'm unsettled in the opposite direction. No desire to go to a shop/gym/pub but would like to be able to travel 45 minutes and go for a walk in a park/woods with my folks who I've not seen for nearly a year. Would like to be able to walk up a hill or go for a paddle on a quiet loch on my own (or with my own family). Would like to be able to ride my bike somewhere different. All pretty low risk activities, but I can't do those yet, and it looks like we'll see crowded beer gardens and queues outside Primark at the same time as those basic freedoms are made available. My big fear is there is a "spike" and they reverse all the freedoms rather than just the high risk ones. That said the numbers in Scotland are very encouraging - as low as late Sept with a downward trend rather than upwards, and most schools off for another week and restrictions for another 2 weeks means those should be more like the late august numbers by the time we ease restrictions.
All pretty low risk activities, but I can’t do those yet, and it looks like we’ll see crowded beer gardens and queues outside Primark at the same time as those basic freedoms are made available. My big fear is there is a “spike” and they reverse all the freedoms rather than just the high risk ones.
Yep. Pretty strange set of rules we've ended up with. I get there's a need to get the economy functioning and that means retail/hospitality needs to open up but restrictions on access and outdoor activity have mostly been unnecessarily slow to be lifted. I guess that lack of economic benefit had simply put it down the priority list.
Or, as someone put it last year - "wheres the safest place to be in a Covid outbreak"?
"Somewhere with a till"
Agreed, I’m in no rush to visit Primark, I think I have been in their stores 3 or 4 times in the last decade. Similarly not a pub goer, though do miss family meals out.
I haven’t ridden my MTB since about November though as there really isn't anything local to South Lanarkshire that is fun and not full of walkers and dogs. Not much of a grumble in the grand scale of things, and just about to head out for an hour or 2 from home on the road bike..
Quite a few changes then.
This Friday - travel throughout mainland permitted, 6 adults from 6 households allowed to meet outdoors.
And 26th April we'll be able to travel to/from the islands.
New documents to be published later today.
Class, travel restrictions no more!
Good news April! Bring it! 😆
so a day for me and a day with the kids this weekend it seems.
Tweed valley is probably going to be the busiest its ever been this weekend with this news, especially if the weathers decent. I feel for the trail builders down there whos trails are going to suffer from the huge increase in traffic.
Do I need to book a space on the A9 in advance or can I just turn up?
Very excited!
Do I need to book a space on the A9 in advance or can I just turn up?
I'll be deploying the stingers on Thursday night.
Yeah, all the trails would be proper awesome if nobody rode on them, ever.....
I really like buses where I am the only passenger, not all those other people slowing my journey with their annoying getting on and off.
Do I need to book a space on the A9 in advance or can I just turn up?
I’ll be deploying the stingers on Thursday night.
I think the traffic needs to be moving in order for stingers to work
What the trail builders need is a really quiet period where they can crack on with stuff followed by some nice dry weather.
I’ve heard the Tweed trails are the driest they’ve been since last April!
Does someone have a link to a summary of the restrictions by Tier for Scotland?
thanks
We've got a cottage booked on Uist in early June for multiple households and I'm getting a bit twitchy now..🤔
Yaaay 😁
Just heard this on the wireless, brilliant news. Might nip down to the Gorms for a bit of biking this weekend.
Then again, maybe not...
Only fools will go to the valley this weekend. I'm heading north.
Suspect there will be similar numbers heading north...
I may venture to my regular preCOVID trails at Mugdock, on the basis that a lot of the crowds who have been going there may go north for a change of scenery....
Well we didn't need to wait until the 20th for some good news after all! Pleased for you Scots, that have been much more restricted than us English for some time.
So if I'm correct :
April 16th -Free travel around mainland
April 26th -All go to tier 3, travel allowed to Islands (all at tier 3), no holidays from rest of UK
May 17th -All go tier 2, holidays available from rest of UK
Does this sound correct?
ETA: If this is correct, what are the chances of the May 17th unlock happening a week earlier?!
I suspect Glenlivet will be rammed this weekend.
Weather forecast looking good. Cafe open.
Am I allowed to stay in my van overnight somewhere then? Not that I will be, but wondered if that'd changed before the 26th as well.
Thankfully Glenlivet is in my LA so can give it a miss for a few weeks lol
swavis
Full Member
Am I allowed to stay in my van overnight somewhere then? Not that I will be, but wondered if that’d changed before the 26th as well.Thankfully Glenlivet is in my LA so can give it a miss for a few weeks lol
There's no stay at home, or travel restrictions, so camping is fair game.
There’s no stay at home, or travel restrictions, so camping is fair game.
Not according to the BBC report.
'...and they will be permitted to travel across Scotland to do so, as long as they do not stay overnight.'
I suspect Glenlivet will be rammed this weekend.
Weather forecast looking good. Cafe open.
I get home on Thursday so might see if the youngest fancies a trip there before the weekend.
Actual "real" wild camping, in a tent and/or bivi probably is allowed though, no? Not what most of the motorhomers call wild camping, I can understand that.
So its been noticed that its party time south of the border and the natives have become restless. Best let them off the leash a bit.
Full Member
There’s no stay at home, or travel restrictions, so camping is fair game.Not according to the BBC report.
‘…and they will be permitted to travel across Scotland to do so, as long as they do not stay overnight.’
best of luck with that.
as long as they do not stay overnight.’
I took this to mean you couldn’t stay in somebody else’s property.
Looking at media reports, most of them are saying that travel between England and Scotland will (all being well) resume for non-essential purposes on 26th April, but surely if Scotland is all at tier 3 this will not be allowed. What gives?
think I will still stay local this weekend and hope that most folk have gone elsewhere
I hope my van passes its MOT on Thursday! I'm going up a hill or down a river this weekend no matter what!
Honestly, if I never see the Pentlands again!
Rapidrob... 17th May for non-essential travel between Scotland and England no??
From 16 April you can:
- meet in groups of up to 6 adults from 6 households socially outdoors, for recreation or exercise (under 12s do not count towards the number of people meeting or households)
- travel anywhere in Scotland to meet others for the above purpose - but you must not stay away from your local council area (or for Highland or Argyll and Bute, the Level 3 or Level 4 part of those areas that you live in) overnight
https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/
NS said that cross border likely to be allowed from 26th April. Reserved the right to limit travel to from high covid rate areas though. Good news all round re travel. Where to go on Saturday??
OK that was a quick decision, Inners uplift open as of Saturday!!
Son's wedding in may, was 20 guests no drink, then 50 guests no drink, now its 50 guests and drink 🥂🍻 2000 finish, who knows what it will be at on the day 😕
Not according to the BBC report.
‘…and they will be permitted to travel across Scotland to do so, as long as they do not stay overnight.’
The BBC are probably quoting guidance as law yet again. I'm intrigued by the claim that travel from England to Scotland still won't be allowed as what currently effectively stops it in the legislation is the 5 mile local authority limit.
If the regs are written in line with this then it's maybe not quite what we were all hoping for. Someone wouldn't be able to travel to another local authority to go for a walk on their own, seriously? Overnight stays only permitted within your local authority, again depriving those living in cities of our right to wild camp with no apparent justification. How can solo wild camping in a different local authority be of any greater risk then meeting a group of 6 from another local authority? I struggle to see how this makes any logical sense whatsoever or in any way balances risk against restrictions on freedom.
I struggle to see how this makes any logical sense whatsoever or in any way balances risk against restrictions on freedom.
This. If you are waiting for the Scottish govt to legalise a low risk activity like wild camping outside your local area you may be waiting some time.
Time to start observing the spirit of the regs (minimising infection) rather than the letter. Was up in the Rannoch area for the first time in a year this week. Lovely weather though still needing the winter sleeping bag in mid April! If I drive in my own car to my start point and don't use any shops or other services there is no risk to others. Certainly far less risky than driving to visit the relatives for the day which is now OK.
If you are waiting for the Scottish govt to legalise a low risk activity like wild camping outside your local area you may be waiting some time.
Two weeks.
Two weeks.
True, although I wouldn't put it past them to word the 26th regs in a way that doesn't permit it. It is just mind boggling that the scottish gov seems to think that, between the 16th and 26th, you are at unacceptable risk of spreading covid (to the point of needing to curtail freedoms) when you are either:
a) on your own as opposed to with 5 other households, or
b) outside overnight, as opposed to during the day.
I don't think it really matters what the documemts say at this stage. The news says we can travel wherever we want from Friday and that's all that anyone cares about. The majority aren't going to read the fine detail.
Which I think is fine to be honest, wild camping isn't going to cause any covid issues. It might make locals in rural areas annoyed but that's not the same thing
wild camping isn’t going to cause any covid issues. . It might make locals in rural areas annoyed but that’s not the same thing
if you are genuinely wild camping in a way that presents zero covid risk to anyone then almost nobody is going to even know... However there's quite a proportion of the population who believe that you can wild camp in a van - and I would not be surprised if Police Scotland are encouraged to move them on / issue FPN just to avoid the "honey pot" issues.
How would camping in a van (definitely not wild camping haha) be more of a covid risk than a day trip in a van which is allowed.
Not enjoying Scotland being overrun by campervans but there's really no reason why they can't go for an overnight trip if they can go for a day trip. Again it's using 'covid rules' to avoid different issues. Laybies full of dirty campers is rubbish but it's not a covid issue
Because in a roundabout way its restricting travel as far as most people can be bothered without an overnight stop. So a soft travel restriction if you like.
Personally I can't fathon the mindset of someone who, being told they can go out and play 2 weeks early, proceeds to piss and moan that they're not getting to do something else for 2 weeks. I'm booked in at Inners next week, it would suit me down to the ground not getting up and leaving before 7 but if it means I can get a day on the hill without breaking the rules then I'll get an early night and just deal with it.
I'm taking it as notice that I have two weeks use of Highland Region before the hordes of trolley lickers arrive 😅
How would camping in a van (definitely not wild camping haha) be more of a covid risk than a day trip in a van which is allowed.
Can covid be spread through shit? Probably, most viruses can - Scot Gov is planning to do some sewage treatment works monitoring to see if they can find covid hot spots that way. Are hygiene facilities in a typical van as good as you'd hope to stop disease spread - mostly not. Are people out overnight more likely to go to a local shop for a pint of milk, etc - probably.
So yes I'm sure there can be responsible, covid-safe van-camping, just like there can be responsible covid-safe civilised pub goers - but there can also be other extremes.
I'm not suggesting you shouldn't be able to get back to cluttering up the roadside fairly soon, but given this is a "bonus" early progress I'm not sure we need to go from 0-100% all at once. Let's give those rural areas a bit of a chance to prepare for the onslaught. And councils less of an excuse for being "taken by surprise" if there are poor facilities open for toilets, bins etc.
Personally I can’t fathom the mindset of someone who, being told they can go out and play 2 weeks early, proceeds to piss and moan that they’re not getting to do something else for 2 weeks.
Spot on!
Yeah to be honest I sort of agree just can understand if no one listens to this little bit about overnights.
Callanders preparation are massive billboards on the way in saying "PROTECT OUR VILLAGE"
just feels the wrong way to go about it to me
I may venture to my regular preCOVID trails at Mugdock, on the basis that a lot of the crowds who have been going there may go north for a change of scenery….
@iainc mugdock seems to be getting quieter anyway. it's busy round the visitors centre and Dumbrock Loch, but the trails themselves are not too bad.
The WHW of course is a bit busier than normal. I'd expect that to be busier if folk can travel further now.
pretty quiet in the now light till 8:30 evenings! 🙂
Good to know, thanks Nik
Personally I can’t fathom the mindset of someone who, being told they can go out and play 2 weeks early, proceeds to piss and moan that they’re not getting to do something else for 2 weeks.
I don't think it's pissing and moaning to be concerned that excerising our outdoor access rights (e.g. walking alone or responsible wild camping) is currently illegal without explanation or logical reason, but perhaps that's just me.
without explanation or logical reason,
Have you been asleep for the last year? 🤔
Does someone have a link to a summary of the restrictions by Tier for Scotland?
The arseholes have started early
Honestly, if I never see the Pentlands again!
I can't wait for the Pentlands to quieten down. I'll be avoiding the Tweed as it will be rammed.
I don’t think it’s pissing and moaning to be concerned that excerising our outdoor access rights (e.g. walking alone or responsible wild camping) is currently illegal without explanation or logical reason, but perhaps that’s just me.
I completely agree on "walking alone" but I am currently working on the assumption that that anomaly is a "summarising in 2 bullet points" issue and won't be in the legislation when its published. The point about "restriction on your access rights for responsible wild camping" is not what the debate above is about because there are NO access rights for motorised vehicles.
I’m taking it as notice that I have two weeks use of Highland Region before the hordes of trolley lickers arrive
Just back from a few days in the far North. Hardly a car or van to be seen on the NC500. It just seemed like too good an opportunity to miss!
Well the islands have the right idea - "broken" big ferry..? 😉