hillwalking
Heading for the Scottish Hills: What It Is and How to Use It
Heading for the Scottish Hills is the deer stalking notification service that lets you check for active stalking before a hill day — here's how to use it and why it matters.
Quick Summary
- Heading for the Scottish Hills is a free online notification system that allows walkers to check whether deer stalking is planned on their route — and for estates to know walkers are coming
- It covers the stag stalking season: 1 August – 20 October — the period with the most potential for conflict between walkers and working estates
- Using it is not legally required but it is the responsible access standard and is strongly encouraged by Mountaineering Scotland, NatureScot and the estates themselves
- Access it at outdooraccess-scotland.scot
Deer stalking and hillwalking coexist in Scotland through a combination of good law, good practice and occasionally tense negotiation. The Land Reform Act guarantees your right to walk — no estate can legally stop you. But a stalking party encountering a walker unexpectedly can result in a missed stalk (significant economic loss), distressed deer, and in very rare cases genuine safety risk from a shot made on a spooked moving animal. Heading for the Scottish Hills is the practical tool that prevents most of that conflict from happening.
Quick Answer: Heading for the Scottish Hills is a free web-based service at outdooraccess-scotland.scot where you can check for active deer stalking on your planned route before you go, and where estates can see that walkers have registered their intentions. It covers the stag stalking season (August–October) primarily. Using it takes two minutes and prevents potential conflict with working estates. It is not a legal requirement — your right to access is unconditional — but it is the responsible practice standard for the Scottish hills.
How the system works
Heading for the Scottish Hills operates as a two-way notification tool:
For walkers
You enter your planned route area and date on the website. The system shows you whether any estates in that area have registered stalking activity for that day. If they have, their contact details are displayed so you can call ahead and discuss a mutually suitable route.
For estates
Estates register their stalking schedule on the system in advance. If a walker has registered a route through their area, they can see that information and make contact to coordinate.
The result
The system doesn't stop you going. It gives both parties the information to plan around each other. Most conflicts come from simple lack of information — a walker who didn't know a stalk was planned, and a stalker who didn't know walkers would be on the hill. The system removes that ignorance.
When it matters most
The system is most useful from August to October — the stag rutting and stalking season. This period coincides with:
- Excellent hillwalking weather (September and October are often the best months)
- Peak estate stalking activity (stag quotas are filled in this window)
- Highly visible, noisy deer (rut means stags can behave unpredictably near humans and dogs)
During this period, it is good practice to check Heading for the Scottish Hills for any route that takes you through Highland estate land — which is most of the Munro-bearing terrain in the Cairngorms, Lochaber, Torridon, Knoydart, Assynt and Perthshire.
Your access rights remain unconditional
It cannot be stated clearly enough: your right to walk is not conditional on checking this system. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gives you an unconditional right of responsible access to almost all Scottish land. An estate cannot legally bar your route because you didn't register on Heading for the Scottish Hills.
What they can do — and occasionally do — is politely ask you to use an alternative route if a stalk is in progress. You are not obliged to comply, but the spirit of responsible access is to consider the reasonable request where doing so costs you little and avoids genuine harm to the estate's livelihood.
Deer stalking seasons: the calendar
| Season | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Red stag | 1 Aug – 20 Oct | Main Heading for the Scottish Hills period |
| Red hind | 21 Oct – 15 Feb | Lower intensity; same courtesy applies |
| Roe buck | 1 Apr – 20 Oct | Mainly woodland; less hillwalking conflict |
| Roe doe | 21 Oct – 31 Mar | Woodland |
| Sika stag | 1 Aug – 30 Apr | Less common; similar to red deer habits |
| Fallow buck | 1 Aug – 30 Apr | Mainly lowland |
For Munro-goers, red deer stag season (August–October) and red deer hind season (October–February) are the primary considerations.
Practical advice for the stalking season
- Check Heading for the Scottish Hills the night before any August–October hill day in estate country
- Call ahead if stalking is registered — estates are usually happy to suggest a route or time that avoids the stalk
- Keep dogs on a lead near deer — a dog running loose can scatter a herd across the hillside and ruin a stalk from a kilometre away
- Be aware of the rut (September–October) — rutting stags are unpredictable and can be aggressive if surprised at close range, particularly if you have a dog
- If you encounter a stalking party, do not approach the shooter position — back off quietly and wait until they signal it is safe to proceed, or take a wide detour
Related services
Wildland Limited (formerly Danish billionaire Anders Povlsen's estates in the Cairngorms) operates its own access information system through its estate websites, separate from Heading for the Scottish Hills.
Forestry and Land Scotland does not usually stalk deer in the same intensive way as private estates — FLS land is generally more straightforwardly open.
National Trust for Scotland properties generally have good public access and publish any restrictions clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Heading for the Scottish Hills?
Heading for the Scottish Hills is a free online notification service operated by NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage) in partnership with Mountaineering Scotland and Scottish Land and Estates. It allows hillwalkers to check for active deer stalking on their planned route and lets estates see that walkers are planning to be in the area. It is the main practical tool for managing the coexistence of deer stalking and hillwalking in Scotland.
Is it mandatory to register on Heading for the Scottish Hills?
No. Your right of responsible access under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 is unconditional — you do not need to notify anyone before walking on a Scottish hill. Heading for the Scottish Hills is a voluntary courtesy system, not a legal requirement. Using it is strongly encouraged as good practice by Mountaineering Scotland, NatureScot and most hillwalking organisations.
When is deer stalking season in Scotland?
Red deer stag stalking runs from 1 August to 20 October. Red deer hind stalking runs from 21 October to 15 February. These are the seasons most relevant to hillwalkers. Roe deer and sika deer have separate seasons. There is no "closed season" for deer in all-year-round estates — some low-intensity culling may occur outside these dates.
Can an estate stop me walking during stalking season?
No. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act gives you a right of responsible access regardless of stalking activity. An estate can ask you to use a different route as a courtesy, but they cannot legally bar your way or require you to turn back. In practice, most interactions between walkers and stalkers are courteous and easily resolved.
Is it safe to walk during deer stalking?
Yes, with normal awareness. The risk of being shot on a Scottish hillside is extremely low — estates operate professional stalkers who are trained in safe shot placement. The practical risks of the rutting season are: unpredictable stag behaviour at close range (keep distance from rutting stags), and dog disturbance of a stag that may charge. Walking during stalking season is normal and safe.
Related articles
- Are Dogs Allowed on Munros? — seasonal restrictions and access with dogs
- The Scottish Outdoor Access Code Explained — your legal rights and responsibilities on Scottish land
- How to Start Hillwalking in Scotland — the broader beginner guide
- Munros A-Z — route information for all 282 Munros
This article is for informational purposes only. Access rights in Scotland are governed by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 — see outdooraccess-scotland.scot for authoritative guidance.
Sources
- Heading for the Scottish Hills — NatureScot
- Scottish Outdoor Access Code — NatureScot
- Deer stalking and access — Mountaineering Scotland
- Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 — legislation.gov.uk