All participants are required to carry a mobile phone on their crossing as access to landlines and phone boxes can be very limited.
You will be asked for a minimum of four phone in points during your crossing from where you will check in with Challenge Control via phone, text or WhatsApp. This is the core of our safety procedure. Failure to check in on the designated day may result in concern at Control and possibly a referral to Mountain Rescue.
Click below for a list of acceptable Phone-in Points.
A few notes:
- Bridge of Dye – the signal here fluctuates and can be provider dependent. We accept it as you are usually able to send a text within a couple of kms. Keep an eye on your phone for a signal whilst walking on.
- Bridge of Gaur can only be used as a PIP if staying at the Bridge of Gaur Guest house where there is access to Wi-Fi and the owners landline.
- Clova – There is little or no signal so a phone in from here relies on going into the hotel for at least a coffee and using their Wi-Fi.
- Cougie – There is little or no signal on most networks. However Melanie Pocock, who lives there and welcomes Challengers for food and camping, can message when she is away from home if needed. Please only use this if you cannot find anywhere else in the first four days of your crossing.
- Tarfside – You’ll need to pop into St Drostan’s Hostel where Challenge volunteers, as well as serving light refreshments, keep a list of Challengers and phone this in at 8pm every evening via a landline.
You can use other PIPs as long as they fit the following criteria:
- Places with reliable mobile reception, access to a landline or to wi-fi, ideally in towns or villages.
- Not on summits or ridges – you might not be there if taking your FWA.
- Not your start or finish point.
- No more than 4 days apart.
Mobile phone coverage can be checked here or go to you provider’s map but note that coverage maps provided by phone companies are often over optimistic. Please only use a place if your provider shows a good outdoor signal.