All exercises require the same basic equipment outlined below. It is best to go fully equipped to Arran, but there are shops in Brodick where most of this can be bought if vital items are forgotten or lost during field work.

ESSENTIAL OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT (You will need to wear or carry these items at all times)

1. 1 Walking boots with non-slip ‘Vibram’ soles. Wellington boots can be used (‘Hunter’ wellies are particularly good); but be aware that they can slip easily on wet rocks.

2. 2 Lightweight trousers to walk in; ‘tracksuit’ trousers are fine but not jeans; they hasten the onset of hypothermia when wet.

3. 3 Waterproof jacket and trousers; these days ‘Goretex’ fabrics are popular, but they are expensive and jagged rocks have no respect for how much your clothes cost.

4. 4 Spare jumper, gloves and hat. Synthetic ‘fleece’ jackets, etc., are particularly warm but are generally not wind-proof.

5. 5 Small first aid kit.

6. 6 Emergency polythene survival bag, whistle and torch.

7. 7 High energy food (chocolate bars!) and drink (at least 1 litre, preferably with sugar in it).

8. 8 1:25 000 Ordnance Survey Leisure map, Isle of Arran (yellow cover). Whilst the maps drawn in this book are as accurate as possible, they only show relatively small areas and it is easy to walk off them. Therefore, it is vital to carry this large-scale map of the whole island at all times.