Magazine error directs walkers to go over a cliff

Britain's most popular hillwalking magazine apologised yesterday after the latest issue contained a route that led climbers off the edge of a cliff.

Britain's most popular hillwalking magazine apologised yesterday after the latest issue contained a route that led climbers off the edge of a cliff.

The February edition of Trail gave advice to walkers caught in foul weather and poor visibility on how to get off Ben Nevis, Britain's tallest peak, safely.

If readers followed the magazine's directions they would have plunged from the mountain's notorious north face, which has claimed a number of lives.

The editor of Trail, Guy Procter, said he was "gutted" by the error but did not believe it would endanger anyone's life.

He said the article was written by an experienced hillwalker from Loch Lomond and the mistake had occurred during the production process.

"Somewhere in the journey to press, our route on Ben Nevis has lost the first of two bearings needed to get off the summit safely," he said.

The first bearing of 150 metres that was given for evading a dangerous gully had been deleted, leaving only the second bearing to follow, he added.

The Mountaineering Council for Scotland has issued an alert on its website warning any hillwalkers to be aware of the mistake in the route.