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How to be considerate when answering the call of nature outside.

The easing of lockdown restrictions means we now have the opportunity to lace up our walking boots and head for the freedom of our rural and remote spaces.

However, day trippers will discover that not everything is quite back to normal just yet. One curb that remains in place in Scotland is the closure of public toilets, including those handy cubicles found by the car parks of our favourite beauty spots.

But going to the loo al fresco can lead to public health problems and pollution of water courses, as well as having a nasty visual impact. So how should we answer a call of nature in the wild?

Think about others

Heather Morning of Mountaineering Scotland spends much of her life in remote areas far from public conveniences.

On Out of Doors she explained that, when it comes to relieving themselves, people tend to think more about their own privacy than the impact of the mess they leave behind.

“If you’re somewhere that’s very public, [such as a lochside walk] just doing it and leaving it for someone else to come across, or a kiddie to crawl into, or a dog to roll in it… it’s just pretty grim," said Heather.

“I would say, if you get caught short somewhere fairly accessible then your only option is to poo in a bag, take it away with you and put it in a bin when you get somewhere that you’re able to do that."

Going camping? You'll need one of these. (Image: Tio Tono/Pixabay)

'Take a trowel'

Heather advised that toileting habits should fit the location, and that out on the hills the procedure is very different.

“If you’re planning to camp overnight clearly, during that 24 hour period you’re going to need to go for a poo," she said. The solution is to "take a trowel and bury it.".

However, Heather advised that in the country's most remote locations even that may not be necessary.

"I would say if you’re well away from civilisation, away from summits, away from tracks and bothys, then it’s quite acceptable to do what all the other animals do and just go for a poo and leave it to dry out and decompose."

There is one habit Heather would prefer was not carried out in the wild: the use of toilet paper. If it must be used she asks that it is kept in a bag and taken home.

“I never take bog roll on the hill," she admitted. Instead, Heather prefers a more natural product.

"I always use moss. It’s an excellent alternative, particularly when it’s a bit damp."