In the past couple of years, the winter weather has been particularly cold, even by Scottish standards, which is why locals in the Central Scotland Forest area are being advised to dress appropriately when venturing outside.

At Central Scotland Forest Trust, we are urging people not to let the bad weather put them off exploring the outdoors during the winter months, but to simply wear suitable layers before being exposed to the chilly conditions.  Layers offer the flexibility to add or remove items of clothing depending on the severity of the weather and the level of physical exertion.

Simon Rennie, Chief Executive of CSFT said: “We are urging locals in the Central Scotland Forest area to dress appropriately for the winter weather in order to stay warm, safe and healthy when exploring the beautiful Scottish countryside.

“This can be done by wearing the three principle layers of wicking, insulation and protection which should ensure that you are properly prepared for being exposed to the cold weather.”

Wicking is the layer worn closest to the skin, usually consisting of long underwear.  The function of wicking is to move moisture away from the skin and pass it through the fabric in order that it can evaporate.

The middle layer of clothing should provide insulation and should ideally include one thick item such as a sweatshirt, jumper or fleece with its key purpose being to keep the heat in and the cold out.  It should be looser fitting than the inner layer in order to allow for the insulation process to take place. The protection layer is the third, or top, layer which should be worn and normally consists of a nylon material with the capacity to defy even the harshest weather conditions such as snow, sleet, wind and rain, whilst simultaneously remaining breathable to allow perspiration to evaporate.

Although layers provide the backbone for winter clothing, it is also extremely important to support these with additional garments such as hats, gloves and thick socks, as when temperatures drop it is the head, hands and feet which suffer first.

Simon Rennie added: “Regardless of the occasion, whether you are hillwalking with your friends, discovering the surrounding woodland area with your family or sledging with the kids, you should make the most of the outdoors this winter and remember, there is no such thing as bad weather - just the wrong clothes.”