GPS jamming will take place around Loch Ewe. Photo: Nilfanion CC-BY-SA-3.0

Outdoor enthusiasts in the North-West of Scotland are being warned they will not be able to rely on GPS devices for two weeks this month.

Ofcom, the official regulator for radio communications, said jamming of Global Positioning System signals will take place from 5 October to 16 October.

The jamming is part of the Joint Warrior military exercise involving UK military personnel, ships and aircraft, and European, Canadian and USA armed forces.

The signals, used by hand-held GPS devices, mobile phones and vehicle sat-nav systems, may be blocked during the exercise, in the areas around Loch Ewe and Faraid Head near Durness.

The jamming means walkers and other outdoor fans will have to use conventional navigation methods – paper map and compass – when finding their way in those areas.

Ofcom said ‘safety of life operations’ will take precedence over the jamming exercise if necessary.