Walking & Hiking Information – Page 7 – Walking & hiking activities

Essential Kit for Walking in Britain

October 7, 2015 Susan

Countless numbers of people in Britain enjoy walking as a hobby or pastime. Walking gives participants the chance to see some of the most amazing natural landscapes in the country whilst also improving their own health and wellbeing. In order to enjoy walking safely, it is essential that you always have the correct equipment. Here is a brief rundown of the essential items that you will need if you want to enjoy walking in Britain .

Walking clothes

The clothes that you wear can make a huge difference to the experience that you have whilst walking. Wear the right clothes and they will help to protect you as you walk, but wear the wrong clothes and they can actually hinder your progress.

You should choose a breathable baselayer to wear on the top half of your body. Technical materials are better than standard cotton products, because they will help to wick the sweat away from your body whilst you walk. This will help to control your body temperature and will help you to avoid irritation.

Hardwearing but quick-drying trousers are recommended for your bottom half. Avoid walking in denim jeans because they take too long to dry out and they are likely to irritate your skin once you have walked in them for a long period.

You should cover the baselayer with an insulating midlayer, which will help to keep you warm if the temperature starts to fall. Even if the weather looks sunny and the temperatures seem high, you should always travel with a midlayer, because the weather can change suddenly and temperatures are normally lower at higher altitudes. The wind can also help to lower the air temperature so a windproof layer will help to keep your body at an appropriate temperature.

Take a waterproof outer layer with you, including a jacket and waterproof trousers. These will help to keep you dry if you are caught out in a downpour. Protecting your inner layers from the rain will help to keep you warm enough and will reduce the potential irritation which can occur when walking in wet clothing.

If you are walking in Spring, Autumn or Winter you should also travel with a hat and gloves in case the temperature drops suddenly. These will help to protect your extremities from the cold. Choose gloves rather than mittens, as they will allow you to maintain your dexterity.

Footwear

Choosing the right footwear is incredibly important, as the wrong footwear can cause serious damage to your feet. As well as causing blisters and blackened toenails, badly fitting walking boots can actually cause permanent problems including trapped nerves. What is more, you are more likely to fall, slip or trip if you are wearing ill-fitting footwear.

Many leading walking shops in Britain offer free fitting services to help walkers to find the most appropriate boots for their needs. These services will normally consider the foot size and width, the arch of the foot and the intended purpose of the boots. Shops normally include a mixed terrain ramp so that walkers can test out how the boots might feel in different circumstances. Walkers normally find that shops recommend a shoe size that is at least half a size larger than the buyer’s normal fashion shoe size.

Comfortable walking socks are also essential. The socks should be made of a quick-drying breathable fabric which will help to draw sweat away from the feet. It is best to avoid normal cotton socks because they tend to hold any sweat close to the feet and they are likely to encourage problems such as Athletes’ Foot. When possible, buy seamless socks because the seam can become irritating over time and may encourage blister growth.

Other essentials

You should carry your kit in a properly fitted daysack or rucksack. Adjustable sacks are best, so that you can adjust the straps for maximum comfort, especially if you are carrying a heavy load. Always pack your sack so that the heavier items are at the bottom. This will help you to avoid the heavier items crushing the items which are more delicate.

You should always take a mobile phone with you, even if you are expecting to be out of signal range. This will help you to summon assistance as quickly as possible if needed. However, you should not rely on your phone (or any other device) for a GPS reading.

Walkers are also advised to travel with a light first aid kit in case there are any minor injuries, including cuts, bruises, grazes and sprains. The content of the kit can help you to prevent minor injuries from becoming more serious.

You should also carry a torch with you whenever you set off in a rural location, even if you expect to be back before dark. A torch will offer extra light if you are caught out unexpectedly in darkening conditions.

Best Walking Areas in Britain

July 14, 2015 Susan

Rural Britain includes some wonderful areas of landscape which are famous all over the world. These areas provide many fantastic walking opportunities for visitors and locals alike. If you want to see more of the finest walking areas in the United Kingdom, why don’t you check out some of the destinations in the list below?

Yorkshire Dales

The Yorkshire Dales National Park is the third largest national park in the country, and it is not hard to see why the area has been given national park status. The wonderful scenery offers a huge variety for visitors, including wild moorlands, beautiful valleys and rugged hillsides. The picturesque villages also hint at the amazing human history of the area. Whilst the area has a proud agricultural heritage, you can also see remnants of the industrial revolution that shaped Britain.

Consider tackling the Yorkshire Three Peaks: Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-ghent. Walkers normally depart from the Pen-y-ghent Café at Horton-in-Ribblesdale where there is a clocking-out and clocking-in point. The owners of the Café ask walkers to post their name and details through the door or hand them to a member of staff, so that they will be aware if anyone has failed to arrive back in the expected time. Although the walk can be done on a casual basis, many walkers take on the “challenge” for charity, as they attempt to walk the route in under 12 hours.

Cairngorm

The Cairngorm range is one of Britain’s wildest areas. The unique, rugged landscape means that it is home to some of the UK’s rarest plants, animals and bird species. It is largely made up of pine forest, heather moorland and some of the highest peaks in the country.

Within the boundaries of the Cairngorm National Park, there are 52 individual summits of over 900 metres, including Ben Macdui, which is the second highest mountain in the United Kingdom.

Interspersed between the mountains, walkers will be delighted by the beautiful lochs and glacial valleys which were carved out millions of years ago by the immense forces of nature. For those who do not fancy a difficult walk, there are also ski lift facilities and a mountain railway.

There are hundreds of different walking routes to choose from, but hardy walkers may wish to tackle the Cairn Gorm itself. Although the Cairn Gorm is not the highest mountain in the area, most walkers will be delighted by the thrills, challenges and rewards that are offered by this particular peak. The weather in the Cairngorms can be quite erratic, so it is important that walkers take all possible safety precautions when setting off, even if the weather forecast looks good. Inexperienced walkers should not set out in winter without a mountain guide.

Dartmoor

Dartmoor is known for some of the wildest upland in the United Kingdom. The mysterious wilderness has helped to produce some fascinating works of fiction which are known all over the world.

The wild upland landscape is dotted with rocky outcrops and interesting archaeological sites. There is also evidence of the fascinating mining heritage of the area, but walkers must always take care whilst they are around old mine buildings, as some open shafts still exist. Visitors will also have the opportunity to see some of the famous Dartmoor ponies.

Most of Dartmoor is open access land, meaning that walkers have the right to roam across the area without being confined to footpaths. However, it is always important to take notice of signposts and never cross into fenced off areas unless travelled on a proper footpath. Part of Dartmoor is used as a military training area and live ammunition is used. These areas are always announced and clearly marked, so you must avoid these zones when they are in use.

Although the terrain is relatively low-lying compared to the other destinations on our list, those who are seeking higher ground should visit High Willhays and Yes Tor. Both of these peaks stand at over 2000ft, but can be easily combined thanks to the height of the rest of Dartmoor.

Snowdonia

Snowdonia, which lies in the North of Wales, is the highest maintain area south of Scotland. The rugged terrain means that many of the walks in the area are challenging but full of character. With so many different ranges to choose from, most holidaymakers will choose one sub-region to explore; such as The Glyders, The Moelwyns or the Arenigs.

Although some of the peaks can get quite busy during the summer months, it is still possible to find areas which offer complete tranquillity. Because of the lack of lower level peaks, inexperienced walkers are advised not to visit Snowdonia if poor weather conditions are expected. Winter walking gear is required for the majority of walks which are undertaken during the winter walking season.