This might seem straight forward to many but actually talking to so many local people who may well have stunning walks right on their doorstep many don’t actually take advantage of them. When starting to walk it isn’t as simple as popping into your local outdoor equipment shop and buying everything on show. Not only is this a waste of time and money it isn’t really what you need.
- Good sturdy shoes/boots are a must when walking. The fells might look like they are soft green mounds but many have uneven ground to contend with and wearing some £10 pair of trainers
from your local supermarket is not going to cut it. Personally, I am a walking shoe woman rather than a boot purely because of ankle comfort BUT my husband prefers a boot. I would recommend heading to a couple of local shops and have a try on of a range of footwear to see what works best for you. There is no point in spending £70+ on a pair of boots if you have blisters in the first mile! - Layers! Don’t just throw a thick coat over your t-shirt and hope for the best. Wow how the weather can change in Cumbria. One minute we are standing in the pouring rain and the next the sun is beaming through the clouds. A vest under a long sleeve top with fleece/jumper and a slightly thinner waterproof and windproof coat means you have more options when walking especially if you are heading up hill where the temperature can be a completely different kettle of fish. If you are stopping on a walk for lunch/snack your body temperature will drop quickly so it’s good to be able to pop your hat/gloves/coat back on after stopping to keep you warm.
- Wear trousers that are breathable, soft and dry quickly. You don’t want to be walking in jeans or anything restrictive. You want to be as comfortable as possible. Try some sports leggings, walking trousers or tracksuit bottoms but try not to go for the jumper material as it will stay wet for longer. We tend NOT to wear shorts due to getting cold and going through plant life where you can be exposed to nettles, rough twigs bushes and of course ticks.
- In the colder months then scarf, hat and gloves are a must. Depending on the weather we take thin buffs/scarves which can be left on when other layers are taken off. If you are anything like
me then take gloves! My hands get cold and sometimes when going up and down the hills it’s easy to grab onto rocks/trees to steady yourself when coming down and I like to have that added layer. - Obviously included in your layers needs to be waterproofs – trousers and jacket. The weather can change quickly so in the words of a fellow adventurer Baden Powell ‘Be Prepared’!
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