Country walking for beginners
There are few greater pleasures in life than getting out into the open air and taking in Britain’s picturesque countryside.
Not only is country walking good for the soul, it’s great for the body too. It’s a safe and healthy exercise that just about anybody can take part in – and with 130,000 miles of public footpath in the UK alone, there’s no reason why any two walks should ever have to be the same.
Walking doesn’t really require any specialist equipment or advice - but here are a few general pointers that should be adhered to in order to keep you on the straight and narrow.
Be prepared
Whether you’re walking alone or with friends, it’s important to be prepared and pack the following items into your rucksack:
Food and Drink: It’s important to keep your energy levels up when you are out walking, so a bar of chocolate makes an essential companion. If you are not a chocolate fan, try some energising mint-cake – a favourite with walkers due to its high sugar count!
Spare Clothes: Our unpredictable weather means you can leave the house in blazing sunshine and return soaked by a sudden downpour. Even if you leave some spare clothes in your car, it at least means you can travel home in comfort.
Mobile Phone: One of the great lures of country walking is the chance to get away from the hectic pace of modern living, if only for an afternoon. Never make the mistake of leaving your mobile at home though. Should you find yourself or your companions in any form of difficulty, you may be very glad to have the technology to hand.
Map/compass: Regardless of how well you think you know your route, it doesn’t hurt to take a map with you. Ordnance Survey maps are generally accepted as the most reliable resource, clearly marking out the public right of way.
Plan your route
Going ‘wherever the wind takes you’ is an admirable attitude, but a lack of planning can impact on your enjoyment of an expedition.
Decide how long you would like to be walking for, and which areas you might like to visit along the way. Plan a route and you’ll then be able to work out how long it will take. As a general guide, walking speed is around 2.5 miles per hour.
Planning ahead won’t take any of the enjoyment out of your walk – it will just take out the stress!
Don’t bite off more than you can chew!
If you’re not a seasoned walker, don’t throw yourself straight into a 15 mile hike strewn with tricky narrow ridges. There’s just as much fun to be had on a simple three mile cross country – and half as much danger!
Take time to get used to map reading and using a compass, and build up your stamina until you are ready for the more physically-challenging walks.
Ready to go?
However fit, and however adventurous you are, there are countless walks perfect for you.
Popular destinations for UK walkers include the Peak District, Lake District, Yorkshire dales and the Cotswolds, plus of course the highlands of Scotland.
To find suitable walks in and around your region, try some of the following links:
http://www.go4awalk.com
http://www.walking-routes.co.uk
http://www.walkingworld.com
http://www.routecards.co.uk
http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk
Other useful sites
www.ramblers.org.uk
www.countrywalker.com
www.defra.gov.uk
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