Whilst most of our weekly local walks are relatively flat, or have a few small hills, some of our trips away have more challenging hills and even mountains. This blog provides some tips and advice for those of you who may be thinking of attending one of our trips away to areas with more challenging hills / mountains, such as Scotland, Snowdonia or the Lake District.
In the mountains the weather can be very unpredictable and may change quickly with temperatures decreasing as you gain height: typically 6°C per 1000m (see the following link for temperature changes at different elevations in the Lake District). Wind chill can also make it feel a lot colder, e.g. close to freezing, even when it’s warm in the valleys.
The terrain on these walks can be challenging and strenuous: it’s not uncommon to have to walk through rivers, fords, boulder fields, bogs, thick vegetation or hill sides with loose stone (known as scree). There is often no clearly defined path. Climbing up and down mountains also has more impact on muscles and stamina than local BW walks.
When walking in rugged terrain it is even more important that you have a sturdy pair of walking boots to wear. Try and ‘break-in’ these boots before the trip by wearing them a few times on local walks (this will reduce the chance of blisters). Also consider purchasing some walking poles which can keep you stable when climbing and descending.
Because of the unpredictable weather also ensure that you have waterproof trousers, jacket and waterproof cover for your backpack. It’s advisable to wear clothing that will either dry quickly (e.g. synthetics) or will still keep you warm when it’s wet (e.g. wool). Jeans are not suitable. Also pack some additional layers in case the weather changes and include woolly hat and gloves – even in summer! Gaiters are also useful for walking through bogs.
Make sure you bring plenty of energy-rich food on the walks, several litres of water (we suggest 2L), and eat a good-sized breakfast in the morning.
Other things to consider bringing are a backup battery for your mobile phone, a head torch, a whistle (there may be one built into the straps of your rucksack), and a small first aid kit with a foil blanket or survival bag.
For further guidance on purchasing walking equipment see the Ramblers Guidance and there is some further advice on mountain and hill walking here. Remember that as a Ramblers member you get access to various discounts including 15% off at Cotsworld Outdoor.