Walking in the Weather

One great option you can consider—which gets you outside for hours but isn’t expensive or extremely physically demanding—is walking. And I don’t just mean to the pub and back, I mean proper rambles and scenic views. So what can you do to have some truly great walks? Well here are just a few tips.

Get the Right Gear

If you’re walking a good number of miles on rough terrain in sometimes changeable weather, then you’ll need to have the right kit to make sure you get the most out of your walking. You always have to start with the right footwear. Places such as Go Outdoors, Sports Direct, and Blacks sell boots for all feet shapes and sizes, and for all types of walking conditions. Sometimes getting the correct walking gear can be costly, however sites such as Promo Codes For have a great range of codes from outdoorsy retailers, meaning you can save on the highest quality boots and clothing.

As well as footwear, there’s so much else you have to consider when you’re planning for a walk. To go with your shoes, to get the most of them you will have to pair them with preferably lightweight, breathable walking trousers, or if the weather’s great, shorts. To complete the look you will probably want to look at getting a high-wicking sports or walking t-shirt, as well as a sunhat (if the weather’s good), suncream (if the sun is intense) and a light packable waterproof mac (when it inevitably starts raining).

Find the Best Spot

The UK has an abundance of great walking routes. There are so many to choose from, be they AONBs (that’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty to us lay folk), National Parks or Forests. Up and down the country there are some great spots. If you’re more northern-based, then the best spot to check out would be the Lake District, which features the two largest natural lakes in England—Wast Water and Windermere—as well as the tallest peak in England, Scafell Pike. In Wales, the Snowdonia National Park features the titular mountain (Mount Snowden), as well as just under 1500 km of public footpaths, and the habitats of some of the rarest birds and animals in the country.

If you live in the south, one safe bet is the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. As well as having the well-liked sculpture trail, it has also been often used as the location of many well known film and TV series, such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Harry Potter, Doctor Who and Merlin. However, if it’s hilly terrain you’re after, you can’t go wrong with the Peak District, with stunning sites such as the Ladybower Reservoir and Thor’s Cave. Take a look at what YouTuber Dean Read got up to when he took on the Peak District’s Great Ridge.

Step It Up a Level

Enjoy walking but think you can up your level? There are a few things that you can try to boost your hiking game. The Three Peaks Challenge is an event in which you attempt to climb the three highest-peaked mountains in the UK—Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon—in only 24 hours. If you are more of a short-burst kind of person though, fell running might be for you. Also known as hill running, it’s a sport where you race over hilly, muddy, and rocky terrain, whilst also using your navigational skills to find the best route.

So there you go, just a few tips on what you can do if you want to start walking, getting out there and enjoying the summer. So why not give it a go?