Question 1

What are the best boots for hillwalking?

Accepted Answer

Everybody's feet are different,what works for one person may not work for another so we don’t recommend particular brands generally.

Our best advice is to go to a specialist outdoor boot supplier with a fitting service,you won’t regret this. We can advise on good places to go from our own experience.
Buy the best boots you can afford.
Gortex lined boots have a waterproof layer which is great in wet conditions and winter but in warmer conditions they don’t let your feet breathe so well and can cause problems with feet seating and swelling.
No boots are 100% waterproof as they have a hole in the top where you put your foot in!!!!
In the summer trail shoes or walking trainers may be enough on low level walks but we’d always recommend boots on hill and mountain terrain.
Don't forget socks! Good quality walking socks will have the padding in all the right places. (add a spare pair to your rucksack)
Foot Care is important a small blister, can quickly develop into something more nasty,so deal with any pressure points straight away. If you have known rub points on your feet we often find putting some zinc oxide tape over these points before you set out often keeps potential blisters at bay.

Question 2

What should I carry in my rucksack?

Accepted Answer

There’s lots of advice out there but it really depends on where you are going walking and how long you will be out for but very basic kit should include:

First Aid Kit (small personal one)
High Energy Food
Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder(with water in it) enough for the conditions and time out .
Spare Socks
Spare warm layer(more than one in winter)
Waterproof Jacket and Overtrousers
Head Torch
Rucksack rain cover.
Hat and Gloves(even in summer and extra sets in winter)
A means of navigation, map and compass is great if you know how to use them. (We can help with this,please ask)

Always remember the weather at valley level is often not the same as it is at the higher up and especially so the higher you go! You can very easily get caught out so best to be prepared.

Question 3

Are trekking poles a good idea?

Accepted Answer

Walking poles can be really useful, and can help protect your knees especially on the down hills.

Poles can aid balance and provide stability on uneven ground.
Stop your hands from swelling up when they are just hanging a your side.
Can help you maintain a good pace.

Poles also have other uses can test depth of water or snow. Can break up ice. Can be used to help someone else across water courses or a piece of uneven ground.
There are loads to choose from in a wide price range it could be useful to go along to a outdoor shop open up the different poles see how easy it is to adjust them you don’t want to spend hours on a walk trying to sort out your poles. Feel the weight of the poles the cheaper ones tend to be a little heavier to carry.
Check if the poles fit easily into your rucksack. Lots of rucksacks have an external fixing points for carrying poles.
There are lots of youtube clips demonstrating how best to use your walking poles and we can advise on this too.

Question 4

Can I get help with transport to events?

Accepted Answer

If you are travelling to one of our events please consider sharing transport. Benefits:

Share travel costs
Better for the environment
Gives you someone to chat to.

Just leave a comment in the event box on the Facebook page to let others know you’re happy to share or let us know that you either need a lift or can offer a lift and we will connect the dots!

Question 5

Don't forget the underwear!

Accepted Answer

We often focus on our outwear when walking hats and gloves, waterproof jacket etc and forget our underwear is reallly important. Lots of underwear is made of cotton this is not very breathable and can cause rubs and sores in the areas you reallly don’t want to have them. Everyday underwear also has lots of seams again these can cause a great deal of discomfort.
Merino wool underwear is usually seen as the best seam free underwear, there is a wide range out there some can be very expensive, but a simple search will bring up a wide range of prices designs styles to fit most people.
There are also anti chafing gels you can rub in to those sensitive areas!

Question 6

Can I bring my dog along?

Accepted Answer

You are always welcome to bring your dog along Ruby our dog is a key part of our walking group and is generally in attendance,she has been well trained and is a well behaved dog.
Please make sure that you are always in control of your dog especially when walking in areas where there are animals. Farmers have the right to take appropriate action if a dog is out of control and threatening their livestock and could possibly shoot a dog.
It is great for dogs to be able to run around off lead but you should have good recall and during lambing season and where wild birds may be ground nesting please keep your dog on a lead
Please pick up you dog’s poo and dispose of it in the correct way.

Question 7

What food and fluids do I need?

Accepted Answer

Get a rough idea of how long you might be walking for (on our events we put a rough time on the event page) and take the appropriate amount and a little extra just in case of delays.
FLUIDS
Fluids are vitally important to stay hydrated and avoid dehydration which can have serious consequences in a short period of time if not dealt with. Always look at the conditions on the day,you will drink more on warmer days and when you’re working hard so factor this in.
We would always recommend having the facility to carry two litres of water,better to have too much than not enough. Its also a great idea to carry some form of water filtration,this allows you to source water from water courses on route,its worth doing some research to find the best option for you. Please do ask us,we have experience of this.
On our longer events we usually have some contingency planned for water top up.
It’s also worth have rehydration tablets to drop in a bottle or bladder to replace body salts and minerals lost when you sweat,not replacing these can have serious consequences.
FOOD
Its always worth carrying snack foods,they’re easy to carry and keep handy to eat on the go especially if you’re doing challenge events where time is a factor.

Nuts
Dried fruit
Jelly babies

And a staple of some of our regular members are Percy Pigs and they’re always happy to share!!!

Question 8

What should I bring for lunch?

Accepted Answer

Sandwiches are ok but bread can feel heavy and take a while to digest.
A tub of pasta or rice mixed with salad, veg, tuna etc is a great choice.
Flapjack is a good sweet treat and energy boost,you can buy lots of different flapjack or cereal bars,alternatively flapjacks can be made really cheaply at home and stored in an airtight container.
Food is really important to take on the walk with you to keep your energy levels up,we do have regular stops and especially so on our longer events to encourage you to eat plenty to keep you going.

Question 9

What should I do when walking alone?

Accepted Answer

If you’re walking alone tell someone where you will be walking that day with your planned route and your expected return time.
This could be the owner of the accommodation you’re staying at or friends and family.
The person should be someone who is in a position to come and fetch you if needed or able to contact emergency services and be able to provide clear information to the appropriate services to get help and support to you as quickly as possible.If you're in the psotion of needing rescue,put on spare clothes to keep warm,try to establish your location,OS Locate is a free app and gives a 6 figure grid refence of your location.
If you need mountain rescue support,call 999 ,ask for the police then ask for mountain rescue and wait for them to contact you,its always worth staying put if its safe to do so then mountain rescue can locate you and finding you becomes easier.

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