Top Tips For Your Walking holidays
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National Walking Week
With Britain becoming a nation of fatties according to recent reports, a lot more people may take heed – and start walking it off.
The National Audit Office has told Parliament that the number of obese people has tripled over the past 20 years, and is still rising.
With most adults in England overweight and one in five obese, doctors across the country will be advising more exercise – so what better than a walking holiday.
It is a healthy pastime that needs no real training; after all we walk every day. And Britain has so many tremendous places to discover on foot. Walking holidays and short breaks can be as hard or as easy as a person’s fitness levels permit. The pace and duration of walks depends on whether you have small or teenage children or even grandparents along and their overall level of fitness.
Flat walks for the less active or the newcomer to this type of exercise can be found all over Britain just as there are some super-hikes for the very fit.
Some planning is involved in booking a walking holiday. Firstly, the overall size and fitness of your family or group will determine what accommodation is required and which area would be best. These factors will help make the decision whether to take a cottage in East Anglia, where you can easily explore the flat lands, or head north to Scotland where the terrain such as in the Cairngorms requires more fitness and some dedication.
Tough mountains hikes are not for younger children nor for the older age groups unless they are experienced walkers.
There is a massive amount of accommodation for rent in the UK, in or close to some spectacular scenery and excellent places to visit.
Walkers can find park homes, caravans, chalets, cottages and flats of all styles and sizes to rent in the pages of Daltons Weekly and on the internet at www.daltonsproperty.com.
Unlike marathon running, getting fit for a walking break does not require weeks of increasingly hard training and schedules of scores of miles per week. If you know you are going for a walking holiday start muscle stretching strolls a month before departure and keep that up, gradually increasing the distance a little. Vary your terrain and try a hill or two occasionally.
By the time your group leaves, this regime will give a reasonable level of fitness – maybe not good enough for some of the mountains of Wales and Scotland but enough for most terrains.
There are a huge number of books covering the whole of Britain which can help you decide where to take a walking holiday. Among them are the AA’s “100 Best Walks” series which cover East Anglia, South West England, South East England, Wales and The Marches, the Heart of England, Eastern England, Northern England and Scotland. Check your local library and bookshops for publications recommending walks or search the internet.
There is nothing in this world that is totally risk free and that includes walking holidays so a degree of common sense and judgment is required to keep yourself, and all of your family or group, safe.
Taking Care on your Walking holiday
High routes – be cautious on mountain paths or cliff top coastal routes where there is a danger of someone slipping over.
Beside the seaside – before venturing on the seashore check tidal conditions and high tide charts to avert the danger of being cut off by the sea.
Road problems –extra care is needed when walking routes cross roads. Even traffic on minor roads can be a danger
Dogs and children – keep both under control where roads meet country paths and when agricultural machinery and livestock are about.
Climate changes – always check the weather forecast before setting out, especially in high areas where things can turn very nasty very quickly. Rain can turn to snow; moorland mist to thick fog; and warm sunshine to a very hot day. Do not set out in poor visibility or conditions
While a walker does not want to be laden down with vast amounts of equipment for the day, there are some essentials required. Most items needed for a safe and trouble free day out are made of modern lightweight materials, so weight is kept to a minimum.
Correct equipment for your Walking Holiday
- A 20-35 litre rucksack, preferably waterproof and with storm proof pockets
- A comprehensive (Ordnance Survey even) map of the area you plan to cover
- A compass
- A torch
- In summer, a hat and plenty of water
- In winter, spare clothing
- A whistle
- A survival bag
- Mobile phone but do not bank on always finding a good reception area
- Sturdy waterproof boots that support the ankles
- Warm and waterproof clothing, depending on the time of year
- Waterproof trousers and gaiters
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