Britain is a beautiful country, in fact I think it’s very underrated. Most people visit the amazing city of London, perhaps other historical towns like Oxford and Cambridge, but are unaware of the amazing natural landscapes that this country offers. From the charm of the rolling hills to the harsh beauty of rugged mountains, Britain really has it all. If, like me, you’re an avid hiker and nature lover, there is plenty to explore here. However, it is vital to be prepared: hiking in Britain may be fun and exciting, but it can be challenging and, to many outsiders, quite unusual. For this reason, I have compiled my list of top tips that will be great to know before going hiking in Britain!
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What to wear
Always dress in layers
Britain’s weather is notoriously changeable. When going out for a hike, you will often encounter unstable weather with rainy and sunny spells alternating. The perceived temperature can also vary drastically during unstable days. For example, when the sun comes out it may feel warm even on cool days.
Aside from the changeable weather, it’s important to remember that Britain has a humid climate. This is especially true for Wales, Scotland and the north of England. However, southern England is also humid most of the time despite having less rain. The high humidity can make it feel warmer than the official temperature suggests, especially as your body naturally warms up when walking and hiking.
It is, therefore, important to dress in layers when going out on a hike in Britain. You should have warm clothing with you, such as base layers of jackets, but you should also be wearing light clothes underneath. This way if the sun comes out and the perceived temperature rises, you can simply take off your outer layers.
Bring waterproof and windproof clothing
Have I already mentioned the rain in Britain? And that the weather is changeable? I feel like I have for some reason.
Some areas are rainier than others, but rain is still common everywhere and glorious sunny weather can never be guaranteed. Therefore, I would strongly recommend bringing some waterproof clothing with you when hiking anywhere in Britain, just in case.
Wind can also be a factor. Many areas are very windy in the autumn and winter seasons, but mountainous areas are often windy in the summer too. Windproof clothing is definitely something to pack, as it will make your British hikes much more comfortable.
Wear waterproof shoes
Again, I feel like I’ve already mentioned the rain? Why do I feel the need to keep bringing it up?
Due to the frequent rain, you’ll often have to walk on wet soil. Puddles can be everywhere and paths can also get partially flooded. Therefore, you really shouldn’t be hiking in Britain in trainers. Instead, waterproof shoes with grippy soles are the way to go when hiking anywhere in Britain.
Getting around
Bring a map and compass with you
I didn’t realise this growing up hiking in Italy, but they definitely spoiled me with the efficient signposting of paths there. On Italian mountains, the CAI (the Italian mountaineering society) has developed a signposting system that uses two colours, white and red, to mark the paths. At the beginning of paths and at crossroads, you will find detailed signs directing you to the different paths. To help you stay on track, they identify each path by both its destination and its own code. Moreover, the CAI has placed small but visible patches of white and red paint at regular distances along the paths. This makes it very easy to keep following the mapped path.
In Britain, however, this is not the case. Land is not managed by a single entity like it is on the Italian mountains, but by different organisations instead. A lot of land is managed by large, public organisations such as the National Trust, but it can also be managed by local entities. This means that there isn’t a common signposting system for paths that’s easily recognisable. The types of signs vary greatly across different locations and many signposting systems are, in my opinion, very ineffective. Signs are often very small and easily missed, and many crossroads are not properly signposted. On top of this, there are no regular small signs that would easily keep you on the right track. You can often walk quite long distances before seeing another sign, and this makes it easy to veer into a different direction and end up on a different path.
Therefore, I would strongly recommend buying a map of the local area. They are widely available at local shops and usually inexpensive. They are light to carry around and contain detailed information on local roads, paths, rights of way and terrain changes. You should also bring a compass with you, which will make it easier to find the appropriate direction and stay on the right track.
If driving, look up car park locations and charges in advance
Many hiking areas in Britain are pleasant to drive around and a car is necessary to reach some remote locations. Many people rent a car to travel around when hiking, or use their own vehicles where possible. If you’re thinking of renting a car for your British hiking adventure, check out DiscoverCars to find the best offers. Check out this article for the best tips to save money and have a smooth car rental experience.
However, car parking is often limited, and charges are often quite high. It’s therefore important to research their location and prices ahead of time, and if visiting during the high season it’s best to arrive early before they fill up.
In many areas it may be better to park in towns and villages rather than more in rural locations. There are many walking paths that start and end in towns in areas such as the Lake District, and parking there is usually cheaper than outside of towns. Of course this will not be true for all the hikes you may want to do, but it’s worth researching if it’s an option.
If you live in or regularly travel to Britain to hike, a National Trust membership is a cost-effective way to reduce your parking bills. It gives you free access to their properties nationwide, where an entrance fee applies, and of course free parking at their car parks.
Some areas have good public transport
While travelling by car is always a good option in British hiking areas, it’s not always necessary. Some areas have good public transport networks that you could use to travel between towns and villages, or even to remote landmarks.
The Lake District, for example, has a remarkable bus network, with many lines that can take you to a lot of locations in the area. You would still need a car to reach the most remote areas, but the bus network may be good enough for most visitors. Check out this link to view the Lake District’s bus timetables and routes.
The Isle of Skye also has public buses that can take you to some of its landmark hiking areas, including the Fairy Pools and the Old Man of Storr. Visit this link to view the local timetables and see if the bus network would suit your visit.
Accessing hiking areas
You will find gates and fences on public paths
I definitely found this odd when I first moved to Britain and started exploring the walks in my local area. It is quite unique to Britain, and a direct consequence of the way people own land in the country. In England and Wales, all land is owned by someone. Nowadays, public bodies like the National Trust own a lot of famous mountains and countryside areas, and make them accessible for public use. In some instances, private individuals may own the land but they have made available for public use.
For this reason, you will need to use public rights of way to access hiking areas. They often border or go through private farmland though, or other land that may not have public access. For these reasons, fences are common to mark private property and keep livestock from leaving their fields. Gates that can easily be opened and usually automatically close behind you are used to protect public rights of way, while also preventing livestock from leaving their grazing grounds.
Scotland is a bit different because it has a ‘right to roam’ law that gives the public access to mountains and countryside. Therefore, the rights of way are much less relevant in Scotland. However, it’s still common in Scotland for farmland to be near mapped paths, so gates are still common to prevent livestock from leaving their fields. And this leads me to the next tip.
You will often share the hike with farm animals
As mentioned above, when hiking in Britain you will often end up walking through farms. If animals are grazing on the grounds, you may be sharing the path with cows or sheep. In the Lake District, you will often share your walks with the local herdwick sheep!
Normally there is no danger when walking through areas with animals grazing. Sheep are especially shy with humans and will simply walk away from you if you approach them. In fact, they seem to be more afraid of humans than cars. If you encounter them on the road while driving it’s usually easier to step out of the vehicle to make them move out of the way.
Cows are usually safe to share the path with, although they can be dangerous if they charge. For this reason, you won’t find cows grazing in areas with public footpaths as often as sheep. Nevertheless, cows are very unlikely to charge if you keep your distance.
Generally, it’s perfectly safe to share the walk with farm animals, but there are a few etiquette rules to follow. First, always make sure to close the gates behind you. Second, avoid disturbing or scaring the animals, as it may cause cows to charge or sheep to run in groups and hurt themselves. Third, keep your dog on a lead and under control. There have been many cases of hikers’ dogs chasing farm animals and sometimes injuring them.
