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Hiking Tips

Just in case you want to get out there and do some hiking too, we've put together a few tips that may help you get the most out of it.

Feet - These are the main tools of the trade, so you need to get them into an excellent state of health to start off with. Any problems with your feet will have been amplified 10 times after you've walked 5 miles and will seriously ruin a good walk. First check to see whether you have developed any areas of thickened skin on the soles of your feet. Sometimes this is referred to as "hard skin" but this is misleading. They usually form as a small circular lump on the balls of your feet or on the heel and they are not easy to find. Check carefully and remove them gradually over a couple of weeks with a purpose made file. A quick repair can cause soreness to your feet and allow infection in, so use care! Next you need to make sure your toenails are cut short and do not touch the neighbouring toes when squashed up in your boots. This can be very uncomfortable, so do a good job of it.
You would expect your feet to get tough and leathery after years of hiking, but the opposite appears to be true. Tough skin on your feet does not stop you from getting blisters: well fitting boots and socks do!

Socks - We use proper hiking socks that cost a bit more than ordinary socks but are worth their weight in gold. You will find these in Black's or Millets. Make sure you only put them on when you are just about to put your boots on too. If you walk about the house in your hiking socks, then you could pick up all manner of things in the weave (like the toenails you've just cut) which will rub your skin later on.

Boots - Make sure you buy your boots in the afternoon, as by then your feet will have swollen to their ultimate size after a days walking around. Make sure you are wearing thick hiking socks as well. Buy as good a pair as you can afford and spend a long time choosing them. Try on loads of different boots and walk around the shop in them to make sure they fit well. They should hug your feet soundly without crushing them and not slip around at all. A good boot shop should have a small ramp that you can walk up to make sure that the ankles of the boot fit well on an incline. Another tip is to make sure that they eyes are large enough so that you can take the laces in and out easily.
Your boots will need to be well maintained to keep them in top condition. This means that after every expedition they should be washed, left to air dry and then polished well. A layer of Nikwax or dubbing over the top now and then will help with waterproofing and conditioning of the leather. Don't overdo this last process though, as you can make the boots so soft that they start to fall apart.

Clothes - First off, jeans are a no-no! Once they get a bit sweaty they chafe something rotten and the pain of this will completely ruin a good walk. The best trousers are the purpose made ones that they sell in outdoor shops. They have plenty of pockets and are light and airy too. You can get different thicknesses of material for different times of the year. Combat trousers are very good as well. Shorts are a very good alternative. On top it is best to go for the multi-layer approach. We like to use a tee-shirt with a thin, long-sleeved top on top of that and a fleece over that (depending on the weather).
Another essential item is a hat. In the winter this needs to be woollen or similar to keep your head warm (a lot of the body's heat is lost through the head) but in the summer a peaked cap will keep the sun off your head. The hot sun on a bare head will make you feel very tired and sleepy, which is no good at all for hiking.
Try to keep in mind that there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.

Daysack - A 25 litre back pack will be more than adequate for a days walk. By preference try to choose an easy opening model with just a zip opening instead of all manner of clips and toggles. Side pockets and net pockets are very useful, as is a telephone pocket. You do not need a rucksack or anything with a frame for a days walking unless you are also going to be carrying a tent and sleeping bag etc.

Water bottle - Get yourself a proper bottle that securely holds at least a litre. In the summer this will be the most important piece of your equipment. The ones the Army use are perfect and can be bought from Army surplus stores.

Optics - We can't stress enough the added enjoyment that a pair of binoculars can add to a hike. Not only can you get to see animals, birds and insects that you would normally miss, but you can also use them to look for the next footpath sign or stile in the distance. Buy the best that you can afford and the money will not be wasted. A digital camera is also an essential that will not only preserve your memories, but can allow you to identify things such as plants and animals later on when you get home.

Map and compass - Learn to use a map and compass. It really isn't very difficult and is a skill that will make any walk safer, less stressful and more instructive. GPS is a good alternative but a map will never run out of battery.

Smell - As we try to see as much wildlife as possible, we take a certain amount of care to make sure we do not smell of perfumes and other chemicals. No aftershave or heavily scented deodorants.

Food - We are always surprised by the little amount of food we need while we are walking. We do however take enough to see us through. A couple of sandwiches, some fresh fruit, nuts and some emergency chocolate is usually enough combined with a tea and cake stop somewhere along the way.

Packing
Put your waterproofs in the top of your pack so that you can get at them quickly. Have your lunch in an airtight container to keep it fresh and in good condition.

"Backpacking is the art of knowing what not to take."
Sheridan Anderson

Distance - How far should you walk? To start with try a few 5 milers. Why not try the Beachy Head walk? That should get you in the mood for something longer. We tend to do about 12 - 15 miles which may sound a lot, but if you are walking for 10 hours, then that is only about 1 ¹/2 mph.

Coping with the distance - If you spend your time looking at everything around you and enjoying what you see, then the miles will slip by unnoticed. Walking slowly and quietly will also improve your chances of seeing wildlife. Don't worry about walking up hills, just take your time and try to enjoy them. Believe it or not you will learn to love them, and besides, if you want the best views then you have to work for them.
If you walk along looking at the ground, thinking about how much further you have to go, possibly feeling uncomfortable, then the walk will turn into a terrible slog. Instead try to keep your head up and focus on and appreciate the fresh air, the views, the wildlife, the peace and quiet, the patterns of the land and the weather (whatever it is like). If something aches or hurts, then stop and take care of it. Any fool can be uncomfortable. If your pack is digging into your back, then stop and rearrange its contents with the soft things against your back.

Sightings book - We like to write down all of the things that we see and all of the things that happened during the day into a small book. We include the date, the weather, all of the species of wildlife seen, the number of each species seen and any other useful information and reminders. We even do some sketching sometimes.

Walking on roads - When walking on roads, walk on the right hand side of the road facing oncoming traffic. This is so that you can see cars coming towards you and so that cars do not come up behind you in the same lane. Take extra care on blind corners, where it is sometimes safer to temporarily cross to the other side of the road.

Seeing wildlife - A certain amount of sneakiness is required when trying to see wildlife. Try to learn to walk without dragging your feet or stomping loudly. Stop talking. If you are wearing natural colours such as browns and greens, then you should be able to surprise all sorts of animals as you walk along. Whenever you come to a new vantage point on your walk, such as: a style through a hedgerow, the brow of a hill, a blind corner etc; then move slowly and cautiously. Animals that are unable to see you may be surprised and viewed before they realise you are there. Do not point or shout when you see something, keep still and make all necessary movements slow and steady, try to keep yourself concealed if possible. There is usually no need to leave the footpaths to see wildlife, in fact the best way to see mammals is when they cross the path up ahead of you, so keep your eyes peeled.

Countryside code
Leave nothing but your footprints, take nothing but your memories!
Shut all gates unless they have been secured open by the farmer.
Do not light any open fires, including BBQs! 
Do not leave any rubbish! You were strong enough to carry it there, you can manage to take it home with you too.
Keep dogs on a lead and under control and dispose of their mess properly.
Only touch wild animals if absolutely necessary, otherwise just look.
Do not pick wild flowers or collect their seeds.
Keep to paths wherever possible so as to not disturb ground-nesting birds, plants and animals.

Here is a list of the things that we carry between us for a days hiking: