Weather

The hills and mountains will be there tomorrow,  there’s no shame in changing your plans.
A simple change of route can make all the difference if the weather is against you, and be prepared to turn back if the forecast doesn’t look too clever.  The weather can close in unexpectedly or the conditions can turn out to be much more difficult than you’d expected, turning back is not defeat. 

The National Parks, AONB, Met Office websites all offer great advice when it comes to walking safely and considering the infamous British weather when walking.     

Check the weather forecast – the Met Office is a great place to start and remembering to check conditions for different points on your route, the summit will be very different to the start of your walk.

Understanding how cold and windy it will be, and the level of the cloud base at the highest parts of the walk  is important, not forgetting to factor in wind chill factor. Whether  your walk be by the sea, lake, mountains or river, checking the weather forecast before you set off is vitally important.   

On cold days you’ll be in need of some food and a warm drink, gloves and a hat.

Remember that the warm weather brings other challenges.  

Keeping hydrated, not overheating, wearing a hat and sunscreen all sound like common sense?

But long walks with exposure to the sun can lead to heatstroke quite rapidly, and needing your wits about you on tricky terrain is crucial.