Practical guidance for walking safely across the UK — from lowland paths to mountain plateaux.
Trail walking technique
Tell someone your route and return time — or register with STANAGEGO.
Start early. Weather on UK hills changes quickly; morning conditions are often clearest.
Stay on marked paths where they exist, especially on nesting moorland (March–July).
Walk at a pace that allows conversation. The slowest person sets the group pace.
On descents, take shorter steps and avoid locking your knees.
Cross streams at the widest, shallowest point. Unbuckle hip belts before deep crossings.
Give livestock and dogs on leads a wide berth. Close gates behind you.
Map and compass
Carry the correct Ordnance Survey map for your area — 1:25,000 Explorer for detail, 1:50,000 Landranger for longer routes.
Contour lines: at 1:25,000, contours are typically 5 m apart. Tight spacing means steep ground.
Orient the map to the ground before you rely on it — turn the sheet until features line up.
Take a bearing: line the compass edge between start and destination, rotate the bezel until north aligns, then follow the needle.
Tick off features (walls, streams, summits) to confirm position as you walk.
Grid references read eastings first, then northings: "along the corridor, up the stairs."
In poor visibility, pace counting and timing between features help — practise in good weather first.
Phone GPS is useful backup, but batteries fail and screens are hard to read in rain. Paper map and compass do not.
Essential kit (day walk)
Always carry
OS map (waterproofed) and compass
Waterproof jacket and trousers
Warm mid-layer, hat, and gloves
Water (minimum 1 litre; more in summer)
Food and emergency snack
Fully charged phone and power bank
Head torch with spare batteries
Small first aid kit and whistle
Emergency shelter or survival bag
Also consider
Trekking poles on steep or long descents
Sun cream and sunglasses
Insect repellent in summer
Cash for parking or cafés in remote areas
Weather and emergencies
Check MWIS or the Met Office mountain forecast before upland walks. Turn back if conditions worsen.
If someone is injured and cannot walk, call the emergency services and ask for mountain rescue. Keep the casualty warm.
Distress signal: six whistle blasts or torch flashes per minute, pause, repeat.
In lightning, leave summits, ridges, and isolated trees. Spread out if in a group.
In fog, shorten legs between checkpoints, use the compass, and reduce speed.
UK mobile signal is patchy on hills. Download offline maps before you go.
Register your hike so someone off the hill knows your plans and expected return.
Before you set off: check the
Met Office mountain forecast
or MWIS for upland areas, pack from our
kit list, and register your walk with
STANAGEGO or the iPhone app.