This Help page provides basic tips on how to prepare for a hiking trip.
Whether you are booked onto one of our Scottish guided walks or are planning your own hiking trip, it’s important to prepare by covering the basics. These include transport, accomodation and personal fitness/medication (see my general pretrip checklist for advice).
Hiking trip packing
When you prepare for the hiking itself, remember that mountain or coastal conditions on your trip may be unpredictable, so check the weather forecast carefully (eg: the UK Met Office). Plan a sensible route that is achievable and has alternatives. Carry enough food and drink, plus UV protection and appropriate clothing layers, all packed in a comfortable rucksack/backpack. Insect (midges) and tick bites are a possibility during the warmer months, so you might want long trousers and insect repellant. Consider what gear you will need for navigating and emergencies. You will also need the right footwear for walking over rough and/or slippy terrain! You may need a few extra bits of kit if you are planning a birding trip. Many of these topics are covered in more detail in the blog.
How to prepare for a hiking trip
- Cover the pretrip basics
For example, transport, accomodation, personal fitness/medical issues.
- Check weather and plan a route
- Pack enough food and drink
- Carry UV protection
- Wear appropriate layers
- Pack insect/tick repellant
- Select navigation and emergency gear
- Wear the right footwear
- Responsible person with route and ETA
Have you left your hiking trip route with someone?
And finally, once you have decided your hiking route, it is wise to prepare and leave a ‘route card’ with a responsible person. They can then alert the emergency services if you don’t return from your trip due to injury, getting lost, etc (especially important for solo hikers).
Visit blog for more:
These handy blog posts open in a new tab.
For more detailed advice to help you prepare for a hiking trip in Scotland, read Hiking in Scotland, an ancient land of challenge and stories. For local information see: Cairngorms Guide.
For winter walking advice (including for Winter Skills courses), see Prepare for my Winter mountain hike
📅 Gear rental for clients: local equipment hire (new tab)
