A beginners guide to walking. What clothing and equipment you should have. Recognising main features on ordnance survey maps. Some example walks to apply your ordnance survey recognition skills. 

Country Walks for beginners.  Walking is a most enjoyable past time. For those beginners who believe walking is just getting out of a car and disappearing into wildness; beware! it can be daunting and dangerous if you are not prepared.

Weather in the UK is unpredictable and if not dressed correctly, your country walk could turn out to be a nightmare.

What I have laid out below is a list of items which you should have.  

Clothing, Walking and Hiking Equipment 

Clothing - All dependent on the weather and distance you intend to walk. The minimum would be loose trousers; not jeans because wet jeans become tight and uncomfortable to wear. Shorts are good on hot days but make sure you get a pair which has lots of pockets with zips. Having lots of pockets allows you to access equipment such as food, compass, whistle etc.

 Shorts are ok but if the country walk you are doing goes through brambles, nettles and thistles, long trousers would be better.

Hat - is useful for when it is cold or windy. Bobble hats or hats which can cover your ears are very good.

 Hats should be good woollen ones and are a must on wintry days as most of your heat is expended from the head.

Shirt - A woollen shirt which is breathable – not nylon – so you don´ t contain the sweat which makes you cold and wet.

Waterproof jacket - which is waterproof and not shower proof and one which breaths.

Walking Socks, A Good pair of woollen socks. Wearing two pairs is better than one. The second pair would be rolled over the top of the boots to stop stones and gravel getting in.

    When you put your socks on, make sure your foot doesn´ t move within the boot because you may get blisters, If you are prone to blisters put baby powder on your feet and cover the area with a plaster or a blister patch. Make sure when you put your boots on it doesn't irate you.

 Gloves - light gloves, not mittens just in case you need to climb. Waterproof gloves are ideal for wet, wintry weather.

Walking boots - Must be waterproof. The only time you could wear trainers would be if the country walk was on a flat path and it was dry and not of a great distance - less than 3 miles.

Always good to invest in proper walking boots and wear these whether you go on a short or long walk.

Rucksack - a small rucksack which can hold a waterproof and a water bottle or flask. For long country walks, I would take waterproof trousers and food such as chocolate, Kendal mink cake, Eccles cakes or food which is of  a high energy content.

 Always put heavier articles to the top of rucksack. If you lean backwards with a rucksack, you haven't packed it correctly.

Map - A map of the area. You should always have one just in case you deviate from the path or decide to venture further. A good map would be ordnance survey 2 and half to 1 mile - 4cm to 1km or 1:25000. This map will show the paths and the landmarks  which are very useful for working out exactly where you are. A map showing well defined contours. Contours give you height, depth and steepness which show whether you are in a valley or on top of a hill/mountain. You need to know how difficult the terrain is because height and distance determines the time it takes to walk.
 

Compass and Whistle - A pre-requisite for longer country walks and definitely when walking or scrambling on hills and mountains. You need to be proficient in reading a compass and knowing how to place it onto your map for determining direction. It is always good to have at least one individual in you party who can use a compass.
 

Small First Aid Kit - very important for any length of country walk.

Survival Blanket  -  You should always have one especially when walking in the mountains

 All beginners of country walking need to be kitted out correctly before venturing into the hills.

Once kitted  your are then ready to Plan a Walk.