Are you thinking about increasing the amount of walking you do each week? – perhaps as part of your commute, to reduce car use or just to get a bit fitter. These quick tips will help you while you’re out and about:
1. Plan your route
Planning your route can take the stress out of your journey, knowing exactly where to go and ensuring you don't hit dead ends or get lost! Using tools like AA route planner or Google Maps will also help you to find the quickest route - you might even find shortcuts you didn't know about!
2. Let someone know where you are going and when
It's so important to make sure you're safe when you're travelling by foot! Letting a colleague know you're walking to work today or phoning a friend when you're leaving is a great way to stay safe.
3. Wear a bright jacket or clothing, especially on darker mornings/ evenings
Making sure you're unmissable to drivers and others using the roads should be a top priority when you're walking. Look out for clothing with reflective patches, and eye-catching fluorescent colours to make sure nobody is going to miss you!
4. Wear the appropriate footwear
Think comfort! Think support! If you're walking to work, think about putting your work shoes in your rucksack and donning your comfiest trainers to get you there!
5. Be aware of your surroundings as you walk
Love listening to music or podcasts on your walks? Make sure you're staying aware of roads and other hazards around you, staying alert at all times!
6. Sometimes there are no pavements available. In this case, walk on the right hand side of the road
Often country roads and smaller lanes will have no designated path for you to walk on, in which case you need to be facing the oncoming traffic when you're walking so that they have a greater chance of spotting you further in advance
7. Carry a torch or wear a headlight if you think you may be out late
Making sure that you can see where you're walking and spot any potential hazards will prevent risking your safety, so pop a torch in your rucksack for those darker evenings!
8. Check the weather forecast before you leave
The Great British Weather is well known for its unpredictability, so check your weather app or listen out for weather alerts before you start walking, to ensure that you don't get caught in unexpected and potentially hazardous weather conditions
9. Take a mobile phone if you have one
This allows you to reach people if you get lost, stuck or injured, and simultaneously allows others to contact you if they are concerned!
10. If you are carrying heavy items, like a raincoat or bottle of water, then use a backpack with straps that go over both shoulders, to distribute the weight evenly.
You don't want to end up causing back and neck problems, so make sure to carry a suitable bag for your belongings!
Most importantly, enjoy yourself!
Check out our other blogs for more top tips and recent updates!