Walking is one of the most accessible pastimes: you can safely walk in towns or easy countryside without any specialist clothing, equipment or skills. If you plan to go deeper into the countryside, however, you will be more comfortable, safe and secure if you take a little time to prepare and follow a few simple rules. And if you intend to go into more remote and rugged countryside, you should certainly know what you are doing.
This page offers basic health and safety guidelines for walkers in the British countryside, and gives pointers towards further information and courses. See Outdoor footwear, clothing and equipment for details of what to wear and what to take. See also Leading group walks if you are planning to lead a group of people on a walk.
Contents
Safety and security
Body matters
Natural hazards
More information
Safety and security
General safety rules
Walking in most of Britain should present no serious problems even to a beginner, provided you follow a few simple rules.
- Don’t take unnecessary risks by tackling overly long or difficult routes.
- Know where you are or have a map and the ability to read it.
- On longer walks, be aware of "escape routes" in case you need to cut your walk short for whatever reason.
- Make sure you have plenty to eat and drink and are adequately dressed for the length of time you’ll be out.
- Take a sensible approach to the weather, which in Britain is rarely severe but changeable and often wet. Check the forecast before you set out (try the Met Office), always take a waterproof and keep an eye on the sky. Rain, mist or fog and cold are the obvious hazards, but strong winds can be a problem too, especially on exposed hillsides or coastal cliffs.
- Make sure someone knows when you expect to be back
If you're concerned about your own personal security when walking on your own in quiet places, the following advice may be helpful.
- Be prepared to change your route if you feel unsafe for any reason, either in towns and cities or in the countryside.
- Consider taking a stick, personal alarm or mobile phone.
- Avoid using a personal stereo if this stops you remaining alert.
- Make a special effort to be sure someone knows when you expect to be back.
While no activity is entirely without risk and fears for personal security are understandable, do also bear in mind that incidents of personal attacks and assaults from strangers are still thankfully extremely rare.
Walking on roads
When walking on roads, follow the advice in the Highway Code (see Department for Transport): use the pavement if there is one and safe crossings wherever possible, help drivers to see you, and where there is no pavement walk on the right, facing oncoming traffic, crossing to the other side before sharp right-hand bends. Take special care on country roads with no pavements where traffic may be moving very fast.
Level crossings
Take special care when crossing railway lines using level crossings, especially "user controlled" crossings along footpaths where there are no automatic barriers or railway staff. Remember that it is much more difficult to stop a train than a car.
Always obey alarm warning signals and lights, keep children with you, and keep dogs on a lead. If there are no warnings or lights, stop, look and listen, then look again before you cross, remembering that trains travel faster than you think and that curving lines and overgrown vegetation can sometimes obscure the view. If it is safe, cross quickly, taking care not to trip on the rails. On user controlled crossings, make sure you shut both sets of gates behind you.
When walking in a group, don't just follow the person in front. Everyone should take responsibility for their own safety and stop, look and listen before crossing.
For more information about safety on level crossings, contact Network Rail.
Mountain walking
In the most mountainous parts of Britain, in North Wales, the Lake District and in particular the Scottish Highlands, be prepared for more challenging weather, especially in winter. Conditions can vary dramatically from valley to mountaintop, and even in spring and summer, the Scottish Highlands can rapidly turn cold and windy. "Wind chill", where the combined effects of high winds and cold air dramatically lower the body temperature, is dangerous and potentially fatal. It is therefore especially important to be properly equipped when walking high up on the mountains in bad weather.
Warm and waterproof clothing, a map, compass and good navigation skills are essential, and in addition to the standard equipment for country walks, you should also carry:
- a survival bag: a heavy-duty bag for body insulation in an emergency, from outdoor shops
- a torch and spare batteries
- a whistle
- additional warm clothing, including hat and gloves
- high-energy rations such as mint cake, chocolate, dried fruit
- water purification tablets
- a first aid kit
If you are likely to meet heavy snow or ice you should wear a pair of heavy-duty winter walking boots that can be fitted with crampons: these are metal spike attachments that give a better grip in icy conditions and not all boots are suitable for them. Also, you should carry and know how to use an ice axe. You will need to learn how to use axes and crampons properly: in the hands of a novice they can cause rather than prevent accidents (see courses below).
Many hillwalkers carry a kisu shelter or bothy bag. This is rather like a tent without poles, made of lightweight waterproof nylon with a draw cord round the base and big enough to sit inside. They are available in a range of sizes and you should carry one that is adequate for the size of your party. With two people or more they have the advantage of being able to share body heat.
It's especially important to be sensible about not over-reaching yourself: don't push yourself, or your party, beyond your limits, and don't hesitate to cut your walk short if you are tiring, or the weather is worsening and you are not confident of your skills and equipment.
Leave a route card or other indication of your likely location with a responsible person, and notify this person immediately of your safe return.
If a real emergency occurs, the international distress signal is a group of six loud blasts of a whistle, to be repeated at one minute intervals.
See also Leading Group Walks in Remote Areas or Demanding Conditions (PDF) which has some advice that is also applicable to individual walkers.
Mobile phones
Mobile phones (cellphones) can be useful to take on a walk and have sometimes proved helpful in emergencies. However, they don't work in some locations, particularly in some hilly and remote areas, they depend on limited battery power, and the signals from them cannot be pinpointed with any accuracy. They are not a substitute for other safety precautions and the mountain rescue services stress they should be used to call for help only in cases of real emergency. If you do call for help, make sure to keep your mobile turned on so the emergency services can call you back.
For information about the geographical coverage of mobile phone networks, contact the network provider, or to compare different providers' coverage, visit the GSM Association website.
Solo walking
Some people prefer to walk on their own, but in remote or mountainous areas this inevitably increases the risk of becoming stranded by injury or illness. If you walk on your own, consider the following:
- Don't take unnecessary risks by tackling overly long or difficult routes
- Make especially sure you are fully prepared and equipped, and competent at navigation
- Carry a whistle around your neck or in your pocket, not in your pack
- Consider taking a stick, personal alarm or mobile phone
- Avoid using a personal stereo if this stops you remaining alert
- Leave a route card or note of your whereabouts and when you expect to be back
If you eventually want to walk alone but are new to walking or just uncertain, first go out and learn with more experienced walkers, such as on an Ramblers group walk. Don't worry unnecessarily, however: remember statistically you are far safer walking in the countryside than on a city street.
Body matters
Temperature and water
In cold weather the greatest danger is hypothermia or exposure: this occurs where the body temperature is chilled to a life-threatening level, and is aggravated by wind chill. To avoid it make sure you have enough warm clothing and extra food and plenty of water.
In warm weather, the principle hazards are sunburn, windburn and dehydration. Sunhats, sun cream, and water can prevent serious sunburn or heatstroke.
Don't underestimate the amount of water you need. Doctors recommend drinking 1.5-2 litres of water a day even for an ordinarily active lifestyle, and you will need more if you walking strenuously and/or the weather is hot. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink. Still mineral or tap water is adequate: fizzy drinks are not recommended as they take longer to drink, a problem if you need to rehydrate quickly. Avoid drinking unboiled or unpurified water from streams, and when in the hills carry emergency water purification tablets.
First Aid
You should not walk in remote areas without a basic knowledge of first aid. At least one person in a party should know how to bandage an ankle or apply a splint to a broken limb, and hillwalkers should be able to recognise the signs of hypothermia and how to respond.
Carry a basic first aid kit, which should include:
- 10 plasters in various sizes
- 2 large sterile dressings for management of severe bleeding
- 1 medium sterile dressing for care of larger wounds
- 4 triangular bandages to support suspected broken bones, dislocations or sprains
- 1 eye pad in case of a cut to the eye
- 4 safety pins to secure dressings
- disposable gloves to implement good hygiene
Ready-made first aid kits for walkers are available from outdoor shops. St John Ambulance Supplies do a kit especially for walkers, as do the British Red Cross.
The fundamental rule of first aid is warmth, rest and reassurance. For more see Suggested Reading below. Even more useful is a short course on basic first aid.
Blisters
Blisters are simply the result of friction, but they can make a walk a miserable experience. To help prevent blisters:
- Wear comfortable, good-fitting, worn-in boots or shoes, especially on long walks
- Wear good walking socks in the right size; consider wearing two pairs
- Keep your toenails trim
- Change your socks daily
- Quickly remove any foreign bodies from your socks and boots
- Ensure that the tongue and laces of your boots are arranged correctly and evenly
- Check your feet carefully and regularly for any sign of rubbing and tenderness
- Walk as much as possible in your boots so that hard skin develops at friction points
- Act immediately you feel any friction or discomfort: blisters can form very quickly
If you feel a blister developing, stop walking, take your boots and socks off and examine your feet. Consider applying some material cushioning or padding, or a breathable waterproof plaster, or possibly some strips of surgical tape.
There is some controversy over how to treat blisters when they do occur. Some walkers prefer to burst the blister carefully and immediately apply a sterile dressing. Others argue this runs the risk of infection, and instead recommend keeping the blistered area clean and protected.
Chemists and outdoor shops now supply a wide range of foot care products, including blister kits with ‘second skin' dressings providing cushioning from further friction. Use according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Hygiene
Walkers should use proper toilets whenever possible. Otherwise, faeces should either be buried 15-20 cm (6-8ins) deep and at least 100m from any watercourse or, if it is not possible to dig a hole of this depth, carried away in plastic bags: in hilly or coastal areas, where the soil layer is thin, this will often be the case. Soiled toilet paper should be burned or carried away; soiled tampons should always be carried away.
The same rules apply to dog waste, which can also be disposed of in clearly marked disposal bins often provided in parks and picnic areas. Allowing your dog to foul a footpath or a public open space may contravene local byelaws or the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996.
Animal faeces can carry potentially dangerous infections, such as E. coli 0157 which is now fairly common among cows, sheep and goats. The risk of infection to countryside visitors is fairly low, but someone could become infected if, for example, they touched animal droppings or infected mud, on the ground or a stile, then touched their mouth. There is more risk when camping or picknicking than normal walking. The surest way to protect against this type of infection is to wash your hands before eating, drinking or smoking, using soap, clean towels and preferably hot and running water, especially if you have placed your hands on the ground or touched mud or droppings.
Natural hazards
Dogs and cattle
Treat untethered bulls and loose dogs with caution. Back away slowly, and report the incident to the police if you consider the situation unlawful as well as dangerous (see Basics of Footpath Law). Dogs can also be deterred by ultrasonic devices sometimes known as ‘dog dazers’, available from outdoor shops or from Dazer UK.
Other livestock can often be deterred from following you too closely by turning to face them with both arms raised. Don't brandish a stick, as this may excite them, and use an ordinary speaking voice rather than shouting. Don't walk between a cow and her calf. If you are threatened by cattle when walking a dog, you should let the dog off the lead - it's better that they go after your dog than you.
Insects
Insects can be a serious irritant, especially midges in Scotland in the summer. Consider carrying an insect repellent, and know how to treat bites and stings.
Ticks and Lyme Disease
Ticks are tiny blood-sucking insects found in moist, coarse, permanent vegetation in woodland, heath and moorland including bracken, leaf litter and decaying mats of grass and sedges, particularly in places where deer live, attaching themselves to passing animals and humans. Some ticks carry infections that can affect humans, the most serious of which is lyme disease. Although seldom fatal, lyme disease is a debilitating condition that can remain in the body for many years, affecting the nerves and occasionally even leading to chronic arthritis and heart conditions. Lyme disease is still very rare, though by no means unknown.
Ticks need to be attached to the body for at least 24-36 hours to transmit the disease and even if you come into contact with them, it should be possible to detect and remove them before any harm is done. The highest risk is in late spring and early summer when the tick is most active and feeding. If you walk through rough vegetation, especially during these months, consider taking the following precautions:
- wear close-weave long trousers and long-sleeved shirts, and keep cuffs fastened and trousers tucked into socks (light-coloured clothing make spotting ticks easier), shoes or boots rather than open sandals, or protect bare skin on arms and legs with insect repellent: DEET or permethrin can protect against ticks for several hours
- If you find a tick, remove it immediately, preferably with tweezers. Grasp it firmly as close as possible to the skin, and pull firmly and steadily without jerking or twisting until it disengages itself - try not to squash since it could squirt blood. Wash your hands and the bite area afterwards, using disinfectant if available.
- remember that dogs are also vulnerable to ticks: protect them with insect repellent or a tick collar
after your walk, carefully brush all clothing after your walk and examine your body carefully for ticks, including their favourite feeding places - the backs of knees, groin, under the arms and on the scalp
If part of the tick breaks off, or if you think any part of it may be left in your skin, consult your doctor immediately. If possible, take the tick with you, folded in sticky tape, so that it can be sent for analysis. If you think you have been bitten by a tick, seek medical advice straight away, indicating that you are concerned about the risk of lyme disease, since early treatment with antibiotics will normally prevent the illness developing any further.
Further information on lyme disease and ticks can be obtained from NHS Direct, or from the charity Lyme Disease Action who have a range of free literature on the subject.
Bracken
There is some evidence that exposure to large numbers of bracken spores can cause cancer in some animals, and people who spend a long time working in areas of bracken during hot weather, when spores are released, are advised to wear face masks. However the risk to most people, including walkers, is probably so small as to be insignificant, and far outweighed by the health benefits of regular walking. For more information see the Cancer Help website.
Suggested Reading
- Safety on Mountains by British Mountaineering Council and Mountain Leader Training Board, booklet and video, ISBN 0 903908 27 1. BMC £15 or £4 for booklet only.
Concise and useful guide to mountain safety, highly recommended and with a good bibliography - Out in the Country: Where you can go and what you can do (CA9), free leaflet from The Countryside Agency with useful section on personal safety
- The Highway Code, from bookshops and newsagents or online at the Highway Code website: see Department for Transport.
- First Aid Manual (8th ed) by St John Ambulance, St Andrews Ambulance and British Red Cross, ISBN 0 7513 3704 8. Dorling Kindersley £11.99
The standard manual offering expert all-round medical advice - New Practical First Aid by the British Red Cross, ISBN 0 7513 4770 1. Dorling Kindersley £5.99. A concise and indispensable guide.
- Medical Handbook for Walkers & Climbers by Peter Steele, ISBN 0 094 78210 5. Constable £12.99
- Mountain & Cave Rescue, the handbook of the Mountain Rescue Council, £5 + 75p p&p
Courses
First aid
The information on this page is accurate to the best of our knowledge. The Ramblers’ Association cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies, nor does the listing of any organisation imply that the Ramblers in any way recommends or endorses them.
