Walk
with us Safely
Walking is a great pastime and can be very relaxing,anyone
can do it providing you are reasonably active and in good health.To enable
you to enjoy your walking holiday to the full we have given you basic suggestions
for equipment and safety, so that you are suitably prepared to experience
the pleasure of the West Country and overseas. More detailed information will
be available in our pre-departure information brochure.
EQUIPMENT
Footwear
This
is one of the most important items of equipment for a walking holiday.Discovering
that a pair of boots is not suitable can ruin your holiday. If you walk regularly
you may already have a pair in which you feel very comfortable. Proper walking
boots should have a tough
moulded sole to protect your feet and offer a good grip. Boots should be kept
supple and waterproofed. Wear your boots in before undertaking your walking
holiday - trainers are not suitable.
Feet
Care
For
comfort and warmth, most walkers wear two pairs of socks. A thin pair next
to the skin and a thicker pair on top. Darned or holed socks will cause bumps
and may lead to blisters. Blisters can form very quickly if any part of your
foot is rubbing and can affect the most experienced walker. It is best to
bring with you some breathable waterproof plasters or a blister dressing.
Waterproof
and Windproof Wear
We
can guarantee you a most enjoyable and relaxing holiday but one thing we cannot
guarantee is the weather. A good lightweight
waterproof jacket or anorak with leggings (over trousers) is very useful to
keep out the wind as well as the rain.
Other
Clothing
Much is the matter of personal preference but jeans
are not suitable for walking as they are usually too tight to be comfortable
in warm weather. The choice of what type of trousers to wear is enormous but
we would suggest loose-fitting lightweight and quick drying trousers made
out of modern synthetic material. A pair of shorts is a good choice but on
some parts of the walks there may be brambles. In the evening smart casual
clothes will suffice as most of the hotels we use are quite informal and there
is no need to carry a complete wardrobe.
Rucksacks
As we will be taking your
luggage forward on all linear walks a small lightweight rucksack (day sack)
will be perfectly adequate for day trips. It should be large enough to carry
your lunch, waterproofs, first aid kit, maps etc.
Navigation
All our routes are very
well waymarked and easy to follow with the aid of our detailed route notes
and maps. These will be provided with your walking information pack.
Water
Bottle/First Aid
A water
bottle is a must especially if the weather is hot. It is important to avoid
d
ehydration.
A small first aid kit is also a necessary item and should contain a few plasters,
a small bandage, antiseptic cream, aspirin (or your own substitute)
and a pair of scissors. There are ready-made kits available on the market
for walkers.