{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"","standfirst":"If popping to the park no longer feels exciting, you may be ready to venture a little further and head out on your first (local) hike. If you want to step it up, get prepared with our six top tips.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/12649/4568eb075138f8edc30e5425ec1caa66e3f46561.jpg","width":1800,"height":1012,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBreak in your walking boots. \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe get it: you want to get straight out there, and we don\u2019t blame you. But take the time to grab a pair of suitable walking boots and break them in and your feet will thank you. You don\u2019t need to do anything fancy: wearing them around the house for a few days and getting to know which socks work best is all you need to do to avoid the dreaded blisters.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECheck the weather forecast, then check it again. \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe UK\u2019s weather is full of surprises so check, check again, and dress for the weather. \u003Ca href=\u0022https://shop.scouts.org.uk/casual-clothing\u0022\u003ELayer clothing\u003C/a\u003E to trap warm air (and so you have options if it\u2019s not quite the weather you were expecting or hoping for). It\u2019s always worth investing in some \u003Ca href=\u0022https://shop.scouts.org.uk/casual-clothing/outerwear\u0022\u003Egood-quality waterproofs\u003C/a\u003E just in case, whether it\u2019s a lightweight coat or the full mac, trousers, and gaiters.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPack your bag.\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EChoose a \u003Ca href=\u0022https://shop.scouts.org.uk/search/backpack\u0022\u003Ecomfy backpack\u003C/a\u003E that\u2019ll leave your arms free. Don\u2019t forget your snacks and other essentials such as a small first aid kit, blister plasters, \u003Ca href=\u0022https://shop.scouts.org.uk/search/bottle\u0022\u003Ereusable water bottle\u003C/a\u003E, and a \u003Ca href=\u0022https://shop.scouts.org.uk/search/torch\u0022\u003Etorch\u003C/a\u003E. What else you\u2019ll need depends on where you\u2019re going and how long you\u2019re planning to walk for. Why not get the kids involved with a fun activity like \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/grab-it-bag-it/\u0022\u003EGrab it, bag it\u003C/a\u003E?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBrush up on the rules of the countryside. \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDepending on where you are, you\u2019ll need to follow the \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code\u0022\u003ECountryside Code\u003C/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/sites/default/files/2018-05/Publication%202005%20-%20Scottish%20Outdoor%20Access%20Code.pdf\u0022\u003EScottish Outdoor Access Code\u003C/a\u003E, or \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/countryside-code\u0022\u003ECountryside Code (Northern Ireland)\u003C/a\u003E. It\u2019s simple stuff, but learning the basics doesn\u2019t have to be boring: do it together with a fun game like \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/countryside-code-true-or-false/\u0022\u003ECountryside Code: true or false\u003C/a\u003E or get creative with \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/mission-responsible/\u0022\u003EMission responsible\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESort the safety stuff.\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETell someone where you\u2019re going and when you\u2019ll be back \u2013 and remember to pack a fully-charged mobile phone.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERemember what it\u2019s all about. \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003EIf you\u2019re new to hiking, don\u2019t put pressure on yourself to walk miles and miles on day one. Be kind to yourself and plan an achievable and enjoyable route. If you\u2019ve got little ones with you, think about whether the scenery will be enough to keep them entertained. You could set them challenges along the way with \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/while-out-walking/\u0022\u003EWhile out walking\u003C/a\u003E or get stuck into a \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/mindfulness-walk\u0022\u003EMindfulness walk\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"callToAction","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","buttonText":"Check out our other news this month","buttonLink":{"name":"February","id":null,"url":"/news/2021/february/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":{"value":"490499","label":"490499"},"alignment":"left"}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"03 February 2021","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":48635,"nodeName":"6 things you should do before you go on a hike","title":"6 things you should do before you go on a hike","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/12649/4568eb075138f8edc30e5425ec1caa66e3f46561.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd15b69280","caption":"4568Eb075138f8edc30e5425ec1caa66e3f46561","type":"jpg","size":104075,"width":1800,"height":1012,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"6 things you should do before you go on a hike","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"6 things you should do before you go on a hike","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODYzNSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2021/february/6-things-you-should-do-before-you-go-on-a-hike/"}