There’s something uniquely satisfying about lacing up a pair of walking boots, shouldering a pack and hiking up solo from the valley floor to the summit of a mountain and back down again, all under your own steam. The boom in outdoor leisure, fuelled by social media, has seen many explore the mountains for the first time, and hiking continues to be the most accessible way to enjoy being immersed in the world’s wildest landscapes, with all of the benefits that this brings.
As Tom Carrick, mountain safety officer for the British Mountaineering Council (which represents both hill walkers and climbers) says: “It’s so good for your physical health, your mental health and your social health, and we want to encourage people to safely come into the mountains, whether it’s your first time, or your 600th time.”
