Planning a walk with Footpath Notes
Planning a walk in Britain involves joining route choices to practical questions about time, navigation, access and changing conditions. Footpath Notes brings those decisions together for people heading onto local paths, long-distance trails and countryside routes, while recognising that each outing calls for different choices. The overview points readers towards focused guidance on estimating pace, using footpath maps, understanding public access and preparing for walking after dark, so each subject can be considered in the right context. It also gives a starting point for walking route planning when a route crosses unfamiliar terrain or includes paths with differing status. It suits new walkers and experienced hikers who want a clear route-planning framework before consulting detailed advice on the parts that matter to their particular walk.
About Footpath Notes
Footpath Notes is an independent British guide to walking and hiking in the UK. It is a reference for readers planning a local outing or multi-day hike, rather than a walking club, charity, event organiser or shop. Its guidance connects planning choices with dedicated advice on pace, maps, public access and night walking, so readers can focus on the subject relevant to a route. Someone comparing paths can move from the overview to material on timing or map use. Footpath Notes helps walkers make informed choices through clear, UK-focused guidance; it does not organise walks or provide services on the ground.
A planning routine
A useful routine turns a route idea into a plan with a realistic finish time and clear options if circumstances change. Before leaving, check the route against your pace, ascent, forecast, daylight and access information, then tell someone what you intend to do. During the walk, compare progress with planned decision points and adjust while there is time to do so. The checks below can be scaled to the length, terrain and remoteness of your walk.
Before you leave
Build your planning a walk checklist around the route and the conditions you expect, rather than relying on distance alone. Complete these checks before setting out:
- Choose a distance that fits your group’s likely pace and the route’s ascent; use a map’s elevation profile and your own experience to estimate time.
- Check a local forecast for the walking area and note the sunset time for your date; London sunset is around 15:50 in late December and 21:20 in late June (timeanddate.com, 2025).
- Expect sunset to be earlier in winter and later in summer further north; mountain forecasts are published by the Met Office and Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS).
- Verify public access and any closures or restrictions using relevant official notices; check again close to departure because permissions and path conditions can change.
- Tell someone your intended route, starting point and expected return time, and agree when they should act if you have not checked in.
- Pack for the forecast, including a waterproof outer layer, warm clothing, food and water; take a charged phone and a headtorch if the walk may run towards dusk.
- Save or carry the route information you will rely on, and note a shorter exit or alternative where available so you can adapt without improvising.
Keep the route, return time and contact arrangement together in a written note or message. Treat the forecast and access check as time-sensitive information, not a guarantee of what you will encounter.
On the day
Set a firm turn-back time before starting, allowing for the return journey and the daylight available. As the walk unfolds, use recognisable decision points such as a junction, bridge or summit to compare the plan with reality.
- At each decision point, check the time against your estimate and consider whether the remaining distance and ascent still fit the planned return.
- Compare your actual pace with the estimate; if progress is slower, shorten the route or turn back rather than letting the finish time drift.
- Review remaining daylight at each check, especially if cloud or terrain makes it harder to judge how much time remains before sunset.
- Notice changes in weather and footpath conditions, and reassess the route if wind, rain, poor visibility or difficult ground affects progress.
- Check the group’s condition at stops: tiredness, cold, discomfort or a slower pace may mean choosing an earlier exit or turning back.
- If there is an emergency, dial 999; on a hill, ask for Police and then Mountain Rescue.
For a short, familiar walk, a simple return-time plan and a few checks may be enough; a longer or more remote walk benefits from written decision points because they make it easier to change plans promptly.
Choosing a distance
A suitable walk is not defined by distance alone: ascent, surface and the walkers’ current fitness all affect how demanding it feels. A route that is manageable on level paths may take considerably longer when it climbs steeply or repeatedly. Use a time estimate as a starting point, then consider whether everyone can sustain the required effort. The aim is to choose a distance that leaves room for a comfortable, unhurried day.
Distance, ascent and fitness
Distance gives a useful first measure, but ascent matters at least as much when judging effort and time. A fit walker may cover level ground briskly yet slow on a sustained climb; a shorter route with repeated steep rises can feel harder than a longer, flatter one. Match both the distance and the climbing to what you can comfortably manage, rather than using distance alone as a measure of difficulty.
A common starting point is Naismith’s rule: allow about one hour for every 5 km walked, then add about one hour for every 600 m of ascent. The estimate comes from Scottish mountaineer William W. Naismith’s 1892 rule. It offers a simple baseline, not a promise of exact arrival time; individual pace and the character of the ground still matter. For a fuller explanation of pace and timing, consult the pace guidance.
| Route profile | Distance | Ascent | Estimated walking time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flatter route | 5 km | 0 m | About 1 hour |
| Longer, flatter route | 10 km | 0 m | About 2 hours |
| Shorter, ascent-heavy route | 5 km | 600 m | About 2 hours |
The comparison shows why a distance-only calculation can mislead: the same 5 km estimate changes when substantial climbing is added. Fitness also affects how sustainable that effort is over a whole walk, particularly where climbing is concentrated rather than spread across the route. Treat the rule as a baseline and adjust your choice to your usual pace and how comfortable you are with hills.
Group walks
For a group, the practical pace is set by its slowest member, not by the speed of the quickest walker. Agreeing a distance around the fastest person’s usual pace can leave others struggling to keep up, especially on climbs or uneven ground. Ask each person what sort of distance and ascent they have recently managed comfortably, and use the most cautious realistic answer to shape the plan.
Allow for differences in fitness as well as walking confidence and experience. Someone unfamiliar with steep descents, narrow paths or route-finding may need a steadier pace even if they are physically fit. Breaks also affect the time available: groups often pause to regroup, eat, adjust clothing or let a tired member recover. Discuss the expected effort and timing before setting out so that everyone understands the pace the group intends to maintain.
Choose a route that the least experienced or least fit member can complete without having to push beyond a comfortable effort. If the group’s abilities vary widely, a shorter route with less ascent is usually a better shared choice than a longer or hillier walk, because everyone can keep together and enjoy the day.
Rules, maps and safety topics
A well-planned walk depends on more than its start point and distance: access rules, map detail, walking pace and available daylight all shape the route. A map can show a right of way, but its symbols need to be read alongside the relevant access guidance. Terrain, landmarks and the difference between a paper map and a digital map affect how confidently you can judge progress. The guidance below connects these practical decisions so you can choose and prepare a route that fits your plans.
Access and rights of way
Rights of way and access rules indicate where walkers may go and what responsibilities apply. Use them when choosing a route, rather than assuming every track shown on a map has the same status.
- On Ordnance Survey maps, footpaths are shown in green; other rights of way use different colours, so check the map key.
- Distinguish a footpath from a bridleway or other mapped right of way before planning a walk with a particular type of access in mind.
- A mapped line helps identify a recorded route, but its symbol alone does not confirm that access is unrestricted on a particular date.
- The Countryside Code sets standards of behaviour for people visiting the countryside in England and Wales; follow its guidance when planning and walking.
- In Scotland, the Scottish Outdoor Access Code sets the relevant standards of behaviour; do not assume that the England and Wales code applies there.
- Where a route may be affected by a restriction or closure, check relevant notices from the land manager or local authority before setting out.
Reading the legend and identifying the applicable code helps you choose a route that matches its access arrangements. Allow for possible restrictions when deciding whether a mapped path fits your plans.
Maps, pace and darkness
Map reading helps turn a line on a screen or page into a route you can follow on the ground. Compare paper and digital maps for scale, navigation detail, terrain clues and how each supports a time estimate.
| Planning factor | Paper map | Digital map |
|---|---|---|
| Scale and distance | OS Explorer maps use 1:25,000 scale: 1 cm represents 250 m, useful for inspecting footpaths and nearby features. | Zoom level changes the displayed scale; use the map scale or route-distance readout rather than judging distance from screen size. |
| Route finding | Read the legend, trace the route between grid references and use landmarks such as bridges or road junctions to check progress. | GPS positioning can show your location against mapped paths, but confirm the route on the map rather than relying only on a moving marker. |
| Terrain | Contour lines close together indicate steeper ground; widely spaced lines indicate gentler slopes and can inform route choices. | Elevation profiles can summarise climbs, while the map itself helps relate slopes to paths and landmarks. |
| Pace and duration | A rough starting estimate is about 3 mph (5 km/h) on straightforward ground; adjust for climbs, surfaces and stops. | Route planners may calculate distance and elevation, but their duration estimate may not reflect your pace or breaks. |
| Daylight | Use the walk date and expected duration to judge whether the route fits available daylight; a map does not show sunset time. | Check local sunrise and sunset times for the date, then compare them with the planned start and finish. |
Dedicated guidance on map reading, walking pace and night walking can help with detailed decisions beyond this comparison. Combining access information with map detail, a realistic pace and the day’s daylight helps walkers choose routes suited to their plans and prepare for the conditions they expect.