Why You Should Try A Multi-Day Walk

by Catherine Sempill

The secret is out. Multi-day walking and hiking is not just the domain of young athletic types who disappear into the high Alps for weeks at a time. Walkers of all ages and experience levels are out and about exploring Britain on foot — over multiple weeks or across a long weekend.

If you’re curious but not sure if it’s for you, here are some reasons you should embrace the idea of multiple days on the trail…

You do not need steep gradients, technical terrain or days and days off grid to say that you’ve done it

Technically all that’s required to “qualify” is to walk for two or more days in a row. Et voila. You’ve been on a multi-day hike.

Stripped down to its parts, a multi-day walk is just that: consecutive days of walking. How many hours you walk each day, the nature of the trail — these things are immaterial. If you wake up on day one and walk, then repeat on day two, you’re a multi-day walker.

There are no rules about the level of support you receive en route

An 80-litre rucksack is not a requirement. If you book your walk through Contours, it’s entirely possible that you’ll walk each day with nothing but a small backpack of water, cash and your extra layers. Your luggage, filled to the brim with creature comforts from home (if that’s your style), will be ferried between your nightly stops.

If something goes awry — say you have a slower day than planned and it’s getting late — you’re rarely more than a phone call away from a taxi ride or pick up back to your accommodation.

You choose the level of adventure you’re comfortable with

The route is up to you. In the planning stage, you decide whether or not to go for a remote mountainous trail where exertion is high and you may leave phone signal behind.

Alternatively you could opt to amble on a flat(ish) path through the countryside, enjoying the sound of birds and heading through multiple villages.

Or you might pick something in between — the UK is criss-crossed with multi-day routes. There really is something for everyone.

The pace is entirely up to you

Literally and figuratively, you can tackle a multi-day walk at a pace that suits you. Some people may take on big days, setting off early in the morning at a healthy clip.

Others may prefer a more leisurely approach — shorter distances, slower walking, longer afternoons to savour your lunch (and then cake) and more time to relax at your accommodation.

Immersion is the name of the game

Signing up for a multi-day walk could be about challenging yourself, but it doesn’t have to be. What makes this kind of holiday so special is the opportunity to check out.

When you’re on the trail, the only thing you need to focus on is walking itself. When the only goal is to put one foot in front of the other until you reach a tea break or pub for lunch, your mind has space to wander. The calming sounds of nature amplify, and before you know it, you’ll disappear into your own little walking world, which is a truly magical place.

You learn about yourself and the world — at any age

There is almost always at least one thing that won’t go exactly according to plan. Discovering how you deal with these little challenges when you’re potentially out of your comfort zone teaches you new things about yourself.

And when your world slows down enough for you to truly notice things around you, it sparks curiosity and you learn things you’d never realised were there to learn about.

Going on a multi-day walk or hike is a magical way to pass a few days, and it’s a wonderful activity for anybody, at any age. If it’s something you’ve been thinking about trying, this is your sign to give it a go.