EQUIPMENT

Why wear boots?  After all fell runners cover miles on the hills in trainers so where is the need?  Well we wear boots because they provide support and protection; they are warm; they keep out the water (usually!); in short they are more comfortable than any other form of footwear.  However there are days and places when sandals are better, or even trainers for easy low level walks.

Walking boots should be reasonably flexible lengthwise, while being stiff across the sole to provide support.  Winter boots should be stiffer if you are going to use crampons, but rigid soles designed for step-in climber's crampons can be very tiring on a long walk.  Some lightweight boots are lined with a waterproof layer.

Being wet on a walk is miserable, but wind and waterproof clothing make an enormous difference to one's enjoyment.  Waterproof jackets come in a wide range of prices and weights, but the best usually carry a guarantee.  Breathable fabrics simply means that sweat can get out, thus avoiding the clammy feel, but when the garment is very wet it doesn't breath as well and condensation still occurs.  Many people are quite willing to spend a lot on a jacket, but don't take over trousers.  True they can be sweaty, but they can be a life saver in winter.  And don't forget a hat and gloves.

Up on the fells and mountains the weather can be vastly different from the valley, so take some spare warm clothing, an extra fleece or jumper, even in mid-summer.

Carry a map and compass and know how to use them.  Obvious perhaps, but do you always know where you are?  Consulting a map in wet, windy weather can be nightmare, but weatherproof and plastic laminated maps are a godsend.

Don't go out on your own unless you are very experienced.  Three is supposed to be the ideal number, so when our first baby arrived we were much safer!

Some people never stop for a picnic, but food and drink always tastes better on the hills.  But save some emergency rations for the end of the day.

If venturing onto the high fells a Survival or Bivvy bag could save your life.  It can also make a lunch stop in bad weather almost enjoyable!  - our eldest granddaughter, aged four, thinks sharing a Bothy Bag for lunch with John is great.

Leave details of your intended route with a responsible person and report your return.

Chose a walk which is within your experience and remember that in winter conditions the walks will be much harder.

With waterproofs, windproof and warm clothes, food and drink - you will need a rucksack to carry everything!   Before you buy, try stuffing all your gear into it.  You might need a bigger one than you think.

You don't need to buy all the gear the first time out.  Although good footwear and clothing is essential, many outdoor shops offer a hire service for both children and adults.

Obtain a weather forecast before you set off.  Conditions can change very rapidly in mountainous areas during the day, and the weather on the fell tops can be very different from down in the valley.  Good visibility can also change suddenly to thick mist.  Although there are several telephone services providing advice of weather conditions in the mountains, many are premium rate numbers which can cost a fortune from a phone box.  However The Lake District is well served with a sponsored fell forecast - Tel: 08700550575.

Camping in a small tent, pitched high in the mountains, has given us some wonderful memories.  But to be enjoyable you do need suitable gear.  Keeping dry, warm and well fed are the priorities.

The tent must be able to stand up to bad weather.  We once spent a wild night in a tent which was being repeatedly flattened by the wind as the poles bent under the onslaught of every gust.

Sleeping bags come in all warmths and weights.  The finest filling, in terms of warmth for weight, is still duck down, but it does need to be kept dry.  Camping in mid winter might seem the height of masochism, but in down bags you are as warm as toast even when the ground is frozen solid.

Stoves for practically every imaginable fuel are available - gas, petrol, meths, white spirit or paraffin.  Whichever you choose, be careful, it's all too easy to set fire to the tent.  A low profile is good too as it helps to avoid upsetting the stove and pan.

Take a small first aid kit, and a whistle to summon help.

Don't leave any member of the party behind on the walk.

In winter conditions walking in the mountains is a completely different game.  The mountains can be extremely hazardous, especially when they are covered with snow and ice.  Crampons and ice axes, and the knowledge of how to use them, are then not an option, but a necessity.  When the weather reports say "Winter clothing and equipment is advised", then this means ice axe and crampons.

Hours of daylight are of course much shorter in winter and walks which, in summer are easy, can prove to take too long to be safely attempted.  Spare warm clothing, emergency rations, waterproof and windproof clothing, good boots, map and compass - they are all needed even more.  But don't be put off, some of our best days have been in winter, and the clean clear light of January on a snow covered fell is an experience not to be missed.