From the Highlands of Scotland to the beaches of Dorset and Devon, Britain boasts many fantastic, country walks, and winter is a great time of year to enjoy them. Although it is cold and frosty, the air is fresh and crisp, and if it snows, beautiful, winter wonderlands await. There is lots of intriguing nature to discover and awe-inspiring views to enjoy.
Once you’ve decided upon a walk – find lots of great inspiration here – and you’ve planned your route, get prepared! There’s nothing worse than venturing out into the winter wilderness only to discover that you’re not dressed for the weather.
It’s chilly out, but it’s important to wrap up in the right clothing to avoid overheating. Overheating results in sweating, which ultimately results in feeling cold. So stay cool to keep warm. Breathable base layers in hard-working, Merino wool makes light work of wicking moisture away from your skin, allowing you to comfortably enjoy your walk. Try layering our 100% Merino half zip neck jumper under a lightweight, breathable jacket.
There’s nothing like that lovely, toasty feeling you get when you slip on something that’s been warming on a radiator. Heat up your base layers, gloves, socks, and hat, put them on whilst they’re still warm and you’ll stay cosy for the duration of your walk. When you stop for refreshments, try to heat up your layers and accessories again before you venture back out.
Speaking of stopping for refreshments, it’s important to remember that when you do stop, you ought to try to keep as warm as possible. It is a lot easier to stay warm than it is to get warm again once you’ve cooled down. With this in mind, carry with you a warming knit. Pure lambswool is a great shout, as it is wonderfully warming, yet incredibly lightweight, so you can carry it without feeling encumbered. Our pure lambswool waterfall cardigan is perfect for pulling on when you stop to soak up a breath-taking view, and it’s available in three great colourways.
When it comes to choosing between mitts and gloves, mitts win, hands down! Inside them your fingers can share heat, keeping each other warm! If you need your fingers to be free (to take photographs perhaps), try layering fingerless gloves underneath your mitts. This will help prevent your hands from cooling down when you remove your mitts. We have a colourful selection for both men and women.
In addition to getting your outdoors-ready clothing just right, there are other pre-walk preparations you can make, which will ensure you stay as warm as possible, and you enjoy your explorations to the full.
Going from a very warm house to the cold outdoors can drain your extremities of blood, causing you to feel very cold when you go outside. Try keeping the temperature indoors between 18 and 20°C before you go out.
Caffeine dilates your blood vessels, and dilated blood vessels lose heat quickly. So, instead of drinking coffee just before your walk try herbal tea, or go for decaf.
Eating a protein-rich meal before your walk will help you stay warm. Your body works harder to digest protein than it does when its digesting carbohydrates or fats, and a hard working body creates energy and heat. So, try filling up on a protein-heavy bowl of porridge before you take to the hills!
The harsh, cold weather can be unforgiving on your skin. Make sure you use a good, hydrating moisturiser before you head out, and carry a rich lip balm with you. Most importantly, if it’s sunny, use a high factor sun block. The sun can be just as damaging to your skin during the winter months as it can be in the summer.
Do you have any little tricks for keeping warm when you’re out and about? Or perhaps you have a less-known, much-loved winter walk you’d like to share with us? Let us know in the comments section below. It’s always great to hear from you!