Cleaning your hiking boots

One of the most important habits is regular cleaning. After each hike, especially in muddy or wet conditions, remove dirt and debris as soon as possible. Use a soft brush or cloth with lukewarm water to gently scrub away mud, paying attention to seams and treads where dirt builds up. Avoid using harsh detergents, as these can damage the materials or strip away protective coatings. Keeping your boots clean not only improves their appearance but also prevents long-term wear caused by dried mud and grit.

Drying your hiking boots

Drying your boots properly is just as important as cleaning them. If your boots get wet, never place them directly next to a radiator, heater or fire, as excessive heat can cause the leather or synthetic materials to crack or warp. Instead, let them air dry naturally in a well-ventilated space. Removing the insoles and loosening the laces helps speed up the process. You can also stuff the boots with newspaper to absorb moisture from the inside, replacing it as it becomes damp. Patience is key—slow drying helps maintain the boot’s structure and durability. Our Tour Managers can find newspapers to help with this after a wet day on the tour.

Conditioning your hiking boots

Conditioning and waterproofing are also crucial aspects of boot care. Leather boots, in particular, benefit from occasional conditioning to keep the material supple and prevent cracking. Applying a suitable waterproofing treatment restores the boot’s ability to repel water, which can wear off over time. Choose a product appropriate for your boot type, whether full-grain leather, suede or synthetic. Regular maintenance like this not only extends the life of your boots but also keeps your feet dry and comfortable on future hikes.

Storing your hiking boots

Finally, proper storage can make a big difference. Store your hiking boots in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, which can degrade materials over time. Avoid leaving them in damp environments like garages or car boots for extended periods. Before storing them, ensure they are completely clean and dry to prevent mould or unpleasant odours. As we all try to reduce our carbon footprint, helping our kit to live as long as possible is a key first step. With consistent care and attention, your hiking boots should remain reliable companions for many adventures to come.

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The trail has been overseen by the government body Natural England, after an idea initiated almost 20 years ago. A new law passed in 2009 required future governments both to make the path and to ensure that it can stay open in the future. This is key because England’s coastline feels the full force of extreme weather and coastal erosion and landslides are becoming ever more frequent.

With the new law the path can be moved inland, and therefore diverted away from problem areas, and landowners work with Natural England to ensure that they can make this happen.

Wales opened its coastal paths back in 2012 and there are approximately 5,500 miles of Scottish mainland coast where walkers have had the right to roam for more than 20 years. If you put that all together, there are around 9,000 miles to be walked, which could take you the best part of two years!

Some sections of the path are still being finished, but it was officially opened by King Charles on March 19th 2026, from the iconic chalk downland of the seven sisters in East Sussex. If you’re spending time in England this year, why not make the most of the world’s longest coastal walking trail! You can find out more here.

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First-time guests are often worried that they will not be as fit as others in the group. Solid preparation, with some targeted exercises each day, will help to dispel those fears. As we now have just months to go until the start of our European season, it is time to get focussed and start your fitness regime! A chat with a fitness instructor will put you on track. However, not everyone wants to visit a gym, so our video below shows hugely beneficial exercises which can be done at home. Remember: Start slowly, be consistent and gradually build your strength. This film was put together in January 2025 with the kind help of Jackie’s Personal Trainer in Bright, Matt Molijn.

Cardio
 
Work on cardiovascular exercise to help your endurance levels, ideally at least 20 mins each day. This could be running, cycling or gym sessions if you are a member – anything which raises the heart rate and gets the lungs working!  Members of our team keep fit with many different activities: skiing, dancing, playing tennis, swimming or briskly walking the dog – the key is to find an exercise which you enjoy so that the activity is pleasurable.
 

Strength
 
As seen in the film above, there are many exercises you can do at home which don’t need lots of kit or pricey club memberships.  Squats, lunges, planks and press-ups can easily be achieved daily in the comfort of your own home. Just doing ten squats whilst waiting for the kettle to boil builds strength and doesn’t eat into your free time.  Resistance bands or free weights will give your muscles a bit more of a challenge.  And wherever you are – take the stairs!  It takes up no extra time but gets the leg muscles working, and you will reap the benefits on the ascents during the tour.

   
Stretching
 
We are big fans of Pilates and Yoga for keeping the body strong and supple.  These disciplines work on core strength, balance and flexibility, and help to combat daily stresses which can take their toll on the body. Jackie’s own Pilates teacher in Bright has designed an on-line series of exercises to prepare hikers for their tours, and this can be purchased for $35.00 for the four-part course. Find out more here.  

 Terrain
 
It is really important to practise before the trip on different types of terrain, including up and down hills, on rocky surfaces, grass or shale.  Working on your foot placement on uneven ground will build your confidence when you get out on the trail.  Stand on one leg whilst brushing your teeth or chatting on the phone – and make sure you do this on both legs equally, as one is always stronger than the other.

   
Equipment
 
We can’t stress enough times how important it is to wear in your boots before you start the tour and to walk out in the kit you will be using on the holiday. Footwear and clothing that chafes or rubs can really reduce your enjoyment. Practise as well with your rucksack, filling it with approximately the weight you will be carrying on the tour. The upper body exercises in the film above will help with this. If you are not accustomed to walking with poles, practise with these too – adjusting the height and working on how to place them for maximum benefit for your knees and overall balance. There is lots of advice online about best ways to pack your rucksack and also how to get the most from your walking poles. Have a look at this website as an example.

   
 Hydration and Nutrition
 
When you are practising, always set off well-hydrated. On hot days add a sachet of hydralytes (magnesium and potassium) to your water to help maintain hydration and energy. Make sure you carry enough water to see you through the duration of your hike.  Dried fruits and nuts are the best snacks for hiking – replenishing lost salts and boosting energy if you start to slow down. This is what we provide on the tours at frequent intervals along the trail.  And always remember that a good diet and a good night’s sleep will do wonders for your energy levels and help you to fully rest and recover after a long hike. Our menus for lunches and dinners on the tours are selected to be nutrient-rich and to balance the level of energy expended during the day.

Find out more about our recommendations for the best hiking kit, and sustainable hiking clothing.

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However, the key to a successful trip is most definitely in the preparation. If you’re a first timer, choosing the right walking holiday will depend on how independent you want to be and the level of hikes you want to do. After that, it’s all about getting as hiking-ready as you can to ensure your trip runs smoothly.

Planning your walking holiday

For anyone who is new to hiking, planning and navigating routes on your own can be both tricky and time consuming. Plus, trail signposting varies enormously from one country to another.

Concerns about fitness levels and whether you want to join a group are also common. In fact, some people choose to test out a short walking break as a way of building confidence and to see whether this sort of holiday is for them.

But unsurprisingly, joining a guided walking holiday where literally everything is done for you is a popular option for a first-time hiker. There’s no need to worry about routes or directions, or fret over where to stop for lunch – just put one foot in front of the other and enjoy the view and company!

Choosing the right level holiday

What is important, whether it’s a short walking break or a full week, is that you choose the right level holiday for you. Look carefully at both the average and maximum length of the hikes, the type of terrain you will be hiking on and any ascents and descents involved. Check also if you can cut short your walks if you’re feeling weary or if you have to complete the whole day’s route. The secret really is to feel moderately challenged without feeling out of your depth or so tired that you can’t face walking the next day.

How to prepare for your first walking holiday

It’s never too early to start training! The better prepared you are, the more you’ll enjoy it, so start some sort of training programme as soon as you’ve booked your holiday. Apart from anything else, it’ll make you feel great! Jogging, running, cycling, swimming and Pilates are all excellent ways of building your leg muscles and core strength but putting in the walking hours will also stand you in good stead. Intersperse long training walks with shorter brisk 30-minute walks, perhaps with a few hills, to raise your heart rate.

Comfortable walking boots with good ankle support are also, of course, imperative so this is also the time to break in new boots if you want to avoid blisters and other common feet-related ailments on your holiday.

Packing for a walking holiday

In addition to your boots and socks, take lightweight quick-drying clothes to keep your luggage light. Little extras such as a waterproof cover for your rucksack, a sustainable water bottle and a small portable charger can come in very useful, and a basic first aid kit is always a good idea. Hats are also a must – broad-brimmed to shade your face if you’re walking in the heat of the summer, and a warmer hat if you’re in the mountains. Walking poles are optional (but highly recommended) but do try them out before your holiday. You can see our full kit list here.

Weather Expectations

The weather can be highly changeable, whenever and wherever you’re hiking, so it’s best to be prepared for anything. Recent years have demonstrated that the weather is increasingly fickle and completely beyond our control! Certainly, you should have a waterproof jacket with you at all times, and a fleece and waterproof over-trousers are essential if you’re hiking in the mountains.

Local Culture

Connecting with nature and improving your fitness and wellbeing are some of the best bits of a walking holiday. But equally precious is the joy of walking through the landscape and getting to see things you might not see if you were travelling by car or train. Get the most from your trip by reading up on the local culture, wildlife and history before you go and consider choosing a book that’s set in the region you’re visiting for your holiday reading material.

Healthy Eating

We all know the benefits of eating healthily but we all sometimes need that extra little push to put it into practice. Eating well during the run-up to your holiday will definitely stand you in good stead, so fuel up on complex carbohydrates such as brown rice and wholewheat bread, lean proteins and healthy fats to build energy reserves. We have our own recipe pages to help to get you started.

What to expect from your holiday

Managing your overall expectations will certainly make a difference to how much you enjoy your holiday. Read through the itinerary carefully so you have a good idea about the terrain you’re going to cover, as well as the accommodation and restaurants on the schedule, so there are no unexpected surprises.

Being part of a group, inevitably, means there will be a mix of people. Of course, you may not want to be best friends with everyone, but the more open-minded you are, the more you’ll get out of meeting your fellow hikers.

As for the walking, you’ll quickly find out that there’s nothing quite like the thrill of reaching a mountain peak or the end of a lengthy trail and discovering that you’re now a fully-fledged hiker!

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The countries in the Schengen area are:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

If you cross a border a second time after the EES starts, your fingerprints or the photo of your face will already be recorded in the EES, and the passport control officers will only need to verify your fingerprints and photo, which will take less time.

To find out more about this new border control visit the European Travel Website.

Looking further ahead, in the last quarter of 2026, another new system is expected. The ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a pre-travel screening process and a mandatory entry requirement for visa-exempt non-EU nationals travelling to the Schengen countries. Designed to enhance security by identifying high-risk individuals, ETIAS is not a visa but an electronic travel authorisation that must be obtained before travelling for short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). The system will link to a traveller’s passport and will be valid for up to three years or until the passport expires.

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Our best advice is to start hydrating well before the hike (even the night before) and ensure you drink plenty in the morning before setting off so you don’t start the day thirsty. Continue sipping water throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Remember that staying hydrated isn’t just about water intake during the hike—it’s part of a bigger preparation strategy to keep your body safe and performing well in the outdoors. We also recommend hydration salts (electrolytes) as they replenish lost fluids and salts much more quickly than by drinking water alone. They come in convenient sachets to mix with water making them portable and easy to use. We also always carry a selection of sweet dried fruits and salty nuts to share with the group at points along the trail.

All Hedonistic Hikers on our European tours are given a BPA-free plastic 700 ml water bottle to use on the trip and to keep at the end. However, we highly recommend that you carry an extra supply of water, and this is imperative on our Level 4 and Level 5 hikes where there might not be van access at lunchtimes to replenish. Be sure you are clear about whether there are longer days in your itinerary with hiking picnics, where extra water will be required and may not be readily available. We always give a detailed description of the next day’s walk and can tell you if and when there are opportunities to fill up. The seasonal temperatures, the altitude and the length of the hikes will all have a bearing on how much you should carry, and we would recommend at least 2 litres for a full day’s hiking.

We try very hard to encourage our hikers not to add to the global plastic mountain. There are many sustainable solutions to carrying water efficiently and comfortably so, in addition to your Hedonistic Hiking bottle, you might consider:

Hydration Reservoirs (Bladders)
Hydration bladders are one of the most popular choices for hikers who want easy access to water while moving. These reservoirs fit into your backpack and feature a long drinking tube that allows you to sip water without having to stop or remove your pack. They’re lightweight, carry a decent amount of water, and help you maintain a steady pace since you can drink hands-free.

Collapsible Water Bottles
If weight and pack space are your top priorities, collapsible water bottles are a great option. These bottles flatten when empty, allowing you to roll them up and stash them in a small corner of your pack. They’re lightweight, durable, re-usable and easy to store. Make sure they are BPA-free.

Stainless Steel or Aluminium bottles
A metal water bottle with a carrying strap or pouch offers an efficient way to carry water while on the trail. Stainless steel or aluminum bottles often come with carrying handles or straps that allow you to keep the bottle easily accessible by clipping it to your gear or strapping it to your shoulder. These are a strong, durable option for carrying extra water.

Water Filter Bottles
For longer treks or wilderness hikes, water filter bottles allow you to refill from natural water sources safely. These bottles have built-in filters that remove bacteria, parasites and other contaminants, making them ideal for hiking in more remote areas. They save you the trouble of carrying large amounts of water but are still lightweight and portable.

All good outdoor shops will offer a range of sustainable solutions and we highly recommend you have this organised before joining the hike. More often than not there is no access to outdoor equipment stores once the tour is underway. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have questions or concerns about this.

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How did you first hear about Hedonistic Hiking?

Through friends in Canberra – they were very enthusiastic about their experiences with HH.

You were courageous to book 3 tours together. What made you take the leap?

We had one done 1 HH tour before (Austria and the Dolomites, in 2023) and we had enjoyed it immensely. We thought that hiking in beautiful mountains, enjoying wonderful regional food and wine, learning about the history and culture of that part of Europe while staying in lovely, authentic hotels for 2-3 days at a time was the type of tour that suited us perfectly. And we had found that the other participants were like-minded people who were fun to spend time with.

After that experience, we knew we wanted to focus on the Level 5 and 4 hikes while we are still fit and active. So we initially booked to do the Wilds of Abruzzo and the Best of the Italian Alps in 2025. We were discussing what to do between the two tours and we thought, “Well, we really like hiking and we know how good the HH tours are, so let’s just add in Slovenia and Friuli.” And we are very glad that we did!

How well did you know Italy before joining the first tour?

We had both travelled to Italy when we were young but that was mainly to major cities like Rome, Venice and Florence. We had done a Cinque Terre trip in the early 2000s and, in 2023, we had spent a few weeks travelling around Puglia after completing the Austria and the Dolomites tour. That trip, especially, had confirmed for us that we really enjoyed the smaller Italian towns and villages where we could have a more authentic experience, away from the tourist masses.

What were your personal highlights of each of the three trips?

Wilds of Abruzzo

– The magical town of Santo Stefano: staying in the beautiful albergo diffuso; enjoying an aperitivo with our fellow walkers after a day walking in mountain meadows and forests; and learning to make pasta with the chitarra.

Slovenia and Friuli

– So much history, wonderful walking and great food and wine on this trip but two things that stand out are the visit to the neanderthal cave where the world’s oldest musical instrument was found and the incredible mosaics in the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta in Aquileia.

Best of the Italian Alps

– Incredible alpine walking. Seeing Mont Blanc up close and taking the gondola up to the top station was a once in a lifetime experience. And, of course, some fantastic lunches and dinners and wines. There is nothing like coming to a mountain refugio after a tough hike and hearing Mick say “Can I get you a beer?”

Did you enjoy the differences in the regional cuisine of each area?

Yes, we very much did. Jackie, Mick, Tansy and Anthony went to a huge effort to ensure that we were informed about and provided with regional specialties everywhere we went. Each place was so proud of the local food and wine they could offer us and obviously appreciated that HH was keen to celebrate regional cuisine.

We find that our groups usually gel together very quickly – having many shared interests. Was this your experience?

Yes, that was our experience. They are generally people with similar interests: hiking and being outdoors; having authentic experiences and learning about the local culture and history; and appreciating good food and wine. But everyone has had different life journeys so there was always something new to talk about and share with each other.

If you were to recommend to a friend one of the three tours which you have completed, which one would it be?

That’s like asking which is our favourite child! We would recommend to friends that they consider primarily what level of hike they will be able to do comfortably – is it a 5 or a 4 or perhaps a 3? The hiking is amazing on all three tours. Here’s our attempt at recommendation based on other things:

– Wilds of Abruzzo – if you want to experience smaller, very authentic Italian villages and go to a region of Italy that is primarily still undiscovered by tourists but probably for not too much longer.

– Slovenia and Friuli – if you want to discover the incredible history of this part of Europe (from neanderthal all the way through to the world wars) and visit incredible boutique wine and food producers.

– Italian Alps – if you want to see the undying influence of the Roman empire, get up close to Mont Blanc and enjoy the après hiking vibes in the very sophisticated towns of the Aosta Valley.

Do you have plans for another HH trip in the future?

We have booked the France and the Maritime Alps for 2026. This is part of our aim of completing the Level 5 hikes, and it was highly recommended by the some of the other Hedonistic Hikers.

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