{"id":257,"date":"2024-03-17T12:37:14","date_gmt":"2024-03-17T12:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/durhamramblingclub.org\/?page_id=257"},"modified":"2026-07-21T06:47:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T05:47:23","slug":"walking-tips","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/durhamramblingclub.org\/index.php\/walking-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Walking Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Navigation, Gear, Safety<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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for all walkers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Feet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Foot placement is important. Be familiar with how your foot feels on firm ground. A firmer boot gives more stability on more difficult ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vaseline applied before walking can prevent chafing. To prevent blisters: take action early and adjust laces or apply blister plasters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you stop in warm weather, take off your boots and air your feet. Additionally, it may be possible to make use of a cold stream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your toenails are bruised or blackened after a walk, trim your nails or get better boots.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fitness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are new to walking take things easy at first. Work on fitness daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A simple exercise programme will help. Leg raises, exercises on the torso, arm and shoulder exercises, and rotational exercises all help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fitness Studio videos on the NHS website has useful information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Test yourself on steep hills, starting slowly and increasing speed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Rules For Staying Safe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Don’t wear black – this makes it harder to be found by search teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bring the right kit, always carry a map and compass, torch and head torch. And a whistle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always carry a phone and portable charger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download the what3words map – it shares co-ordinates, which makes it easier to be found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carry more food and water than you expect to consume on your walk, even if it is cool weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be prepared to turn back if conditions turn against you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t rush. Allow the slowest in the party to determine the pace and take special care of the youngest and weakest in dangerous places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check the weather before you set off. Expect things to be much colder and uncertain as you get higher, even in warm weather and perfect conditions at lower levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tick Bites and Lyme Disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi which lives in the guts of ticks. Most ticks do not carry thisbut infection can result if you are bitten by an infected tick. Assume, anyway, that if you are bitten this is potentially infectious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ticks are tiny arachnids<\/strong>, related to spiders, found in woodland or grassy areas. When they attach themselves to human skin they bite through tissue and then start to feed on blood. They take 3 to 5 days to feed and then drop back into the undergrowth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peak periods for tick bites are May to July, and to a lesser extend in September to October.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Prevention of Tick Bites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Keep your skin covered. War trousers rather than shorts or a skirt. Tuck trouser bottoms into socks and avoid wearing sandles. Wear a long sleaved shirt with cuffs fastened.Insect repellent on clothing and exposed skin will help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examine yourseljk for ticks every 4 hours and at the end of the walk. Brush off clothing before going indoors and check that pets do not bring ticks into the home. Check your skin thoroughly when home, especially armpits, groin and scalp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remove ticks as soon as possible, Use tick and flea repellants or tick collars on pets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Once bitten….<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Early removal is important – infection is very unlikely in the first few hours of a tick’s feed. Using fine tweezers or finger nails grasp the tick as close to the kin as possible – pull firmly avoiding jerking or twisting. Try not to squeeze or crush the tick. Apply a skin disinfectant after removal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specialist tools for tick extraction are available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are concerned or feel unwell see your GP as soon as possible.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u201c\u00c9.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A<\/p>\n\n\n\n

C<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Navigation, Gear, Safety for all walkers. Feet Foot placement is important. Be familiar with how your foot feels on firm ground. A firmer boot gives more stability on more difficult ground. Vaseline applied before walking can prevent chafing. To prevent blisters: take action early and adjust laces or apply blister plasters. When you stop in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-257","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t