England/Scotland Hiking Poles

You don't need them for casual hiking. Which paths are you looking at?

Thanks for your reply. We're planning lots of different hikes in the Highlands (Pitlochery, Inverness, Portree) and the Lake Country (staying in Keswick). Plan to hike a bit of Hadrian's Wall. Don't have specific plans at this point. These are just day hikes so I'm suspecting it's primarily hill walking, but not sure. Regards,

You still don't need them.

Thanks! Regards,

I walked for several years without hiking poles in Scotland, but the last 4 or 5 times I have had some. I find them very helpful. Scottish paths tend to be very rocky. Even when you are not climbing Munros you can find yourself on a cliffside and I appreciate the way the pole helps me keep balanced. I usually only walk with one pole for that reason. If you're just planning on a few walks along the loch you probably don't need them. But here's an example of a hike where I was glad to have them. The walk was in Glen Affric and we were walking around the Loch. The south side of the Loch is a road and very easy, but as you walk around the north side the way goes over many little streams and you are indeed balancing on rocks as you cross them. BTW I would recommend good walking boots if you're serious about your walking in Scotland. Not only are the paths rocky they can be very boggy. Scotland is a wet place and I've gone into the muck over what would have been running or walking shoe. With my boot I stayed dry. All this said, know that I love walking in the Highlands. I've been on many week long walking trips based out of Strathpeffer and later Fortrose. Whether or not you bring walking sticks in my mind depends on whether you use them normally and how good your balance is on slippery rocks of different shapes and sizes. Pam

Absent poor balance or weakened joint(s), no need.

We used our trekking poles on England (Coast to coast, Lake district loop) and Scotland (West Highland Way) walking holidays and were happy to have them (one for each hand). Trekking poles are beneficial not only for balance, but for both ascending and descending steep slopes. The poles allow you to use your upper body muscles on steep climbs and reduce load on your knees on steep descents. Trekking poles are also useful crossing moors. I use my trekking poles to vault bogs and reduce the depth that my boots sink. If you do bring your poles, having ice ax or ski carry straps on you pack can be useful if you do any scrambles were both hands are needed. I.e. Helvellyn/Striding Edge. If you have three piece poles they easily fit checked bags. I've heard that trekking poles are allowed in the cabin but that would need to be verified.

I should also add that English fell walkers are not wimps. For some reason known to the Brits, they seem to cut their tracks straight up and down the fall line. They don't need switchbacks like we have in Western states. On day one of our Coast to coast walk, the track from the top of Dent Hill went straight down the grass slope. The slope was close to the friction angle of our lugged soles. Poles helped retard our descent to Nannycatch Beck. Even were tracks are improved with rock steps, the steps may have rises of one or two feet vertical. Poles here are useful both up and down. An UK walk is not a stroll on paved sidewalks. That's why we enjoy our UK walking holidays. That and the full English (or Scottish) breakfasts and an evening pint (or two).

I used some in Keswick, but only because I had limited time there and arrived with a sore Achilles. The lady who owned our B&B let me borrow hers. I think don't bring them and you can acquire them there if you change your mind.

Thanks all for the advice. I think we'll bring them and then we can just decide on each hike whether to take them. We weren't planning to check luggage so we'll just pack them separately and check them. Separate question: we were just planning to wear low hiking shoes. From some of the comments about bogs and streams I wonder whether we should consider our high hiking boots. I'd prefer not as the low hikers can also be comfortable for city walking but the high boots would not be appropriate. I hate to take another pair of shoes. Any thoughts? Many thanks!

Bottom line on walking boots is to use what you know will be comfortable. Do not bring new, untried boots or try new untested inner soles or socks. That said mid-ankle boots are better on wet ground and rough terrain. It's a compromise between support, protection and weight. While UK trails may be rough, the are not really technical. Have fun.

I think Pam gave you a really good reason for bring boots rather than low-cut hiking shoes. I've taken my boots to Europe several times for hiking (Switzerland and Italy, not Scotland yet) and it's not so bad. If space is tight I wear them on the plane. But most of the time they fit at th ebottom of my hiking pack (my "personal item" in addition to my carry-on bag).

Such great advice and suggestions. Thanks, everyone!

Everyone has given you great advice. I will second Edgar's advice to not bring brand new boots or shoes. Make sure they are really broken in well before all the walking you have described. From my experience, high hiking boots that cover and come above your ankle give better support to the ankle, so that you do not twist or sprain it. When you try on your low walking shoes, do they allow lots of flexibility for you to turn your foot onto its outer side, as though you were going to stand on it? You do not want that if you will be hiking over rocky terrain with wet rocks. Your low shoes will allow your ankle to turn; the taller hiking boots will keep your ankle straight up. I would take the high boots. It's better than a broken or turned ankle. I had this one time from hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains with shoes on that did not give ankle protection. They were walking shoes, but allowed my foot to turn at an odd angle. A hiking buddy helped me pick out proper hiking boots, which I took with me to hike part of Hadrian's Wall. The boots also protect your ankle from getting skinned or cut if you walk where rocks brush the side of your ankle.

I so understand the urge to combo city shoes with hiking, but I advise against it. It's the wet, mostly. : ) When I booked my first walking tour, I wanted to take cool new Swiss walking shoes and the tour guide plain told me no. He said you need boots. What I do is where them on the plane. I take a pair of my walking sandals in my carry on and swap out to those shoes once I'm seated. When I get off the plane the hiking boots are tied to the outside of my backpack. If I'm connecting and they get fussy I can always swap them out again. Pam

As Pamela notes, you should have town & pub shoes (or sandals). Your walking boots will likely get somewhere between wet to soaked if you are in the UK for a length of time. Having town shoes gives your walking boots time to dry. The local drying media is newspapers stuffed into the boots to pull out moisture. UK weather is part of the adventure. A UK walking holiday is not a fashion promenade. Enjoy!

Truth be told I often go to Scotland with three pair shoes. Appalling I know, but I really like wearing sandals when I can. And one time on a trip to Francis, somehow both pairs of my city shoes gave me blushers--oh those cobble stones of Paris--and I ended up in my hiking boots in Notre Dame. Ah, well so much for pretensions to fashion in Paris. : ( Pam

If you are planning on HIKING the Lake District then certainly bring poles. If you are just walking then you won't need them. The paths around the lakes are very pastoral, flat, and lovely. If you plan on hiking Helvellyn, Blencathra, or any other of the higher peaks then bring them. Some of the tracks are extremely worn, steep, and rocky. So worth the climb but you have to work for it.

Leaving Tuesday. Have decided to take both poles and hiking boots thanks to the great advice we received from all of you! Safe travels to all!