Coast & Fell

Hiking advice

Honest, practical advice on the things that actually make or break a day on the trail: hydration, fitness, safety, navigation and the kit that looks after you, all tested on real UK routes.

Shane hiking the Jurassic Coast at dawn during the Ultra Challenge, Dorset

Real advice from someone who's out there doing it

I'm Shane, based on the Dorset coast. I walk long and often, from all-day coastal routes to proper mountains, and I write it all down honestly here, no hype and no sponsored spin, just what actually works from someone testing it on real trails.

This is where the practical, evergreen advice lives: hydration, recovery, fitness, safety, navigation and the kit that looks after you. I write about it because I'm living it and testing it on real trails, from the 58km Jurassic Coast Ultra to a winter Pen-y-Fan in horizontal sleet, not repeating something I skim-read somewhere.

One thing up front: I'm a hiker, not a doctor or a physio. What you'll find here is lived experience plus honest research, and where something touches your health, like medication in the heat, I'll always tell you to check with your GP. No hype and no miracle fixes, just what actually works for keeping at it over the long haul.

If you want the fuller story, how I got here, the ultra, the mountains and where I'm headed next, it's over on my about page.

New pieces are going up regularly. If you want them as they land, grab a free guide or follow along below. Pull up a rock, get some water down you, and have a read.

Maple, Shane's toy poodle, on a woodland walk in Dorset

And this is Maple, my toy poodle and most enthusiastic hiking companion, even if she has the shortest legs on the trail. Maple and I say hi.

Navigation basics for hikers: map, compass, and not getting lost
Hiking advice

Navigation basics for hikers: map, compass, and not getting lost

Proper map-and-compass navigation is a lost skill, and 'my phone died' is a real reason people need rescuing. An interactive guide to the basics: an interactive compass, a take-a-bearing walk-through, and a plain-English glossary.

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Hiking first aid: the kit, the basics, and the prep that matters more
Hiking advice

Hiking first aid: the kit, the basics, and the prep that matters more

What to carry, how to handle the common trail injuries, and the two-minute preparation, Medical ID, location sharing, checking in, that matters more than any kit. Practical hiking first aid for UK walkers.

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What to pack for a day hike in the UK: the essentials, and the extras I rate
Hiking advice

What to pack for a day hike in the UK: the essentials, and the extras I rate

The honest essentials for a UK day walk, plus the comfort extras that quietly make a long day better. An interactive, printable checklist you can tick as you pack and adapt for cold, wet or long days.

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Help prevent wildfires: a walker's guide to not starting one
Hiking advice

Help prevent wildfires: a walker's guide to not starting one

Most UK wildfires are started by people, almost always by accident. How not to start one, what to do if you spot one, and how to stay safe if you are caught out. Simple, honest advice from someone who walks fire-prone heath.

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Staying hydrated on the trail in a heatwave
Hiking advice

Staying hydrated on the trail in a heatwave

How much to drink, how to pace it, and why plain water on a long hot hike is not enough. Plus the reservoir, bottles and electrolytes I actually use, and why hydration changes as you pass 40.

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Editor's picks

Latest reviews

All reviews →
Best hiking boots UK 2026: 9 boots tested and ranked
boots

Best hiking boots UK 2026: 9 boots tested and ranked

The best hiking boots available in the UK right now, from a £45 NORTIV 8 budget pick to premium Mammut and Salomon boots. Nine boots ranked across every budget and use case, all with proven Amazon UK demand.

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KEEN Targhee III Mid WP review: why we no longer recommend it
boots

KEEN Targhee III Mid WP review: why we no longer recommend it

The KEEN Targhee III was our comfort and wide-fit pick, but recent Amazon buyer feedback tells a different story: too many reports of boots breaking down and leaking. Here is what changed, and the boots we point wide-footed hikers to instead.

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Mammut Mercury IV Mid GTX review: the premium boot that undercuts our editor's pick
boots

Mammut Mercury IV Mid GTX review: the premium boot that undercuts our editor's pick

The Mammut Mercury IV Mid GTX brings Swiss build quality and GORE-TEX waterproofing to the £120 to £140 bracket. Here's where it fits against the Salomon X Ultra 360 and who should buy it.

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