How to Join the Grey Hiking Boom

As a serious outdoors enthusiast, I’m always cheered when I hear of an increase in the number of people getting their kicks from walking. It seems that participation in hiking in the US has nearly doubled since 2012 while in the UK, over 20 million adults are choosing to walk for leisure. In case you haven’t noticed, hiking is booming, with an even more encouraging ever-increasing upturn in the number of over-55’s lacing up their boots.

Part of the rise in popularity amongst over-55’s is likely due to a growing awareness of the health benefits of walking; certainly, even a gentle stroll will have a positive health effect for anyone who has previously been generally inactive. But other factors also play a part. Time is an obvious one – for most of us, retirement naturally frees up a considerable amount of time – but equally important, although sometimes overlooked, is just how enjoyable walking is! For me, hiking is a natural way to combine exercise with socialising, and a brisk walk always wins hands down against a gym session!

There is also perhaps the legacy of Covid. If there was any positive to the pandemic, it was our appreciation of the great outdoors at a time when walking was one of the few ways available to us to exercise and socialise with one another in a safe environment. For many, it simply became a way of life.

The great thing about hiking is that unlike the gym or reformer Pilates, getting started is easy. You set the pace and distance and can start as slow as you want, perhaps with 20-30 minute walks, throwing in a few hills when you feel ready. There are a few other do’s and don’ts to help you on your way but once you’re on track, you’ll have the world at your feet.

What You Need

If you’re new to hiking, then comfortable walking shoes or boots are essential and a waterproof jacket advisable. Keeping a phone and water with you is also a good idea and as you progress to longer hikes, extra layers and full waterproofs are recommended. Walking poles are also on my ‘must have’ list for longer hikes, as are these delicious home-made trail bars!

Hiking for Beginners

So how do you get started? My advice is to start with a route that’s familiar to you. This may be just a local walk through town, or a local park or woods. Even if you’re walking in an urban setting, you’ll still be clocking up the steps and increasing your heart rate. Gradually introduce a hill or two, increase your pace and build up the distance so that your 30-minute walk creeps closer to 60-90 minutes.

Walking on your own has distinct advantages: just having that quiet time to appreciate your surroundings can be incredibly therapeutic. This is ‘me’ time at its very best, time to let your mind wander and to soak up the views or focus on the urban landscape. It’s amazing what you notice when you’re not behind the steering wheel!

These gentle walks are also a great time to catch up on podcasts and audiobooks which can be a brilliant distraction as you start to tackle more challenging terrain and hills.

Progressing to Longer Hikes

Check lists lengthen slightly as distances increase, particularly for solo walkers. Do ensure that someone else knows your route, that your phone is fully charged and that you’ve checked the weather forecast if you’re in an area where conditions can be changeable. If you’re not keen on map reading, there are plenty of navigation apps available but if you’re walking on your own, sticking to more familiar territory may be advisable for the time being.

Walk with a Friend or Join a Local Group

If you enjoy being sociable, walking with others can make a huge difference. In the early days, when anything from drizzle to the temptation of curling up with a book may discourage you from your walk, having a fixed time with a regular walking buddy can ease the way. Pick a time and day that works well for both of you and share the challenge and satisfaction of gradually increasing the distance and elevation. As you walk further, it can also be reassuring to have someone else by your side.

Interestingly, you may detect a different tone to your conversations when walking side by side with someone. In fact, qualitative research suggests that conversation might be more spontaneous as there’s less social pressure when walking alongside someone and that pauses and natural breaks in dialogue feel more comfortable than during a face-to-face conversation.

Another option, of course, is to join a local walking group where your route is mapped out for you and all you need to do is turn up and follow the leader. Apart from anything else, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people. Do, however, check the level and the estimated distance and duration of the hike so there are no nasty surprises!

Progress to a Hiking Holiday

Ready to progress to the next stage? Even if you’re happy to walk on your own at home, you may feel differently about embarking on a solo hiking adventure. Planning your own route through unfamiliar territory can be daunting, not to mention hard work! By contrast, joining a group, either on your own or with a walking buddy, means that all the research will have been done for you.

On our small group hiking holidays, the walking is just one part of the puzzle. Of course, you can choose how easy or difficult you want the walking to be, but for us, hiking is about so much more than the challenge of completing a trail. Apart from the enjoyment gained from walking and sharing delicious meals and experiences with others, it’s a great way to explore local culture and dive into the history of a region.

Becoming Part of the Grey Hiking Boom

• Build hiking into the structure of your daily life.
• Don’t set unreasonable challenges – you have control over the distance, gradient, pace and terrain.
• Invest in comfortable walking boots and possibly poles.
• Enjoy your walks – a flask of coffee and snack always tastes better in the great outdoors!
• Swap coffee meetups for walks. Arranging a regular walk with a friend or two will motivate you to continue.
• Celebrate achievements – start small and add incremental distances and elevation. Suddenly you’ll find that you’re fitter than you thought you were.
• Consider joining a local walking group or taking your first group hiking holiday.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you picked up walking or hiking? What’s the length of your usual route? Do you prefer to go solo or with a walking buddy? Have you had success joining a walking group?