Tips to Actually Enjoy Walking in the Rain
Although spring is upon us and we are now looking forward to sunnier days, this time of year can be quite unpredictable regarding the weather. In fact, as I write this in April it’s raining outside and we’ve had the wettest April for a few years, so it does feel quite relevant! The unpredictable weather is especially true on the west of Britain, we can go through a few seasons in a day! One minuet enjoying a balmy spring walk, the next soaked from head to foot by a wintery cold downpour…
But there are things I love about walking in rain and bad weather. You usually have the paths and mountains to yourself and there is definitely a sense of achievement having braved the bad weather and not just waited for the sun. I also love the cosy feeling of coming home from a chilly and rainy walk to get into comfy clothes and snuggle up with a hot drink. If you are trying to get out more despite the weather forecasts but don’t know how to feel more motivated, here are some methods I use which might help you find it more bearable or maybe end up loving walking in the rain!
Disclaimer ~ these are all my own opinions and experiences, I am not a mountain leader or expert in this field :)
Keep dry if you can ~
Rain is pretty much unavoidable in the UK but you can do your best to keep dry. Invest in a waterproof coat and trousers to keep the rain out, try and buy PFC free if possible. I am writing a post of PFCs and why they should be avoided, so I won’t go into depth here but they aren’t a chemical you want on your clothing. If you have good waterproofs, walking in the rain is so much more bearable, there isn’t much worse in my opinion than soggy legs and water running down your neck and into your boots. An alternative to a raincoat is a waterproof poncho. They tend to be more waterproof than coats because they have fewer seams to potentially let in leaks and they don’t need to compromise so much with breathability as they are looser fitting and vent from below. They cover more of your legs so you may not need waterproof trousers. Plus you can use them to sit on as they are long and often they are large enough to cover your backpack as well. They’re usually much cheaper than raincoats as well if you are on a budget. But I don’t recommend buying disposable ones, they are a huge waste of unnecessary plastic! Get a waterproof cover for your rucksack, I think many rucksacks come with waterproof covers but if not these are invaluable to keep your stuff dry.
Dress in layers ~
When it’s rainy, it’s usually a little colder so layers can be useful. Getting really hot and sweating can make you colder in the long run. If you stop for a break, sweat cooling can really give you chills. Dress in layers so you can keep cooler while you walk. Merino wool base layers are good because they naturally wick away sweat, are breathable and also help keep you cool when you get hot. Layer this under a thin fleece or jumper and then have your rain rainproof layer. Having a lightweight insulated jacket to add over your fleece layer is good for colder weather or if you’re just out for a slow walk and you won’t get up a sweat or to put on when you stop for a break. I keep my insulated jacket in a dry bag in my rucksack when I’m not using it. As it’s down I don’t want it getting wet because down looses it’s insulating qualities when wet. Synthetic insulated jackets are better at keeping you warm if they get damp.
Have a spare set of dry clothes in your car ~
Or in a dry bag in your rucksack if you don’t have a car. Have a dry top, trousers, socks and underwear (incase you get really soaked!) ready to change into once you’ve finished your walk. If you know you’ve got something cosy to change into, getting wet doesn’t seem so daunting. You know it’s temporary and you also know you don’t have to make the journey home in soggy clothes. It can also be a good idea to have a flask of hot water and a hot water bottle in the car to warm you up if you’ve got cold.
Take a flask of something hot ~
Have a warming drink like tea, hot chocolate, Horlicks or even hot soup in a flask ready to drink can be a godsend. You could also take a stove to heat something up if you know you’ll have somewhere to shelter. You’re not going to want to wait for something to boil if it’s pouring down, so a flask is a better option in heavy rain or if you know you will be out in the open the whole walk. Stanley flasks are expensive but they keep drinks hot for ages and are well worth the investment in my opinion. I’ve taken boiling water to work in the past and it was still hot when I poured it out two days later!
Take snacky food rather than a meal ~
In my experience when walking in bad weather I don’t want to stop for a meal and if it’s heavy rain I don’t even want to open my rucksack. This is where snacks come in handy, if you have food you can easily reach from a pocket and eat on the move, it means you don’t need to stop much and don’t need to risk the content of your bag getting wet. You can take what ever you like to snack on, I usually take some bars such as muesli bars and Nakd bars are another favourite. Fruit and nut, trail mixes, fruit, oatcakes, dried broad beans and salted peanuts are other snacks I like to take. Sometimes home made flapjacks or energy balls if I feel like cooking. Having a tasty treat can be a great motivator to get up that hill in the rain!
Enjoy the sights…or lack of sights ~
Rain and cloud can create some magical landscapes. Sometimes there are breaks in the rain and light shines through in beams or dances on the land. The rain can look quite incredible as it comes in, a curtain of grey moving through the valley is quite something! If you walk in a woodland listen out for soothing sound of rain on the leaves and if the rain clears up you might get lucky and hear the post rain bird song.
Have things set up at home for your return before you go out ~
Knowing you have a wonderfully cosy and warm place to go back to after a cold and wet walk can be great motivation, a cosy evening does feel even cosier after a wet walk. If you have a fire then get it prepared and set up for lighting. Have candles or fairy lights at the ready for making the atmosphere seem warmer. Get a warming dinner cooked, like stew or soup, that you can just heat up when you get back. Have dry, warm (if possible) clothes such as your pyjamas or loungewear and woolly socks to get into once you’ve had a shower and dried off. I love a cosy atmosphere!
Try to change your mindset ~
This is much easier said than done but can be very helpful in getting out for rainy walks. We are so used to being warm and dry with our centrally heated homes and getting from A-B in sealed cars, sometimes with heated seats if your lucky! We forget how to cope and be in adverse weather. Unless you are going on multi day hikes and camping in-between, getting cold and wet on a walk is only temporary. Try and see the enjoyment in it, the sound of the rain on your hood, wrapping up against the chill and the fact that hot drinks and little snacks feel of so much more value when you’re in the cold and wet.
Lastly, be sensible ~
It can be tempting to go marching up to the top of mountains and you may feel you don’t want to be defeated by the bad weather. But it’s very important to stick to your abilities and limits, especially in bad weather. The weather can change so dramatically! Brochan and I were once walking in Glen Nevis in autumn, we thought it was only going to be a bit of rain but we ended up caught out in the open with thunder and lightening crashing above our heads, it was quite terrifying and would have been far worse if we had been up a mountain. If you aren’t familiar with navigation then stick to places you know, if you get caught out in thick mist and rain and can’t see your path this can be extremely dangerous on mountainous areas. Similarly if you get caught out once the dark sets in it can be very difficult to navigate. So know your limits, you’re not beaten if you decide to turn back because of the weather. It is about respecting the wild and knowing that it is far bigger and more powerful than you are. It’s also about respecting the rescue services, it is dangerous for them to come out on rescue missions in adverse weather, so don’t push your limits and go prepared.
Here are some tips to stay safer on walks, Mountains Rescue also has some extra tips and what to do if you have an accident ~
Take a good torch with spare batteries so you can see where you are going
Take a safety blanket to keep warm under in emergencies
Take spare water and food, the last thing you want is to be cold, wet and hungry, keeping up your energy with high calorie snacks can help wonders if your are caught out
It is a good idea to learn navigation with a map and compass or take a GPS device if you are going off paths or into unfamiliar places
Charge your phone before you leave and maybe invest in a power pack incase the charge drops, which it can in cold weather
Check forecasts for possible storms and low visibility if you are going to exposed areas and mountains
This might all sound ominous and obviously you don’t need to be so careful if you are going for a walk in your local park or lowland footpaths. It’s more if you wan’t to tackle wilder places and mountains, the weather might seem balmy one minuet and turn completely the next so you just need to be mindful and check forecasts for possible storms and low visibility.
