| Clothing and Equipment | Plan Ahead | Maps | Compass | Public Rights |

The Peak District moorlands have few features. For a good day's walking, it is essential to possess accurate map reading and compass skills. What can start off as a pleasant day when you leave your home can rapidly turn into extreme weather conditions once you are on the moors. Exposure to both the sun and the cold can have fatal consequences for the ill-prepared visitor. It is imperative that you take care when planning a trip and are well prepared for all eventualities. Mountain Rescue Teams and Rangers are called out hundreds of times a year to rescue people – so be sure and be safe.

The following list is not exhaustive and merely acts as a guide to the kind of equipment you really should consider taking on a walk in the uplands. The time of the year and the route you are undertaking will dictate what equipment you will need but it is ultimately your responsibility to set off with the correct kit: For the average day visitor the list below outlines the bare minimum you should carry. For a more detailed list click here.

Essential Clothing and Equipment

• Walking Boots, well fitting and with good sole pattern
• Comfortable clothing and appropriate number of layers
• Waterproof and windproof jacket/coat
• Hat and Gloves
• Spare/extra clothes in bag (layering is important in cold conditions and spare clothes can replace wet or damaged ones)
• Rucksack
• First aid kit (to include plasters and blister pack)
• Map – either laminated or in a waterproof map case
• Compass
• Whistle, watch and torch (with spare batteries and bulb)
• Food (always take more than you need – particularly high energy foods such as boiled sweets and Mars bars)
• Water bottle/thermos flask (filled with at least 1 litre of preferably water or warm drink)
• Sun cream (for both winter and summer)
• Survival Bag

In addition, the following will help ensure your visit runs smoother:

• Check and maintain your equipment before every walk
• Adjust your backpack for comfortable carrying and in particular so that on steep climbs you are not over-balanced backwards by the weight
• Use waist and shoulder adjustments to shift weight during day
• Pack your backpack carefully with heavier items at or near the top
  

Be Prepared – Plan ahead

Always plan your route before you leave home and if possible plan an escape route in case you need to return home early. Obtaining a local weather forecast is essential. Advise others of your plans and your estimated return time. If you are going to be late inform those back at ‘base’ at the earliest opportunity.

If travelling in a group, keep together and let the slowest person determine the pace. Even so, ensure everyone knows the route and is carrying all the items of clothing and equipment appropriate for that particular walk.

Be sure to keep an eye on both your location and the weather throughout the day in case visibility deteriorates. If you are out on the moors during extreme weather conditions be aware of your location at all times and watch out for signs of hyperthermia in members of the group. Others should look for similar signs in you!

Estimate the time it will take you to complete the route and be aware of what time the sun sets (walking after dark means trickier navigation and cooler temperatures). You should aim to be off the hill between 1 1/2 and 2 hours before sunset. Most people have some idea of how fast they can walk, however, there are a number of variables that will affect your speed over ground in the uplands. Footpaths are often wet, muddy and strewn with rocks and boulders that can hinder progress. The most important factors though are ascents and descents. In 1892, the Scottish climber Naismith calculated a formula that will allow you to work out a basic journey time and then you can adjust the formula to suit your own walking and ascent/descent speeds as necessary. He concluded that, as a guide, you can travel on average 3 miles/5 kilometres in one hour over flat ground, plus 30 minutes for every 300 metres of ascent. Obviously you will need to allow more time if you are less fit, relatively inexperienced or in unfamiliar countryside. Weather conditions (such as strong head winds) will also slow you down and allowances should be made.

On most 1:25,000 maps the contours are spaced at 10 metres intervals but some, such as the Explorer OL24 White Peak map, have contours with a 5 metre interval, therefore an easy way to calculate a climb is to add an extra half a minute (30 seconds) for every 5 metre contour crossed and 1 minute for every 10 metre contour crossed. Going downhill can pose a bit of a problem because over gentle slopes, people increase their speed. However, descending a steep slope can actually take longer than walking on level ground.

Maps

Although a variety of maps and scales are in circulation, the best to use and the only one for serious and accurate navigation is the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 series, either the Pathfinder or Explorer OL maps.

• 1cm = 25,000cm or 250m
• 2cm = 50,000cm or 500m
• 1 grid square measuring 4cmx4cm = 1km2 (On all Ordnance Survey large scale maps, regardless of scale, one grid square = 1km2)

The Peak District moors are covered by two maps from the Explorer series:

• Explorer OL1 The Peak District – Dark Peak Area which covers as far north as Black Moss and as far south as Mam Tor – contours spaced every 10 metres
• Explorer OL24 The Peak District - White Peak Area which includes Big Moor in the east and Goyt’s Moss in the west – contours spaced every 5 metres

It is important to familiarise yourself with the symbols on the map as they illustrate what features you can expect to see and pass on your route and they could act as useful navigation points if needed. Either way, features like this can help to reinforce your position on your route. Knowing how to set and read a grid reference is also an important tool as it provides a means by which the position of any point on the map can be relayed or transmitted easily, quickly and accurately to others

Compass

There are many types of compass available and when buying one it is best to choose one with the longest base plate you can afford. A compass is generally used on open ground such as moorland where there are few features to aid navigation, but also when visibility is impaired. It is also useful for checking the direction of a right of way or locating your position when you are unsure. The situations mentioned can be stressful and therefore it is essential that you are able to use a compass correctly before setting off.

Public rights

There is much legislation that covers your rights as a visitor to the countryside. With the passing of the Countryside Rights of Way Act (2000) it is now possible to legally visit many areas of moorland previously restricted to access. For further information on your rights and responsibilities visit www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk.

Futher clothing and equipment considerations