On October 1, 2025
By Rebecca Field
Preparing your body & mind for autumn & winter walking
The change from summer to autumn can demand a wee bit more from you to keep the spirits up and the body healthy. Here’s a few tips to help get deal with the change of seasons:
Why Scottish terrain in cooler months demands preparation
One of the photography highlights of the autumn – hanging mists
The approach of autumn often seems to come overnight. One day it’s bright and sunny; the next we’re dealing with frost and fog.
Both Autumn and winter have their own challenges. In autumn, the days are already getting shorter, the leaves are falling from the trees and there can often be more rain than during other seasons. These all combine to produce more slippery conditions underfoot, meaning that more care needs to be taken when out and about. You might also want to consider investing in extra gear to make you more comfortable; like waterproof socks or leather boots.
On top of this, the daylight hour start to decline – which mean additional equipment to pack in your bags, such as headtorches.
The plus side though is that there are plenty of reasons to continue getting out and about and making the most of the season.
- Autumn colours are spectacular
- Rainbows are more common
- Both sunrise and sunset provide amazing photographic opportunities.
- Temperature inversions are a feature of autumn (when the hill tops are above the cloud in the valley)
Gentle training ideas
If you are keen to keep yourself fit and prepared to hike in the autumn and winter, here are a few tips to combat the winter blues and autumn lethargy, brought on by the shorter days.
- make sure you always take the stiars when you have the opportunity
- If you travel to work by public transport, try getting off a stop early and walking the rest of the route
- check out some local pub walks to keep you motivated. If you’ve done all the ones close at hand, investigate travelling a wee bit further away. Use the good pub guide for inspiration.
- see if you can get flexi-time at work, then maybe you can free up a whole day to go out and about
- consider checking out some shorter routes you may not thik are worth doing in the summer. You might find some a wee bit further afield which you haven’t done before – you can travel during the darker hours and use the daylight to walk.
Also check out our how to get fit for winter blog
Mental adjustments for autumn and winter
There’s no getting away from it as autumn becomes more established and winter looms on the horizon, it does become more difficult to motivate yourself to get up and get on with the day. It’s all to do with the lack of sunlight (leading to lower levels of serotonin) and lack of vitamin D.
- set yourself targets. Maybe take on a charity challenge: move 100 miles in October, a plank a day, 100 squats a day, 100 skips a day etc There must be some cause you’d like to raise funds for.
- take advantage of the opportunity to observe both sunset and sunrise at “civilised” times of the day
- invest in a bright head torch
- camp out in autumn (especially in Scotland) to hear the stags roar
How preparation makes holidays more enjoyable, not just survivable
Hasn’t everyone had at least one experience which they were completely under prepared for? I’ll tell you mine.
We decided to take a family night away (to bag a rogue Munro- or two – on the west coast). The plan was to cycle in, camp and climb the munros the following day. All went to plan until the walk began under continuous rainfall and wet bog. Unfortunately I had decided to wear my cycle trousers (only waterproof in high stress areas) and cotton leggings under them. Can’t remember what I was wearing on top. Nor can I remember what jacket I was wearing. By the top of the first Munro I was soaked to the skin and getting progressively colder. Breaks were no fun. I did not attempt the second Munro.
Striking camp had to be left to the boys (who were cosy enough under their more choice apparel).
I cycled out to the van and had to strip and huddle under a blanket to try to warm up.
Lesson learnt though – cotton leggings have not reappeared in my hillwalking wardrobe. Lovely warm merino leggings are now my go-to choice any time I head out in autumn or winter.
Autumn and winter hiking in the Highlands
The weather here, partly due to our latitude, does make hiking more of a challenge but with the proper training, clothing or leadership; it can all be conquered.
If you decide to explore in the Cairngorms, check out our accommodation at Fraoch Lodge, where we can offer free advice on hikes and equipment if you wish.
