Hey there guys and gals, new chap reporting in!
I'm going along on a multi day hike in 6 months up in Scotland, and need to prepare. I'm used to walking a few miles to work a few days a week, but I'm not used to carrying any weight like a pack, tackling inclines, or walking on ground that isn't paved! Good legs, but the rest of me not so good
So, I want to get started on prep asap. I'd like to get out into nature more anyway, partly why I'm so excited about this trip! So right now I'm hoping to find a couple of circular routes that I can pick from depending on what I feel like that day, that would also range from a few hours to most of a day to complete so that I can work up to the longer/more strenuous routes. I'd slowly be building up the weight in my pack over the weeks and months, and allow myself to become comfortable using the gear I'll be bringing along for the main event.
I'll probably do a route twice a week on my days off, eventually on back to back days when I feel capable. I want to know I won't get 3 days into this hike and be unable to do day 4! I want to be well prepared
I live near Manchester Airport and while I don't drive, I can very easily hop on a train at the airport and go wherever. So I'm looking for routes that start near train stations that's not a crazy far distance. I was thinking of Glossop? Thing is, I don't know what the best routes would be this time of year, I don't want to head out onto what like like a great route only to find winter weather has made the terrain impassable. For example, this route looks great and includes a GPX file for me to use, which starting out I'm a big fan of:
(I tried to post the link here but the forum wouldn't let me sorry, just Google "Bleaklow Circuit from Old Glossop Peak District Walk", it's the mudandroutes.com result)
But only you folks who've done these routes and have experience will be able to tell me where to go and where not to go, etc. I know I'm a newbie but I'm eager to get out there and learn. I put myself in your hands! Oh, I'm a male in his 20s btw
And if you're wondering no, this isn't a sudden new year's resolution thing haha. This trip's been on the drawing board for a few years but only just came together concrete recently, so now I'm switching into training mode, only coincidentally in January
Thank you for the help!