If you are planning your first backpacking trip, then you are probably a regular walker and go out most weekends. However, in the evening you can return home, put your feet up and relax for another week. The day after day walking that long distance walking entails, can be quite a shock to the system, not to mention the increased weight you will be carrying with a full backpack. Therefore, it’s a good idea to try a long weekend for your first time backpacking. A three-day hike would be more sensible than setting off on the Southern Upland Way for example.

In addition, you need to consider that your limitations on a day walk might be different to walking day after day. For example, just because you can walk 20 miles every Sunday, doesn’t necessarily mean that you could keep that up for a week or more. For this reason, it’s a good idea to cut back a little on the miles covered per day when working out your route. Personally, I find that about 15 miles per day is a nice number, when it pushes towards 20, it gets very tiring, and below 10 you end up with quite a short day.

It’s also good planning to allow for a rest day or spare day, as there could be times when you might not cover all the miles expected. The weather could deteriorate, or there could be other unforeseen circumstances. If you haven’t worked a spare day into your planning, then it could make it difficult to reschedule. Considering alternative routes for parts of the walk is a good idea too. There could be days where the weather is bad, or days when you feel tired and would prefer an easier route. Planning your route meticulously beforehand will save headaches later.

Are you going to carry a tent (more freedom but more weight) or stay at youth hostels (less freedom but less weight)? If you are going to be staying at youth hostels then it’s advisable to check if they will be open before you go. Most are open all year but very occasionally may temporarily close for other reasons. Sometimes your map might show a hostel that is no longer open, this has happened to me unfortunately. The same applies to campsites, so make sure they are still in existence and open. For peace of mind, you can find a list of campsites here.