I'm doing a really long walk all by myself

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I'm proud of myself for even thinking of it!

100 miles over 7 days. Not mountains, but some big hills. I've used an agent to book accomodation but will be carrying my own kit. There are 3 days of 18+ miles.

I'm fit (ran a half marathon today) but I'm starting to worry about it, mostly that I haven't done any training with the back pack, it was all a bit spur of the moment 😆 Too last now, I go in 4 days. My boots are well worn in though.

Any hints and tips?

Compeed blister plasters and some rehydration tablets might be a good idea. Good luck!

No tips but well done you!

My main advice would be to not press on if you have injuries. Take time out to recover and get a taxi or public transport to your next stop.
I didn’t take my own advice and now have a niggling long term problem which could have been avoided if I’d rested up and healed.
Other than that enjoy it. 🤗

Travel as light as possible!

Will you be around other hikers? Or in complete solitude? Just wondering what happens if you turn your ankle or something?

Do you have checkpoints or do they check that you have arrived at rest stops?

Sorry sent too soon-hope it's fab and please update after!!

OMG no advice but I’m so envious. All that time alone. The quiet of the countryside. A new adventure each day.

Hope you have an amazing time!

I’ve been thinking of doing something like this - no advice but I hope you have a wonderful time!

What agent have you used for booking the accommodation while you do it?

Ooh that sounds lovely

hook out some local taxi numbers so you can taxi hike - ie send your stuff in a taxi to the next bnb - in case you get fed up of carrying.

extra battery pack for your phone.

Get your family to check you’ve arrived each night. You don’t want to be limping for hours with a turned ankle.

light waterproof trousers if the forecast says rain - M and S do less annoying than usual ones

Moleskin! Way better than compeed blister plasters

You will probably be fine if you have good boots / socks. I did a 30 mile walk and didn't.. took my feet about 6 months to fully recover!

Wow well done to you 👏 Download the app "What 3 Words", just incase you need to let anyone know your exact location, good luck op x

That is excellent advice, that and sending you kit ahead in a taxi.

Have the best time OP.

Weigh your rucksack get it as light as possible you need very little ie. Flip flops as evening shoes. Wash out clothes overnight. Hydration bladders good for water as they shrink down when empty, hat & sunscreen as weather looks good this week. Snacks, paper map or screen shots of map saved incase no phone signal. Power pack for phone, podcasts or audio book downloaded. Have an amazing time. Vaseline toes, bra straps and heels to prevent sores. I’m jealous used to do stuff like that in my 20s pre-kids and miss my adventure time..

I have done a long distance walk on my own and loved it! I found my rhythm, woke early walked all day (I didn't really like to stop much) and then rested and found food in the evening.

It takes you back to a simple way of life.

I wore my walking shoes for work for a couple of months before I went. Is that a possibility for you?

Relax,enjoy and enjoy the views.

The walk I did had other people also doing it. While I didn't want to walk with them, it was lively to catch up in the evening!

This was inspiring thread recently https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4777668-do-you-do-long-distance-walking-coast-to-coast-etc?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

It's not an organised event, but the accomodation will be expecting me and know what my plans are and I'll have a phone.

Macs Adventures. They would have taken my luggage but part of the reason for doing this now is training for a remote mountain walk in the summer, where I'll have no choice but to carry my own stuff.

I walked the Camino Frances across Spain last year for 5 weeks...best experience ever and can't wait to do something similar again! My top tips would be...

1. Have trail-runners or boots at least half a size bigger than normal to allow your feet to swell. Ones with a wide toe box work best for me.

2. Socks are super important too and worth investing in. I used Injinji toe socks and double layered them with darn tough socks. I tried to remember to change them when I stopped for lunch.

3. If your feet feel sore, stop immediately and tape the hot spot before a blister has the chance to develop. I also used a cork ball to roll my arches every time I stopped.

4. if you do get a blister, only use compeed if it has de-roofed. There are several opinion camps but if I had a fluid filled blister the thing that worked for me was covering it in iodine and then threading it with a needle and cotton to allow the fluid to escape over night and then sterile covering it the next day.

5. I used walking poles, they saved my knees and stopped me from taking a tumble a couple of times

6. I recorded my daily progress using the Polar Steps app. This allowed family and friends to see where I was and follow my experiences but minimised the number of 'how are you/where are you?' messages I received.

7. Carry lots of water with you. I had two bottles and a drinking tube and mouthpiece that attached to them. Made it really easy to hydrate without the hassle of a camelbak/bladder.

Let me know if anything else you fancy knowing...as you can tell, I love to witter on about this sort of stuff! And let us know how you get on...You're just going to have the best time!

Accommodation - so just day sack not tent?

Keep the weight low
Do you really need everything ?
Can you weigh your sack fully loaded ? 10kg?

Walking poles can help

Comped, sun cream

Water filter so you can drink stream water ( keep weight of water down)?

Know if there are shops / pubs en route - save carrying food and water

Beyond clean undies - don't take much in the way of changes of clothes - you can rinse and dry on the outside of your rucksack if the smell gets too much

Walk for an hour and then have a break - it's much easier that way

If there are long road sections consider taking sone leightweight shoes / tevas - taking weight off your feet is often a great thing

Lanacane anti chafing gel - brilliant stuff, not greasy like Vaseline. SPF 50 - don't forget to do tops of ears. Sounds amazing OP - have a fabulous time!

This sounds wonderful.

I'd agree pack as light as possible as the backpack might become a pain.

Some of the B and B's will drive your rucksack onwards for you for a small charge, they can be very helpful to walkers.

Another idea I've used in the past where I've got to the stage where I just don't feel I can carry it any more is to get up in the morning, get a train or a taxi to a station roughly near to where i'm finishing that day, leave my luggage at the station or at the new b & b and get the train/bus back to where I'm starting the walk for that day and then walk to my backpack.#

Also, eat lots! a mile burns roughly 100kcals, so if you are doing 18 miles a day on several days you will be a quite a serious calorie deficit.

Camel back - so you can drink whenever you need to without stopping
Compeed- I was in the military and it was the only thing that worked on sweaty feet in boots running 10+ miles a day!
west highland way is my guess?
Whatever it is I’m jealous and really wish you well and want you to keep posting!

Definitely good nutrition and sport in science electrolyte tablets. Do you have a water bladder? Compeed. Good luck! And if the WHW take midge repellent and a midge net! They’re out already

Are the Camelback bladders much better than the cheaper ones? I don't have one, although my rucksack will accommodate one and I was thinking about it.

It's the difference between £8 and c. £40!