Best piece of walking advice

“Never trust your Dad if he says it’s a shortcut”

As part of your voting this year, we asked you to give us your best piece of walking advice, and what a collection of wizened words, sayings and proverbs we got.

From the sensible (“Always take a map and know how to use it”), to the inspiring (“Go alone and trade companionship for freedom”), to the well-worn (“Take only photos, leave only footprints”). Some were instructive (“The shortest distance between two points is usually the least interesting”), sagely (“If you want to go faster, go alone; if you want to go further, go together”), or important to remember (“Reaching the top is not compulsory, coming down is”). Others were encouraging (“Keep walking – age is no barrier!”), broad-minded (“Go for the experience, not the challenge”), or essential (“Make sure the pub is open”).

But the advice that seemed to raise the most smiles of recognition among staff here at the Ramblers was the irrefutable: “Never trust your Dad if he says it’s a shortcut”.

Text by Dominic Bates / Photo by Wikipedia Commons user ‘Ultramandk’