I just encountered my first via ferrata on a walking holiday in the Dolomites and loved it! Are there any in Britain? Tony Murombe  

 Andrew McCloy: Via ferrata is Italian for ‘iron road’ and describes an adventurous, mountainous route with fixed ladders, bridges and cables. Although popular on the Continent, there are only a handful in Britain – the oldest being the Elie Chain Walk on the Fife Coastal Path. It consists of a series of eight chains strung along the lower slopes of a sea cliff, some almost vertical. And although only 500 metres long, it’s an exciting scramble, plus it’s free of charge and self-guided – unlike the two existing via ferratas in England. One at Honister in the Lake District follows the cliff-edge path once trod by slate miners across the steep slopes of Fleetwith Pike. Open year-round, it includes ladders and old mineshaft tunnels, and takes two-to-three hours to complete in a small led group (visit www.honister-slate-mine.co.uk). There’s also an instructor-led route at How Stean Gorge Outdoor Centre in Nidderdale, in the Yorkshire Dales, which involves scrambling and even abseiling through a narrow gorge via ladders and beams (visit www.howstean.co.uk).

I walk most days, but have developed plantar fasciitis, or policeman’s heel. What can I do to alleviate the condition? Philip Jefferies  

 Dr Helen Crawley: Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the ligament that joins your heel to the middle of your foot. It causes pain under the heel, which is often worse when you first get up or during a long walk. Fortunately, within a year it usually gets better by itself. In the meantime, rest your foot and take painkillers or rub non-steroidal anti-inflammatory gels on your heel. An ice pack wrapped in a towel held to your heel for 20 minutes might also relieve the pain. Do only short, gentle walks, and wear cushioned lace-up shoes. Your chemist or a chiropodist can recommend heel pads and arch supports, which should be worn in both shoes. Cut a hole in the heel pad at the site of your pain. Stretching exercises can also help (visit www.patient.co.uk/health/Plantar-Fasciitis.htm). If your problem doesn’t improve, consult your GP who may offer steroid injections, extracorporeal shock wave therapy, night-time splints, or surgery.

What advice can you give on walking with my dog over farmland where animals are grazing? How should I react if they approach or threaten to charge us? Mr and Mrs Smith  

 Emily Shaw: Walkers with dogs need to take particular caution when crossing through fields containing grazing animals. Section 1 of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 makes it an offence for a dog to be at large – defined as ‘not on a lead or otherwise under close control’ – in a field or enclosure containing sheep. The majority of attacks by livestock on walkers involve dogs or cows protecting their young, so make sure your dog is kept close to you, stick to the line of the path, and don’t get between a cow and its calf. Be prepared for cattle to approach; they will usually stop before reaching you. If not, just carry on quietly or try to find another way around, and do not run. Should a bull or cow come up very close, turn around to face it and take a couple of steps towards it, waving your arms and speak firmly. If you are charged or feel threatened, let the dog off the lead – it’s better that they go after your dog than you. You should report any incident of an attack to the landowner and the highway authority, and also the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), as well as the police if it’s serious.

I’m considering buying a Platypus. What sort would you recommend?  Rose Janes  

Minnie Burlton: Drinking small amounts, regularly, during longer walks will help to sustain your energy levels, so a Platypus is a good and convenient idea. Virtually all good daypacks now feature a storage sleeve with a route for a tube, making them compatible with the majority of hydration bladders on the market. The CamelBak Antidote or Source Widepac models work well. They’re made of materials with anti-microbial protection, which blocks bacterial growth, provides a purer plastic-free taste and requires less intensive cleaning. Both have a twist lock to prevent leakage, and are very easy to fill. You can also disconnect the hose from the bladder without leaking so you can top up without removing the tube from your pack.

All of the three-season boots you reviewed in the autumn edition have a waterproof lining, but I find it makes the boots smell terrible. Can you recommend any plain leather boots? Callum Johnston  

Minnie Burlton: I spoke to Richard Shepherd, footwear buyer at Ellis Brigham, who said: “Your feet can sweat about a pint a day. The stink caused by bacteria can be dealt with by drying properly after use, switching insoles regularly and by anti-bacterial sprays, but is no worse a problem in Gore-Tex lined boots than unlined leather boots. Using good Merino-based socks and changing them regularly can also help. You will need to treat unlined leather boots with a waterproofer, which can reduce the breathability anyway. However, the Meindl Borneo is a good unlined option.”

I sleep extremely badly after I’ve been out walking. I thought that spending the day out in the fresh air walking 10 miles would relax and tire me out. Should I be worried? Margaret Armitage  

 Dr Helen Crawley: A day spent walking in the fresh air often leads to a good night’s sleep and people who exercise regularly do sleep better. However, exercise-induced insomnia is a well-recognised problem. Your wakefulness could be caused by the excitement, exhilaration and physical stress of your walk. Excitement and stress lead to activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the production of chemicals within the body, which prepare the body and mind for action. Your heart pounds, your blood vessels dilate and energy is released for ‘fight or flight’. Try walking earlier in the day so that you’ve time to settle down before going to bed. Relaxation techniques can also help. Avoid caffeine, smoking and alcohol within six hours of bedtime and mentally demanding activities within 90 minutes. Your bedroom should only be used for sleep and sex so that your mind associates your bed with slumber. If you cannot get to sleep within 20-30 minutes, leave your bedroom and do something such as reading until you feel sleepy.

Send us your questions
Do you want an answer to a health, gear or legal question? Then write to us at walk, Ramblers, 2nd Floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW or email denise.noble@ramblers.org.uk with your name and address. Letters may be edited and may be included on this website. We are not able to acknowledge letters.

The writers of all letters published will win an Oasis Crewe top from Icebreaker, worth £52.95. This raglan long-sleeved top has a higher neck to trap in heat
and flat-sewn seams in the side gusset to keep you comfortable. Visit www.icebreaker.com.

I am a walk leader for Retford Ramblers and am considering getting a HTC Sensation smartphone. What is the best GPS/Ordnance Survey-mapping software for an Android phone that would allow me to plan walks, fix waypoints on my desktop computer and transfer the route to my phone? Peter Hunt

I find using rucksacks uncomfortable, due to pain in one of my arms and shoulder, so I use the largest bum bag I can find for daytrips. On one walk I saw someone wearing two rather large bum bags that looked both comfortable and cavernous. He said he got them in the US and didn’t know of any supplier in Britain. Can you help me? Erik Wilkinson
Minnie Burlton: These are certainly more popular in America than in the UK. If you’re searching online they may also be called waist packs, lumber packs, hip packs or even fanny packs. The largest bum bag Ellis Brigham currently stock is the Osprey Talon 8 with a capacity of eight litres. Other brands that may have what you’re after are The North Face, Lowe Alpine and Haglöfs. Mountainsmith make good lumber packs but there are currently no British retailers stocking the American brand.

Can I walk my llama on a public footpath? They walk on a lead just like a dog and cannot be ridden. Sarah Brobin
Amy Cook: In law, a dog would probably be considered a ‘usual accompaniment’ for a walker on a footpath. In theory, a llama could be seen as an inconvenience to other footpath users so shouldn’t be walked with you – but there are no previous legal cases to give a definitive answer. On a bridleway, you are able to lead a horse – which includes an ass, pony or mule – so a court may well consider that a llama falls outside this category. Walking your llama on a footpath could be considered trespassing against the landowner or a nuisance.

What’s the best technique to ascend and descend a hill or mountain without exerting too much strain on your muscles or joints? I always find my muscles are very stiff when climbing and my knees jarring on the way down.Norman Jeffreys
Dr Helen Crawley: Walking downhill strains your knees and ankles because gravity makes you hit the ground harder. On very steep hills, use a zig-zag route to reduce the rate of descent and bend your knees slightly to reduce the pressure on them. Keep upright or bend slightly forwards with your weight over your hips for stability. If you feel you are going too fast, reduce the length of your stride. Walking poles can help, lessening the impact on your knees by taking weight through your arms. Uphill walks are hard work, using muscles in the front of your thighs and in your buttocks, so warm up with a brisk walk on the flat for at least five minutes. Then, when you climb, shorten your steps so you never have to raise your knees more than six inches, and keep your posture upright rather than leaning into the hill.

On a recent walk in the Berwyn Mountains with my local Ramblers group, we came across a fairly new stile along a well-signed public footpath. I say ‘stile’ but it was basically just five or six planks of timber without any steps to mount it. Are there any minimum standards for stiles, or penalties for landowners if walkers are injured by one not fit for purpose? Jan Winster
Anastasia French: There is no statutory design, height or width with which stiles and gates must comply. This is because each site differs according to the slope of the ground, the condition of the fence, wall or hedge and the materials to hand. Indeed, the diversity of stile and gate designs found throughout England and Wales is generally considered to be an attractive feature of the path network and to be encouraged, provided they’re maintained in a safe condition and are convenient for all users to cross – including the elderly and less able. There is a British Standard to ensure they cause the minimum of inconvenience to users, while still preventing the passage of animals. It instructs that the least restrictive option should be chosen. More information on gaps, gates and stiles can be found at tinyurl.com/3oybwm8.

Following hip replacement surgery, my right leg is nearly two inches shorter than my left. Will I experience any problems walking long distances because of my shorter leg? And if so, what can I do to prevent them? Harry Protz
Dr Helen Crawley: Some patients do have a change in leg length following hip replacement, which often improves within a year. Nonetheless, it can lead to muscle fatigue in the longer leg, back pain, leg numbness or a difficult gait. The simplest solution is an insole if the difference is small, or a built-up shoe for larger leg-length discrepancies. Your GP or orthopaedic surgeon can refer you to orthotics for a built-up shoe on the NHS. Sometimes your legs may feel unbalanced after hip surgery due to a tilted pelvis rather than a difference in leg length. This can be treated with physiotherapy. Slowly build up your rambling to your previous levels of fitness, avoiding hills or bending your hips for the first three months.

Send us your questions
Do you want an answer to a health, gear or legal question? Then write to us at walk, Ramblers, 2nd Floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW or email denise.noble@ramblers.org.uk with your name and address. Letters may be edited and may be included on this website. We are not able to acknowledge letters.

The writers of all letters published will win a HotRox Electronic Hand Warmer – the new way to stay warm. They’re rechargeable and can be turned on and off at the flick of a switch. HotRox hand warmers are the must-have accessory for everyone who enjoys the great outdoors. Visit www.thehotrox.co.uk.

Images: Stile by Tom k&e; Llamas by MilborneOne

VERDICT: An easy-going boot best suited to undemanding terrain. Also available in lighter-weight and leather versions.

VERDICT: These are surprisingly stiff, supportive and protective for fabric boots and will withstand the toughest terrain.

+ A sturdy toe box and large rubber rand. The sole is highly flexible, well cushioned and gives excellent grip.
– The mix of features may not appeal to everyone.
VERDICT: Combines a flexible sole with strong support around the ankle that you’ll either love or hate.

+ Robust and well-padded with support where you need it. The Sympatex waterproof lining is excellent.
– The women’s boot felt a tad clumpy.

VERDICT: Alt-berg’s traditional boots are sensible and reliable, and are available in five width fittings – from extra-narrow to extra-wide. They’re built to last by experts who are happy to customise each boot for the perfect fit.

VERDICT: An all-time classic from Scarpa: good looking, reliable, not too stiff or clumpy, and great durability.

+ Good rubber rand around the whole boot, and excellent support and protection.
– The heaviest on test, they need some ‘wearing-in’ before you head out on your adventures.
VERDICT: The stiffest and most expensive boots we tested, but they mean business and are built to last.

VERDICT: A lightweight, sporty boot with a deep lug pattern for good grip on slippery surfaces. Salomon’s boots will put a spring in your step.