Get Outside. Go Further.
Hiking trails, national parks, wild camping spots, and everything you need to plan your next outdoor adventure.
There’s something about being outside that resets your brain. Not in a motivational poster way. In an actual, physiological, your-cortisol-drops-and-your-breathing-changes way. Whether that’s a three-day hike through the Scottish Highlands or a morning walk through your nearest national park, the effect is the same. You come back a little different.
This hub is your starting point for all of it. We’ve got trail guides, national park breakdowns, camping tips (and glamping for when you want nature without the soggy sleeping bag), gear advice, and honest reviews of the best outdoor experiences we’ve found. Some of these we’ve done personally. Others come from contributors who eat this stuff for breakfast. Literally, in some cases, because camping porridge is a thing.
20+ Guides
Trails, parks & camping
6 Continents
Outdoor guides worldwide
From £10/$13/€12 per day
Budget camping costs
Safety First
Gear & preparation tips
Year-Round
Something for every season
Outdoor Guides & Articles
Trail guides, national park breakdowns, camping tips, and adventure inspiration. All the outdoor content in one place.
National Parks & Natural Wonders
Hiking & Walking
Camping & Glamping
Adventure & Weather
Road Trips
Walking Tours
What Does the Great Outdoors Actually Cost?
Good news: nature is mostly free. The gear, transport, and experiences to get you there? That’s where it adds up. Here’s an honest breakdown.
🎒
Budget Adventurer
£10-25 / $13-32 / €12-29 per day
- Wild camping or basic campsites
- Self-catering with a camp stove
- Local trails and free national parks
- Second-hand or borrowed gear
🍜
Mid-Range Explorer
£40-80 / $50-100 / €45-90 per day
- Paid campsites or budget lodges
- Mix of self-catering and eating out
- Guided day hikes and park entry fees
- Decent gear (new mid-range brands)
⛺️
Premium Outdoors
£100+ / $125+ / €115+ per day
- Glamping or boutique lodges
- Restaurant meals at trail towns
- Private guided tours and helicopter access
- High-end gear (Arc’teryx, Osprey, etc.)
Detailed Cost Breakdown
Budget
- Hiking boots (budget): £40-70 / $50-90 / €45-80
- Backpack (30-50L): £30-60 / $40-75 / €35-70
- Waterproof jacket: £25-50 / $30-65 / €30-60
- Sleeping bag (3-season): £30-60 / $40-75 / €35-70
Mid–Luxury
- Hiking boots (quality): £100-180 / $125-225 / €115-210
- Backpack (branded): £80-200 / $100-250 / €90-230
- Waterproof jacket (Gore-Tex): £150-300 / $190-375 / €175-350
- Sleeping bag (down): £100-250 / $125-310 / €115-290
Budget
- Wild camping (where legal): Free
- Basic campsite: £5-15 / $6-19 / €6-17 per night
- Hostel near trailhead: £15-30 / $19-38 / €17-35 per night
- Mountain hut/bothy: Free-£15 / Free-$19 / Free-€17
Mid-Premium
- Full-facility campsite: £20-40 / $25-50 / €23-46 per night
- Glamping pod/bell tent: £60-150 / $75-190 / €70-175 per night
- Lodge/cabin: £80-200 / $100-250 / €90-230 per night
- Eco-resort: £150-400+ / $190-500+ / €175-465+ per night
Low Cost
- National park entry (UK): Free (most parks)
- National park entry (US): £12-28 / $15-35 / €14-33
- Self-guided trail: Free
- Kayak/canoe hire (half day): £15-30 / $19-38 / €17-35
Premium Experiences
- Guided mountain hike: £40-100 / $50-125 / €46-115
- Via ferrata course: £50-120 / $63-150 / €58-140
- Multi-day guided trek: £200-600+ / $250-750+ / €230-700+
- Helicopter scenic flight: £150-400 / $190-500 / €175-465
Self-Catering
- Freeze-dried meal: £3-6 / $4-8 / €3-7
- Camp stove fuel canister: £4-8 / $5-10 / €5-9
- Trail mix/energy bars (per day): £2-5 / $3-6 / €2-6
- Supermarket supplies (per day): £5-10 / $6-13 / €6-12
Eating Out
- Trail town cafe lunch: £8-15 / $10-19 / €9-17
- Pub meal after a hike: £10-18 / $13-23 / €12-21
- Restaurant dinner: £15-30 / $19-38 / €17-35
- Mountain hut meal (Alps): £12-25 / $15-31 / €14-29
8 Ways to Spend Less in the Outdoors
🏕️ 1. Wild camp where it’s legal — Scotland, Scandinavia, and most of Eastern Europe allow it. Check local laws first.
🔄 2. Buy second-hand gear — Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, and charity shops are goldmines for barely-used hiking kit.
🥾 3. Borrow before you buy — Test boots and packs from friends before committing to expensive gear you might hate.
🗓️ 4. Go off-season — Shoulder months (April-May, September-October) mean fewer crowds and cheaper campsites.
🍳 5. Cook on the trail — A £20 camp stove pays for itself in two days versus eating out.
🚗 6. Carpool to trailheads — Split fuel costs. Post on hiking Facebook groups to find people doing the same route.
🎫 7. Get annual park passes — If you’re doing multiple national parks, an annual pass almost always saves money.
💧 8. Carry a water filter — Stops you buying bottled water every day. A Sawyer Mini costs about £25/$31/€29 and lasts years.
Stay Safe Out There
The outdoors is incredible, but it doesn’t care about your plans. A bit of preparation goes a long way.
Before You Go
Tell someone your route and expected return time. Every single time. Even for day hikes. Download offline maps (Google Maps, OS Maps, AllTrails). Check the weather forecast morning-of, not the night before. Charge your phone fully and bring a power bank.
Navigation
Phone GPS is great until your battery dies. Carry a physical map and know how to read it (or at least the basics). Mark your car/start point on your phone before you lose signal. In poor visibility, don’t guess routes. If in doubt, turn back. Nobody hands out trophies for getting lost on a ridge.
Weather Awareness
Mountain weather changes fast. What starts as sunshine can be fog, wind, and horizontal rain within an hour. Layer up (base layer, insulating layer, waterproof shell). Cotton kills in wet conditions. Merino wool or synthetics only. If lightning starts, get below the treeline and away from ridges, summits, and isolated trees.
Wildlife & Terrain
Research local wildlife before your trip. Bear country? Bring bear spray and know how to store food. Tick zones? Long trousers, repellent, and check yourself after. Loose scree and wet rock are where most hiking injuries happen. Trekking poles aren’t just for old people. They save knees and improve balance on sketchy terrain.
Day Hike Essentials
Carry
Water (2L minimum)
Trail snacks
Offline map
Charged phone + bank
Wear
Broken-in boots
Moisture-wicking layers
Waterproof jacket
Wool/synthetic socks
Pack
First aid kit
Whistle + torch
Sun cream + hat
Emergency shelter
Know
Your route
The weather
Your limits
Sunset time
Quick Tips
Break In Your Boots
New boots on a long hike is a recipe for blisters. Wear them around town for at least a week first.
Golden Hour is Real
The best outdoor photos happen in the first and last hour of daylight. Plan your summit time around it.
Hydrate Before You're Thirsty
By the time you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Sip consistently, especially at altitude.
Download Before You Go
Maps, guides, podcasts for the walk. Assume you’ll have zero signal for the entire day.
Before You Head Out
Travel Problems
Missed flights, lost luggage, dodgy hotels. It happens. Here’s how to handle all of it without losing your mind.
Theft & Scams
Pickpockets, tourist traps, and cons you won’t see coming. We break down the most common ones and how to avoid every single one.
Travel Insurance
Don’t skip this one. Especially travelling solo. We compare the best policies and explain exactly what you actually need.
FAQs
Do I need to be fit to go hiking?
Not especially. Most popular trails are graded by difficulty, so you can pick one that matches where you’re at. Start with short, flat walks and work up from there. That said, don’t underestimate distance. A “gentle” 10-mile walk is still 10 miles. Wear comfortable boots, carry enough water, and give yourself more time than you think you’ll need.
Is wild camping legal?
It depends entirely on where you are. In Scotland, it’s legal almost everywhere under the right to roam. In Scandinavia, same story. In England and Wales, it’s technically illegal on most land without landowner permission (though Dartmoor has limited rights). In the US, it varies by state and land type. National forests generally allow it, but national parks usually don’t without a backcountry permit. Always check before you pitch.
What's the difference between glamping and camping?
Glamping gives you the outdoor setting without the discomfort. Think pre-pitched bell tents with actual beds, electricity, and sometimes even hot tubs. Camping is the real thing: your tent, your sleeping bag, your camp stove. Cost-wise, glamping runs anywhere from £60-150+ / $75-190+ / €70-175+ per night, while a basic campsite might cost £5-15 / $6-19 / €6-17 per night. We’ve written a full comparison if you want the detail.
What gear do I actually need for a day hike?
Less than you think. Comfortable broken-in boots, moisture-wicking layers, a waterproof jacket, enough water (at least 2 litres), trail snacks, your phone with an offline map downloaded, and a small first aid kit. Optional but recommended: trekking poles (especially for descents), sunscreen, and a power bank. Don’t overthink it. People were hiking for thousands of years before Gore-Tex existed.
How do I find hiking trails near me?
AllTrails is the go-to app. It’s available worldwide, has difficulty ratings, distance, elevation profiles, and user reviews with photos. In the UK, the Ordnance Survey (OS Maps) app is excellent and covers every footpath in the country. For US national parks, the NPS website has trail guides for every park. Wikiloc is solid for Europe.
Is hiking alone safe?
It can be, with the right precautions. Tell someone your route and expected return time. Stick to well-marked trails, especially if you’re new to solo hiking. Carry a fully charged phone plus a power bank. Download offline maps before you go. Start with popular, well-trafficked routes and build up to remote ones. We’ve got a full guide to hiking alone with more detail.
What should I do if the weather turns bad on a hike?
First: don’t panic. Put on your waterproof layers immediately. If visibility drops, stop and check your map before continuing. If lightning starts, descend from exposed ridges and summits. Find lower ground, avoid isolated trees, and crouch low if you’re completely exposed. If you’re truly caught out and can’t safely continue, find or create shelter and wait it out. This is why you always carry a waterproof jacket and an emergency shelter (bivvy bag), even on nice days.
Do I need travel insurance for outdoor activities?
Yes. Standard travel insurance often excludes “adventure sports” which can include hiking above certain altitudes, rock climbing, via ferrata, and wild swimming. Check your policy’s small print for altitude limits and activity exclusions. If you’re doing anything beyond basic walking trails, make sure your policy explicitly covers it. Medical evacuation from remote areas is eye-wateringly expensive without cover.
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools and services I genuinely think are useful for travellers, and your support helps keep The Travel Tinker running (and lets me keep making free planning tools and guides).
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