Why Choose A Guided Walk?

Here in Eryri (Snowdonia), Climb Snowdon offers a range of guided walks that help you explore every corner of this gorgeous national park. From hiking the Miner’s Track and standing atop the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) to discovering the origins of the Welsh red dragon on the Llyn Dinas Trail, we take you to some of the most striking spots in North Wales. Of course, you could always do so under your own steam on a self-guided walk. Or could you?

We think there’s something special about a guided walk. They offer up a whole world of opportunity and enable you to do and see things you never would otherwise. We recognise that they’re not for everybody, but we also think most people would enjoy, and benefit from, the experience. In this article, we look at the main reasons you should consider a guided walk and explain why we think they’re an excellent choice.

Taking advantage of expertise

Easy access to hiking expertise is the most obvious reason to choose a guided walk over a self-guided hike. Professional guides do this job day-in, day-out and they’ve spent a considerable amount of time developing the skills they need to accompany walkers on trips. Generally, you can break down their expertise into three distinct categories:

Local Knowledge – Guides know an awful lot about the local area. They will typically live in the region (for at least part of the year) and have led numerous walks and expeditions out into the countryside. They know what species the bird you’ve just spotted is, where all the best secret spots are and what myths, legends and stories the locals like to recount.

Safety – We will touch on this in greater detail later on, but a big part of a guide’s expertise relates to safety and looking after those they’re responsible for. In many ways, this links up with local knowledge, as a guide will need to know what parts of the route are dangerous and when they become so.

Technical – This applies to walks at the challenging end of the hiking spectrum and may involve specialised equipment or techniques. If you’re using specialist walking tools, such as an ice axe or crampons, a guide can help you do so safely and effectively. Likewise, if you’re taking part in an activity, such as scrambling or rock climbing, they can offer guidance and advice.

Finally, a guide’s expertise also comes in handy for all those questions that inevitably arise when you’re out exploring a new landscape and environment. Why is the mountain called that? Who built that castle? What’s that on the horizon? Who needs Google when you’ve got a guide?

Picking a passionate guide

While expertise is essential, passion is optional. But all good guides will be passionate about the local area, the natural environment and walking. Most guides get into the profession because they enjoy being outside and active. You’re unlikely to make your fortune running guided walks, so most guides are doing it because it’s what they love.

When you head out on an adventure with a passionate guide, their attitude and energy are infectious. You get a real feel for what it means to know an area like the back of your hand, to love it and want to protect it. A good guide adapts to the people they’re with but also brings their own vibes, helping the whole group understand what makes the local area, hiking and the natural environment so special.

Remaining adaptable when things don’t go to plan

A big part of a guide’s job is ensuring everything is planned and there’s a definite structure to the walk. They don’t want to leave anything to chance. However, even the best-laid plans go awry. It’s a guide’s ability to deal with adversity, adapt and provide walkers with alternatives that makes guided walks such an attractive proposition.

When you’re out walking, there are hundreds of variables you can’t control. The most obvious being the weather. Then there are things like route changes, equipment malfunctions and unforeseen cafe closures to contend with. As much as a guide would like to be able to guarantee that everything will go smoothly, they can’t.

A guide’s adaptability is one of their biggest strengths. When a storm forces you to alter your route, they know the best path to take. When walkers are struggling, they know how to avoid the tricky scrambles and get them through safely. When the local pub is forced to close due to illness, they know an equally lovely watering hole just around the corner. On self-guided tours, a sudden change in plans can spell disaster. Not so with guided tours.

Staying safe in an emergency

Walking guides should be trained to deal with emergencies and know the best course of action in tricky situations. This is vital when out walking, particularly if you’re traversing challenging terrain and are exposed to the elements. Whether it is administering first aid or making sure mountain rescue can locate and assist the group, guides are well-versed in getting their walkers out of tight spots.

For this reason, you should always make sure your guide has received the relevant training and is fully accredited. The qualifications they need will vary depending on the terrain they’re guiding walkers through, though most reputable guides will feature their certifications on their websites.

However, guides also play a major role in preventing situations from escalating into emergencies. Precaution and pre-emptive action are far superior to reactive responses and a talented guide will always take steps to secure the safety of their walkers before things reach the point of emergency.

Celebrating the camaraderie of shared experiences

Guided group walks are beautiful things. While we completely understand that some people want to experience nature in isolation and do things independently, there’s a long and noble tradition of communal hiking in the UK. When large numbers of the working class first used their leisure time to venture out into the countryside, they organised the excursions through hiking associations. Groups would escape the city on the weekend and seek adventure in the hills and mountains of the UK, while also enjoying the companionship of fellow walkers.

Though hiking associations are less popular now, group walks retain that special communal feel. Many people who enjoy walking with others cite the camaraderie as one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience. Walking together lends the hike a social element – meals are shared, tales are told and friendships are made. The sense that you’re all in it together is motivating and sharing the experience is special.

Additionally, the physicality of walking lends itself to a relaxed form of socialising. The group dynamics adjust to the rhythm of the hike and fit around the landscape. As you reach the pinnacle of a spectacular peak, excited, celebratory conversation gives way to silence and contemplation. When the inclines ramp up, talk subsides as the breathing becomes more laboured. Walkers from diverse backgrounds interact, sharing their expertise and stories, while more eyes mean you’re less likely to miss that high-flying hawk hanging still and silent on an updraft. To put it simply, walking together can take an already excellent experience to the next level.

Prioritising convenience and easy planning

Now we’ve waxed lyrical about the romance and magic of guided group walks, let’s take things back down to earth and talk about practicalities. Guided walks are far more convenient than self-guided excursions. You don’t have to organise anything (though most guides will appreciate a little input, just so they can plan you the best possible trip) and you can usually leave everything up to the guide.

A lot of people enjoy planning and organising their walks. It’s fun to get the maps out and start building a unique route. Unfortunately, most people don’t have the time. If it’s a long walk that involves booking accommodation, organising food and arranging transport, many would-be walkers don’t know where to begin.

Guided walks take all that stress out of your hands, allowing you to sit back, relax and prepare for your walk with total peace of mind. It’s ideal if you are pushed for time, don’t feel confident organising your walk or don’t want the hassle.

Motivating you to challenge yourself

An important part of a guide’s job is encouraging and motivating the walkers in the group. Not all walks have to be physically strenuous – many people enjoy taking it easy and going at their own pace. That said, many hikes do test your fitness and endurance levels. When things get hard, your guide is there for you.

Most guides are in pretty good physical shape. That’s what happens when you spend a lot of your time walking across hills, through valleys, over peaks and around lakes. This means they can match the pace set by most amateur walkers and encourage them to push a little harder, further and faster. If you’re training for one of the big mountain challenges, such as the Three Peaks or the Welsh 3000s, this motivation can really help you get in shape.

But good guides don’t just motivate those who are training for events or trying to get fitter, they motivate anyone who needs a helping hand or feels like they’re struggling. We all struggle sometimes and everyone has their own definition of what constitutes a challenge. A guide can help motivate you to rise to that personal challenge, whether it’s reaching the summit of Yr Wyddfa or climbing all of Wales’s 3000+ ft peaks in 24 hours.

Lightening the load and transporting your gear

Guided walks are a fantastic option if you want to go far, but do so comfortably. Don’t fancy lugging around a big ol’ backpack for a few days? Many multi-day guided walks offer a portage service that takes your gear from one stop to the next, ensuring you have access to everything you need at the start and end of the day, without the hassle of having it on your back while you walk.

For some, the self-sufficiency of self-guided walking trips is part of the appeal. For many others, carrying all your gear is the worst part of the experience. If you fall into the latter category, guided walks make a lot of sense. This is especially true for more challenging routes with big changes in elevation or tricky terrain.

Providing space for personal progression

We already touched on the benefits associated with a trained guide’s expertise and passion for the local area, but it’s also worth taking a moment to talk about what that can do for you personally. Many people who try guided walks find they learn a great deal from them. Whether it’s discovering a region’s folklore, learning about the local wildlife or brushing up on your walking and mountaineering skills, you often come away from a guided walk feeling as though it’s been an educational experience.

This means guided walks are a great way to build confidence in your walking, orienteering and mountain skills. They can also be a useful stepping stone when you’re gently transitioning to a more independent approach to walking holidays. If you want to increase confidence in your own abilities and learn new skills, it’s always worth speaking to the guide before booking a trip. They may be able to tailor the experience to your needs or suggest a particular type of trip.

Supporting local businesses

Finally, choosing a guided walking trip is a great way to support local businesses. Most guides will have forged deep connections with the communities in which they live and operate. Not only does this mean that you get an interesting insight into the local community, but you also get to sample the best bits. How else are you going to know that [insert deli/sandwich shop name] makes the best butties in [town name] or that [insert pub name] pulls the most satisfying pint of bitter in [insert town name]?

Supporting local communities is essential if we’re to protect those natural environments we visit. Typically, local communities are stewards of the land. They look after it, co-exist with it and share it with anyone who wants to visit it. However, in areas that receive a significant number of visitors, resident’s lives are seriously affected during peak tourism season. Most are willing to pay that price if visitors are respectful and put something back into the community by using local services.

What next?

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons you should consider a guided walk with Climb Snowdon. From our local expertise and extensive safety training to our experience route planning and tailoring trips, we ensure every aspect of our guided walks is designed to provide you with the most enjoyable experience possible.

If you would like to find out more about our guided walks, get in touch with the friendly Climb Snowdon team and we’ll be happy to provide additional information and start planning your next adventure. See you on the mountainside!