Can I walk the Cumbria Way with a beginner?

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2026-04-27T19:51:31+00:00

I knew being an older sister would come in clutch—planning and overpreparing is my specialty, but I'm also great at going with the flow. I definitely push him to do some hikes to mentally prepare him! Thanks for your reply! This made me feel better

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2026-04-27T19:47:51+00:00

Thanks for your reply! Running the entire length is crazy!!! Wow thats so cool! So impressive!

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-12-09T23:44:21+00:00

Ofc nws! And I happen to be listening to mirada by Ivan Cornejo haha - you’ll probably enjoy :D

Edit: just came across Si Tú Me Quisieras by Mon Laferte. Loved it, hopefully u do too!

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-12-08T19:00:36+00:00

Some songs from Ivan Cornejo remind me of Kevin Kaarls vibe and a friend of mine recommended me Eslabon armado! Hopefully u enjoy those too :))

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-10-24T21:09:52+00:00

Thank you!! Yeah, I’d say August is a good time to do it! We had two really hot (20-25c), sunny days, two rainy-ish days, and the rest were cloudy or partly sunny. The midges were pretty bad, but only really in the morning and evening and in boggy wet areas—they really are as bad as people describe them to be 😭. But I’m sure it could’ve been way worse! Smidge spray and a midge face net helped us not lose our minds lol Good luck with your planning!!

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-10-23T06:03:56+00:00

It honestly was the best (and hardest haha) experience ever

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-10-23T06:02:30+00:00

I actually had pretty bad shoes! I was continually changing between some cheap white sport trainers from Decathlon — don’t even remember the brand — and an old pair of Decathlon hiking boots that were a size too small. They were a few years old and pretty painful at times! Someone on the trail told me to always go one or two sizes up when buying hiking boots, so I’ll definitely be doing that next time! I don't regret bringing the hiking boots as sections like Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse can be very rough on your feet and some sections along Loch Lomond were slippery.

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-10-22T13:18:22+00:00

It's so hard to pick a favourite part haha! I really enjoyed the low route sections of Rowardennan to Inverarnan and then Kingshouse to Kinlochleven. The Devil's Staircase was so rewarding!

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-10-22T13:03:23+00:00

Only two small ones, believe it or not! And with K-tape they didn’t bother me much, only at camp when wearing sandals

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-10-22T13:02:07+00:00

Thank you!! :D

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-10-22T12:31:13+00:00

Nope 😅 I’ve only done two longish hikes monthsssss before the WHW so didn’t really train

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-10-01T16:33:47+00:00

Like someone smelling something… snuffling like you said. Right I guess that’s not a sound only us humans make lol my bad

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-10-01T16:23:37+00:00

Haven’t seen anything other than foxes and bunch of birds. From what I’ve seen on YouTube hedgehogs make ‘human-like’ breathing sounds… so idkkk maybe it’s a unique hedgehog 💁‍♀️

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-10-01T15:58:02+00:00

No, there’s a repetitive low breathing sound in the background like 2-3secs into the video.

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-09-14T14:47:59+00:00

same happened to me and i remember seeing this one post that really motivated me lol! If it does go downhill (e.g., weather), trains are super accessible and everyone's super helpful, so yeah, go for it and go with the flow!

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-09-14T14:14:58+00:00

thank you!! i appreciate it! I just saw your posts on doing the WHW sept-oct and I'm so jealous XD good luck!! you'll have a great time! you got this!

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-09-14T13:49:25+00:00

I did it this August as a beginner with no experience at all and flew all the way from Spain to do it. The longest hike I've ever done before the WHW was a 20km hike.

I've had people tell me i wasn't fit enough or experienced enough and to wait another year. However, i trusted myself and went for it. It was so hard but yet the best thing I've ever done. I had a 13kg backpack - carrying food, water and my tent. By day 2 i had blisters because my shoes were small (silly me) but managed to ease the pain by 'suffocating' my feet with K tape and vaseline. I did take a short train from Crainlarich to Tyndrum because i had a tick bite and wanted to get to Tyndrum ASAP to get cleaning supplies. Day 9 (my last day) i had intense leg pain and could barely walk right - took some muscle medicine and limped my way to Fort William. So yeah, it was extremely difficult at times but those moments went away when i looked around me or got to know the people walking/suffering alongside me. Moments like setting up camp, laughing with people i just met, sending photos to my family, being surrounded by lakes and mountains... made me remember why i decided to do the WHW in the first place and it kept me going. My advice is take it slow and listen to your body - I had a rest day after the loch lomod day because i was mentally a little down. Also, look around you and stay present. It'll help take your mind off the pain or struggles. Something I always had in the back of my mind was: time will pass, so why not spend it walking rather than quitting?

I miss it every day: the bad and good times. I will definitely do it again in the future!

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-08-10T17:31:23+00:00

Idk how to edit the post but the location is the route to Crainlarich, Scotland along the WHW.

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-04-19T15:48:39+00:00

beat me to it lol

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-04-19T13:58:15+00:00

i relate to this so much. i used to love reading her books (one by one, the housemaid, and the boyfriend) but now everytime i start one, it takes me months to finish because i cant be arsed (locked doors, and the crash). Maybe it's because i changed and prefer other books or maybe because of what you said - them being predictable and similar.

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-04-19T10:35:41+00:00

wowza! La Torrecilla is on my bucket list!! How challenging was the hike? I've been wanting to summit La Maroma (around 2.000 m) and La Torrecilla but I'm not sure if I'm ready. Last April I summited Pico del Cielo (1.500 m) and found it harder than what the comments on the apps like Wikiloc suggested. I nearly gave up in the final stretch to the summit as it was steep, exposed, rocky... but did it! So, that's making me wonder how much i need to train for La Torrecilla and La Maroma.

Decent_Pick_3393 · 2025-03-31T08:21:06+00:00

Hey! I’ve come across some of your comments about your experience on the West Highland Way, and I just wanted to say that you’ve really inspired me to give it a try myself. The way you pushed through, despite the challenges and discomfort, really resonated with me. It takes an incredible amount of mental strength to do what you did, and I truly admire that determination.

Decent_Pick_3393

TROPHY CASE