Planning Your First Multi-Day Walk

There’s something quietly thrilling about setting out on a walk that lasts more than a day. Whether it's watching the landscape slowly change, meeting people along the way or just switching off from daily life, a multi-day walk offers a very particular kind of joy. But how do you even start planning one?

Start small and stay flexible.

Pick a well-established route with clear signage and places to stay—something like the Northumberland Coastal Path or St Cuthbert's Way. These routes are well-maintained, easy to plan around and offer a good introduction to multi-day walking without feeling too intimidating.

Think about distance.

Around 10 to 12 miles a day is a good place to start, especially if you're carrying your own kit. But really, how far you go each day is entirely up to you. That’s the beauty of the trail. As long as there’s a hostel, pub, campsite or B&B nearby, you can break it up however suits you. And even when there isn’t, there’s often a local taxi or bus to help cover a few miles. You’re not stuck—you’ve got options.

When we do long-distance trails, we love to run/hike. It’s a way to cover more in a day—running the flats and downhills and walking the climbs, the road sections and whenever our bodies ask for a break. It’s not for everyone, but we enjoy the variety of movement as much as the variety in the landscapes. It helps us settle into our rhythm and keeps things interesting. 20 miles is the very most we’re comfortable covering in a day—and even then, only for two or three days in a row. Starting early each day gives you options. For us, our daily goal is always finishing in time for a pint (or two) before dinner and an early bed—ready to do it all again the next day. Because of family and work commitments, we usually carve out just one week for our adventures. With travel on either side, that gives us five days of trail time, so 100 miles is about as far as we can go over 5 days.

Hadrian’s Wall can be done in anything from nine relaxed days to an all-out 26-hour challenge i(f you take on The Wall Rat Race). It’s all about what kind of experience you want. Decide how many miles feel right, whether you prefer a bit of variation or like to hit the same distance each day. Knowing your limits (and your schedule) can make a big difference in choosing a route that feels like a challenge and a joy.

East to west? North to south?

We like to start with the end in mind, because the end is the place we celebrate. Finishing somewhere with good transport links is practical, especially when your legs are tired and your mind’s already halfway home. But you might also want to end somewhere you can stay a little longer. Do you want the quiet of the countryside, or a bit of city life to round things off?

When we walked St Oswald’s Way, we started at Holy Island and finished in Hexham. While it worked logistically, we scattered straight home afterwards—and looking back, we’d have loved to celebrate the achievement together and finished on the Pilgrim’s Way to Holy Island, it would have made an epic end to our first epic adventure. It’s worth thinking about what kind of ending you want.

How you want to sleep and what you’re willing to carry.

Walking doesn’t have to mean roughing it unless that’s what you’re into. There’s no one right way to do it. If you’re up for wild camping (just be sure to seek permission from the landowner, especially in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland). If you prefer something more comfortable, hostels or bunkhouses can be a great balance—carry your essentials and keep it simple. Or, if you fancy a little luxury, you can walk with just a day pack and stay in pubs or hotels, where a hot meal and a cosy bed are waiting at the end of the day. For us, we love the trail—but we also love hot showers, clean beds and all the comforts we can pack into a suitcase (that weighs 22 lbs or less) and is waiting for us at the next stop.

Start Planning

We start planning our next long distance trail a year in advance: find a trail, buy a guidebook, research the accommodation, transportation, luggage transfers and daily distance. Training starts 12-16 weeks ahead of hitting the trails.

The famous quote from the Tao Te Ching, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”, is also translated as “a journey of a thousand miles begins beneath the feet.” In our next blog, we’ll give them the attention they deserve: how to keep them happy, find shoes that support you, and build the kind of resilience that doesn’t end in plasters and regret.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. – Laozi