# How do you plan a solo hike safely?

Canonical: https://zestasy.com/wiki/solo-hiking-safely/  
Section: Zestasy Wiki > Movement · Updated: 2026-10-13 · Publisher: Zestasy

*Zestasy Wiki: our reference answers. Checked for facts and sources; less curated than the magazine.*

Pick a route well within your experience, leave the details with someone reliable, including start and finish, alternatives and when to raise the alarm, and check the mountain forecast before you go and again on the day. Set a turnaround time and stick to it, carry layers, food, water, a map, a head torch, a whistle and a charged phone, and know the local emergency number.

There is a particular pleasure in walking alone: your own pace, your own stops, the luxury of not discussing where to have lunch. Solo hiking is also a little less forgiving than hiking with company, because if something goes wrong there is no one beside you to help or go for help. The answer is not to stay home. It is to plan with a bit more care.

## Choose the right route

For your first solo hikes, choose routes you know or that are well within your experience: clear paths, reasonable length, places where other walkers are likely to be around. Save remote, pathless or technical terrain for when you have more solo days behind you, or for days with company.

Look at:

- distance and total climb;
- how long it will realistically take you, with stops;
- escape routes and shortcuts if you need to cut it short;
- water sources, huts and villages along the way;
- mobile signal, which you should not count on.

Mountain Rescue England and Wales, in a [mountain safety guide published with OS Maps](https://osmaps.com/discover/guides/mountain-safety/), advises choosing a route that suits the time of year and terrain, and having alternatives in mind for tiredness or bad weather.

## Tell someone, properly

This is the most important habit. The same guide advises leaving your route details with a reliable person: start and finish points, expected return time, any planned alternatives and your contact details. If you walk alone, stick to the plan as closely as you can, and tell your contact if it changes.

Agree what they should do if they don't hear from you by a certain time. In the UK, the guide says to dial 999 or 112 and ask for the police, then Mountain Rescue. In Italy and the rest of the EU, [112 is the European emergency number](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/112), free of charge. And remember to message when you are safely down; otherwise you risk worrying people, or worse, sending out a search for someone sitting in a café.

## Check the weather, twice

The Met Office notes that mountain weather can vary dramatically from hill to hill and hour to hour, and that it is [important to check the forecast](https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/specialist-forecasts/mountain) before you go and again on the day for updates. Mountain Rescue's advice is to be prepared to turn back if conditions turn against you. Wherever you walk, use the specialist mountain forecast for the area, not the forecast for the town in the valley.

## Set a turnaround time

Decide before you start the time at which you will turn back, wherever you have reached. Write it down. It's remarkably easy to keep going "just to the next ridge" and find yourself descending in the dark. Mountain Rescue notes that many accidents happen late in the day when people and phones are low on energy.

## What to carry

Mountain Rescue's kit list is a good template:

- suitable footwear and clothing, with spare layers, a hat and gloves, even in summer;
- enough food and water;
- a map and compass, and the ability to use them;
- a first aid kit and any medication you need;
- a head torch, plus a spare;
- a whistle (the guide gives six long blasts, repeated after a minute, as a distress signal);
- a fully charged phone, and a power bank if you can.

Our guide to [carrying a backpack](https://zestasy.com/wiki/carrying-a-backpack/) helps with packing it comfortably.

## On the day

- **Start early.** More daylight means more options.
- **Check in** with your contact at agreed points if you have signal.
- **Eat and drink regularly**, before you feel empty.
- **Keep an eye on time** against your turnaround.
- **Listen to the small doubts.** If the path is vanishing, the weather is turning or you are more tired than expected, turning back is good judgement, not defeat.

Follow local rules, signs and the advice of mountain huts and guides wherever you walk. If you're planning something in Italy, our page on a [first day hike in the Dolomites](https://zestasy.com/wiki/dolomites-first-hike/) has more.

## FAQ

### Is it safe for women to hike alone?
Many women hike alone and love it. The same planning applies to everyone: share your route, choose well-used paths at first, trust your instincts about people and places, and turn back or change plans if something feels wrong.

### Should I tell people on the trail I'm alone?
That's your call. Friendly chat with other walkers or hut staff can be useful for local information, and it's fine to keep your plans to yourself.

### What if I get lost?
Stop, stay calm, and use your map to work out where you were last sure of your position. If you can't safely find your way, or someone is hurt, call the emergency number and follow the operator's instructions.

### Do I need a personal locator beacon?
For most popular trails, a charged phone and a good plan are what people carry. For remote areas without signal, some walkers choose a beacon or satellite messenger.

## Sources

- [OS Maps / Mountain Rescue England and Wales: Stay safe in the outdoors](https://osmaps.com/discover/guides/mountain-safety/)
- [Met Office: Mountain weather forecasts](https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/specialist-forecasts/mountain)
- [European Commission: 112, the EU's emergency phone number](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/112)

## Related

- [What is a good first outdoor adventure if you're not outdoorsy?](https://zestasy.com/movement/first-outdoor-adventure/)
- [How do you plan a first day hike in the Dolomites?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/dolomites-first-hike/)
- [How do you carry a heavy backpack comfortably?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/carrying-a-backpack/)
- [Do you need hiking boots, or are trail shoes enough?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/boots-or-trail-shoes/)
- [How do you learn to enjoy your own company?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/enjoying-your-own-company/)
- [All Movement answers in the Wiki](https://zestasy.com/wiki/#movement)