
1. Check the state of your walking boots – soles, uppers, laces etc. - take spare laces. You’re going to want them in top condition.
2. Don’t plan for a late arrival on site. It’ll be dark, really dark.
3. Check the forecast and plan activities accordingly. Stay safe if conditions are poor, especially near the coast or in the hills. Listen to the advice of locals.
4. Take less stuff: Do you need your outdoor chairs and BBQ? Take only what you’re sure you’ll use.
5. Take more stuff: Don’t skimp on outdoor clothes, extra blankets and anything else you'll need to feel cosy.
6. Work out an evening routine: Check fresh and waste water levels. Is there enough gas for the morning? Should you really empty the toilet cassette tonight? You might want to do all this before it gets completely dark
7. Work out a morning routine: The wise winter tourer knows where he/she left their slippers. If you’ve no onboard convenience in a campervan, say, leave your outdoor shoes and coat readily to hand in case of morning urgency
8. Check your torch, check the batteries, then check them again. Buy a wind-up torch. A head torch can be useful for those two-handed jobs like emptying the loo.
9. Put reflective tape/paint on anything you’ve previously walked into in the dark e.g. caravan hitch, water/waste containers, edge of your entrance step, roll-out awning supports.
10. There will be dull days when you just don’t fancy going out. Rediscover board games or a good book.
11. Plan a date night in a local pub or restaurant and indulge with the winter comfort food menu. There’s something romantic about cold weather trips; perhaps it’s the need to huddle together for warmth?
12. Have an early night, or a lie in. Or both. Sleep is good. Get more of it during the longer nights.