Walking is one of the safest forms of exercise you can undertake.

But there are some basic precautions to ensure personal safety that everyone should take before setting out.

The main points to consider are:

• Plan your route – this is not only important in respect of assessing distance, gradients and terrain type, but also for gauging how safe you'll be. Be extra careful if planning to walk in unknown areas and always let someone know where you are going;
• Never walk alone – always try to walk with someone else (preferably a training partner);
• Dress wisely – it's not only important that you wear the right gear for the weather and terrain conditions etc but that you ensure you can be seen (particularly at night or if walking near to main roads or on country lanes at any time – and walk towards oncoming traffic);
• Carry a phone and some ID – it's a good idea to have a mobile phone accessible, no matter where you are walking, while it's also wise to have some ID;
• Be alert – always try to stay aware of your surroundings, the different conditions you might encounter and particularly other people you might come across;
• Take account of the weather – if it's sunny, you will undoubtedly need a hat (and possibly some sunscreen), while, in colder conditions, you might be more comfortable in a hat and gloves. It's also a good idea to wear several layers as it's easy to remove them if conditions do change;
• Think ahead – it's also a good idea to try and gauge the possible weather conditions you'll encounter on your walk so take a look at the latest forecast (there are plenty of online or phone services now available);
• Make a noise – carry an alarm or whistle in case you do need to try and get help quickly.