A gentle-looking 200-metre rise on the map can feel like a completely different walk once you're on it. Gravity doesn't care that the contour lines look friendly. Every kilogram in your pack, every extra layer, every step that's slightly too long drains energy you'll want later. On long routes — the Pennine Way, the Coast to Coast, a full day in the Lakes — the trick isn't to attack hills, it's to manage them. Efficient uphill walking is a skill, and like any skill it improves with deliberate practice.
Most people speed up as they approach a hill, then slow down halfway up. That's backwards. As soon as you feel the ground rising, shorten your stride and ease your pace. You should still be able to hold a conversation, even if it's a broken one.
Aim for a steady rhythm rather than bursts of effort. Three short steps per second on a steep slope is often better than one long, lunging stride every two seconds. On really steep ground — a Lake District fell path or an eroded moorland track — try the rest step. Pause for a fraction of a second as your weight settles onto the back leg, then step through. It feels slow, but it keeps you moving without stopping.
Leaning forward from the waist constricts your breathing and strains your lower back. Instead, lean from the ankles. Imagine a straight line running from your heels through your hips to your shoulders. Your chest stays open, your chin stays up, and your lungs have room to work.
Look ahead rather than at your feet. On a long climb, pick a point five or six metres ahead and walk to it. This keeps your neck neutral and stops the head-down, shoulders-hunched shuffle that wastes energy.
Your pack should sit close to your back with the hip belt taking most of the weight. If it's sliding around or pulling you backwards, tighten the shoulder straps and adjust the load lifters. Trekking poles help enormously on steep ground — they engage your upper body, reduce strain on your knees, and give you two extra points of contact on loose or boggy terrain.
Breathing is the most overlooked uphill skill. When you're working hard, it's tempting to gulp air in short, shallow bursts. That leaves you feeling dizzy and tense.
Try matching your breath to your stride. On a moderate climb, breathe in for three steps and out for two. On steeper ground, switch to two steps in, two steps out. If you can breathe through your nose, do — it warms and filters the air, and naturally slows your breathing rate. If you're gasping through your mouth, you're going too fast.
The talk test is a simple guide: if you can speak a full sentence without gasping, you're at a sustainable pace. If you can only manage one word at a time, back off.
On rough ground, think about placing your foot rather than just stepping. Look for flat rock edges, compacted earth, or tussocks of grass that won't collapse under your weight. In boggy areas — common on the Pennine Way and Scottish moors — test the ground with your pole before committing your full weight.
Where the path zigzags, use the inside of the bend. Cutting corners might save a few metres, but it steepens the gradient and damages the path. On scree or loose stone, keep your steps short and your weight centred. On wet grass or mud, aim for the drier edges and avoid sudden turns.
If the ground is very steep, use your hands. A brief scramble is often more efficient than trying to stay upright on a slippery slope.
Long climbs burn through energy quickly. Eat before you feel hungry — a handful of nuts, a flapjack, or a piece of fruit every hour. Drink little and often, even if it's cold and you don't feel thirsty.
When you stop, keep it short. A two-minute breather to admire the view is fine. A fifteen-minute sit-down will let your muscles cool and your core temperature drop, making the restart feel miserable. If you need a longer break, put on an extra layer straight away.
Finally, remember that the top of a climb isn't the finish. You still have to walk down, and then up the next one. Efficient uphill walking is about arriving at the summit with energy in reserve — and that's what makes a long country route genuinely enjoyable.
Azurecombe shares practical, down-to-earth guidance on british countryside living, walks and practical outdoor skills for readers across the UK.
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