There’s a temptation as winter begins to set in to forget about spending leisure time outside. Why be out there feeling a bit chilly when you could stay inside in the warmth of your home?

That’s all very well for a weekend or two, but after a while you’ll begin to go stir crazy and get cabin fever. And once you’re out there, enjoying the crisp cold air and taking in the scenery, you’ll be glad you’ve done it.

There are all kinds of places that are just as beautiful in winter months as in the summer. The Lake District in the UK is a great example, with its lakes cloaked in mist in the mornings and the hills often topped with snow. And the best thing about it is that you’ll have far more of the beautiful Lakeland countryside to yourself, as the majority of visitors go there in the summer.

To enjoy those brisk, bracing walks it’s essential to make sure you have got the right cold weather gear.  The clothing you wear can radically affect the enjoyment of a hike in winter and can even be life-saving if you get lost and are out for longer than you planned to be.

Start off with a base layer – in winter this means thermal underwear – and remember your legs as well as your upper body.  The base layer keeps you warm, but keeps moisture away from your skin.

Add a middle layer of insulation – you can adjust the thickness of this depending on how cold the weather is and what kind of pace you’ll be moving at.

Finally a shell layer will protect you from the wind chill factor and/or rain.  Outdoor brand Craghoppers has a huge range of winter weight waterproof jackets to choose from.

Before heading off, make sure you tell someone where you’re going and how long for.  This means that if you get lost, at least people will know where to look for you. Take plenty of energy drinks and snacks to give your body extra fuel along the way.