Last reviewed and updated: March 2026
It will rain.
Not in a dramatic, once-in-a-lifetime sort of way. Just in the usual British fashion where it starts lightly, pretends it might stop, and then commits fully out of spite.
If you hike in the UK, getting caught in the rain is less of a possibility and more of a rite of passage.
The aim is not to avoid it, that battle has already been lost. The aim is to deal with it properly so it does not ruin your day.
Put Your Waterproof On Early
This is where most people go wrong.
You wait a bit. You convince yourself it is only a passing shower. You carry on walking like everything is fine, while very slowly becoming damp.
Then, at some point, you admit defeat, stop, and put your jacket on. By which time you are already wet and slightly irritated.
It is far better to put it on early and feel mildly overdressed than to delay it and feel like you have made a series of poor life decisions.
If you do not have a decent jacket yet, have a look here:
Best Waterproof Walking Jackets for UK Countryside Walks
Keep Your Bag Dry
It is not just you that suffers in the rain. Your bag quietly absorbs it all as well.
This becomes a problem later when you reach for something dry and discover it is not.
A few simple fixes:
- Use a rain cover if you have one
- Keep important bits in a dry bag
- Or, failing that, a plastic bag does the job surprisingly well
From experience, there is not much more disappointing than putting on a spare layer and finding it wetter than the one you are already wearing.
Slow Down a Bit
Rain changes the ground more than you think.
Paths get slippery. Rocks become unpredictable. Mud appears where there was previously just “slightly damp earth”.
This is usually the point where people try to carry on as normal and immediately regret it.
There is no need to rush. You are outside, not late for a meeting. Take your time and stay on your feet.
Know When to Turn Back
This is the one people struggle with.
There is a strange idea that once you have started a hike, you must complete it no matter what. As if turning around somehow counts as failure.
It does not.
If the weather turns properly unpleasant, visibility drops, or the wind starts making things awkward, turning back is just good judgement.
The hill will still be there another day. Ideally when it is not trying to throw you off it.
Accept That You Might Get Wet
Even with good gear, it happens.
Rain finds a way in. It always does.
The goal is not staying perfectly dry like some sort of walking greenhouse. The goal is staying warm, comfortable enough, and in a good enough mood to keep going.
Once you accept that a bit of rain is part of it, it becomes far less annoying and, oddly, sometimes quite enjoyable.
Common Mistakes
A few classics that catch people out:
- Leaving waterproofs at home because the forecast looked decent
- Wearing clothes that stay wet for hours
- Rushing on slippery ground
- Pretending the weather is not getting worse
The UK has a habit of reminding people that forecasts are more of a suggestion than a promise.
Final Thoughts
Rain is part of hiking here. You do not really get to opt out of it.
Once you get used to it, it becomes less of an inconvenience and more just another part of the day. Some walks are actually better in the rain. Quieter, calmer, slightly more atmospheric.
You just need to be prepared for it and not take it personally.
If you are still figuring things out, start here:
How to Start Hiking in the UK (Beginner Guide)
