Four Men Go Hiking

This blog about me going hiking with three middle-aged friends is based on a true story and inspired by real events. If I wander off the path into fiction, I will signpost in capital letters that NONE OF THIS HAPPENED. If I make any money from your clicks, even the fiction becomes the truth, because I like making money from my writing and don’t want to lose it.

I am privileged to be able to walk and dedicate my hikes to my dead double-amputee dad who would occasionally walk on his prosthetics up and down the garden. If only I started a charity to make money from my father’s pain and strain, I could have paid for a spa to be built in his back garden

You can put the world to rights when you are walking in the countryside. It is a great way to vent about life, current affairs, getting older and everything that happened when you were younger – the good, the bad, the dreams and ambitions that never materialised, and the ones that did that made you who you are today.

I was partly inspired by 3 Dads Walking who walk to raise awareness of suicide prevention after they each lost a daughter to suicide. You are an inspiration and it is great news that suicide prevention is being added to the school curriculum in England.

Asking Co-pilot if it's cool to hike

I typed into Copilot - Is it normal for middle-aged men to go hiking?

Absolutely—it’s not just normal, it’s increasingly popular. In fact, hiking is one of the most embraced outdoor activities among middle-aged and older men in the UK:

Hiking Trends by Age and Gender

- Men aged 45–54: Around 17% hike at least monthly.

- Men aged 55+: Nearly 1 in 5 hike regularly, making them one of the most active age groups for hiking in the UK.

- Overall, men are more likely than women to hike monthly, with 17.8% of men doing so compared to 13% of women.

- Health benefits: Hiking boosts cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles, and improves mental wellbeing.

- Post-pandemic shift: Many middle-aged men turned to hiking during lockdowns and stuck with it as a low-impact, high-reward activity.

- Mindful movement: It’s a great way to disconnect from screens and reconnect with nature—something many find increasingly valuable in midlife.

We hike about twice a year and are not exactly ripped but we do not need a GP’s approval to walk up hills. It is good for our wellbeing and I have found that it is easier to talk about mental health when you are walking side by side, focusing on where you are stepping instead of what you might let slip. We believe in leaving no trace and care about the environment, telling any cows that block our path that we do not have a problem with the impact their gas has on the ozone layer.

My hiking adventures started when I marvelled at the countryside while travelling on the train from Redhill to Guildford. I texted my friends to say we should hike. There was some resistance to hiking but once we realised no one thought we were cool whether we hiked or not, we hit the trails of Surrey, Sussex, Kent, walking to Brighton beach and past the ponies of New Forest.

Hiking is harder on the feet than running. I am rather disappointed with my £100 walking shoes as my feet are always sore after I finish walking. My Asics trail trainers with prosthetic insoles are better.

We talk about serious stuff like parents dying and losing our connection to our hometowns, but there are far more laughs than anxiety and lots of football talk. I never wear shorts as I am terrified of insects burying into my body.

My combination of running tights, hiking trousers, loud shirts, lightweight sports jackets and an old man’s camping hat make me a fashion icon for hiking. If any outdoor clothes brands want me as a mobile advert for their apparel, please contact me.

Limiting Phone Use

We did our first two-day hike where we established that around 15 miles a day is the optimal distance. It is my responsibility to plan the next hike in the Cotswolds from Wotton to Bath as booking early saves money on hotels. I am bad at organising stuff so will use AI to plot the route and find hotels.

Apart from using our phones to navigate when my natural compass lets us down as it did in the woods behind my parents’ house, it is time together without being connected to tech. The pub lunches are great until we stand up and struggle to walk again. We are always relieved to finish the walk as our feet are killing us, but that doesn’t stop us coming up with ideas for the next walk.

The Quotes

Enough from me, let’s find out what others think about hiking.

Steve said: ‘Organised walks sound like the sort of thing people older than you do but there comes a point when all-day in the pub stops being feasible without a week off work. Although naturally it doesn't hurt if the walk incorporates a great pub. Walking is a great leveller, some people can run, some play golf or hurtle downhill on £3k bike, but everyone (note: not actually everyone) can walk.’

‘When so much of life is devoted to family and work it feels more balanced to carve out a block of time to spend together with friends rather than a rushed after work pint. It's a treat to get something fixed in the diary well in advance which can take precedence over the usual merry-go-round of kid's clubs. When you put the fresh air, exercise, common goal, dedicated time, a nice pub, and maybe a overnight stay all together you really feel like you've caught up. And then you can start planning the next one.’

Anthony said: ‘As I get older, I have realised that going for walks with friends is a great way to catch up and to really find out what’s going on in their lives, because you have the time to have a proper conversation.’

‘In contrast, I have also been to the pub with friends to watch a football match and found that our conversations had been very limited and superficial or I had spent most of the time watching a screen or queuing at a bar. I’d get home and my wife would ask how my friend was and I’d have to reply ‘no idea’.’

Hiking is fun and that’s the truth. Thank you to my friends for walking with me. Next time I will wait for you before starting breakfast. I just find it hard to wait in the mornings.