Practical advice for enjoying nature

Any activity in nature requires planning; it's essential to plan your route, calculate distance, slope and an approximation of the time that it will take. It is therefore very important to make sure that there have recently been no major alterations to your chosen route.

Always take route information with you in analogue format (i.e. a paper map), and also a compass, in case you lose your mobile phone or find that you have no signal. Remember that without mobile cover you will not be able to download any kind of application, or send your geolocation if you should get lost or confused. You will only be able to call 112, the emergency telephone number.

Always carry a charged mobile phone and, if possible, auxiliary batteries. Furthermore, you should download applications to your mobile phone that will ensure your safety when it comes to your geolocation, and learn how to send your location, in case of an emergency.

Don't simply rely on any track you find on the Internet.

Avoid taking selfies with your mobile phone in areas with potentially dangerous terrain, e.g. near cliffs or on slippery surfaces.

It is essential to check the weather forecast, especially if the activity you are planning is high in the mountains or on the coast or beach.

Take water or an energy drink with you (at least a litre), as well as food and a small first aid kit (including sunscreen).

se siete in compagnia, a quelle della persona che ha meno resistenza. Adapt the planned activity and the pace of the activity to your level of physical and mental fitness, and if you will be with other people, to that of the person with the least stamina.

Manage your own resources and those of the rest of the group wisely to ensure a smooth, safe return. Be sure never to exhaust yourself. Stay hydrated at all times, and have something to eat.

Inform family, friends and/or professionals of the natural area in question (if you are in a National Park or Nature Reserve) of the planned activity, and let them know roughly when you will be back. If possible, go with other people. What's more, if you don't usually do activities in the countryside, or don't know the area, it is advisable to go with a professional guide.

Control light cycles, and make sure that you are not in risky or unfamiliar areas as it gets dark. You should always carry a headlamp or torch in your rucksack.

Wear clothing that's appropriate for the activity you're going to be doing, the terrain, and the time of year, and even if it's hot, carry a fleece or thermal garment in your rucksack. People always sweat during physical activity, and it is a good idea to protect your respiratory system and kidneys when you stop for a break.

If the weather turns bad, stop walking and look for a safe place (especially in the case of storms high in the mountains or on the coast).

Remember that any activity or route will become more difficult and therefore involve an increased level of risk in the event of "orbayu" (fine and persistent rain), fog, rain, hail, snow or ice. This means that in winter even more care should be taken.

On coastal routes, as in the mountains, plan your route properly and avoid going alone. Pay close attention to cliffs and steep or risky areas, especially if you are with children and/or pets, and either carry a tide table or download one to your mobile device to avoid unnecessary risks such as getting stranded or being cut off by the tide, at the mercy of sea conditions.

Respect your digestion, and always enter the water slowly, wetting your joints and the back of your neck, before immersing yourself in the water, to avoid immersion syndrome. And watch out for heat stress too.

Try not to be alone, and tell people nearby where you are going swimming.

Swim in designated bathing areas and respect the rules (whether on beaches, rivers or lakes). Avoid areas with cliffs or where access is difficult.

Always check the state of the sea and the weather forecast.

The first is the 30 second rule: count the seconds between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder. If it is less than thirty seconds, you are at risk of being struck by lightning. Seek shelter immediately.

The second is the 30 minute rule: After hearing the last clap of thunder, wait for 30 minutes before leaving the shelter. Most of the serious incidents and fatalities caused by storms occur after the storm has passed. Stay in a protected location until you are sure that there is no longer any threat.

Do not leave any rubbish behind you, and do not bury it. Take it to a place where there is a rubbish collection service. Be extremely careful with fire. Never light bonfires. The safest option is to bring previously prepared food with you.

Respect and care for springs, rivers and other water resources. Water is an essential, universal and often scarce commodity. Do not pour any kind of soap, detergent, pollutant or waste into any body of water.

Remember that nature is not a garage, and is not equipped to be one. Therefore no work on vehicles (oil changes, washing, etc.) can be carried out in the natural world as this would necessarily involve the risk of environmental pollution.

Do not go free camping. Use prepared camp sites. Pitching a tent damages the land. Always respect the fields where you camp, and do not damage the soil by digging ditches or holes.

Remember that flora and fauna are the true inhabitants of the natural world, and that this is their home. So don't pick flowers, cut branches, or disturb the wildlife. Learn to observe with respect. Also, don't forget that many species are protected by law.

Use motor vehicles as little as possible. Use motor vehicles for road travel only, and if you have to drive on tracks/ dirt roads, drive slowly, stay on them and make as little noise as possible. Noise pollution is also harmful to the natural environment.

Whenever you go hiking or do any form of activity, ensure that you leave the environment as you found it: leave paths and gates exactly the same, and respect private property. Not everything in nature is part of the commons. By being respectful, you will be safeguarding the way of life of the animals, and also that of the farmers, shepherds and all those who live in, and make their living from, the natural environment.

Respect farmland: always stay on the trails, and do not walk on cultivated land. Many families depend on crops for their livelihoods, and these crops are an essential source of food for society. Do not take your own short cuts, as this only serves to damage the ground or make the original trail disappear.

Remember that, if you go with your pet, s/he must be on lead to avoid disturbing or frightening livestock, other animals, or other hikers.

If you are with one or more people who have a disability, look for accessible trails or easily accessible places, and be aware of them at all times, being sure to comply with all the required guidelines in terms of both safety and of respect for the environment. The same applies if you are with small children.