Learned the LONG WAY Little things CW readers found can make or break an LDP adventure

Buy the best socks you can afford – Emma Allen-Taylor

What got me through was the bag of nuts and dried mango in my pocket! – Suzie Belcher

The secret to our success was to build in some intentional rest days and not to bite off more than we could chew - i.e. daily distances were planned to be less than we thought we were capable of while sitting in on our sofa at home – Chris Glover

Always stop and look around and enjoy the moment, don’t just put your head down and walk – Tracey Parnell

Use only tried & trusted kit – particularly boots, socks, underwear – Adrian Taylor

Haribo – but reserve them for the last few hours of a day’s walk. Such a boost! – Nadine Karel

Pack as little and as light as you can. Put your phone on Aeroplane mode saves your battery – John Plaxton

Have some really light, cushioned footwear to put on when you get in at the end of each day – it’ll feel like bliss – Joanne Cumine

Don't think it's ok to just drink water... you need to replace the salts that you lose through sweating – Ruth Francis

Keep a diary. My Dad and I did when we walked Hadrian’s Wall 11 years ago still look back at them – fabulous memories of smaller things that happened, we came across, people we met that we’d have possibly forgotten – Claire Forsyth

Start as early as you can each day so you’re not chasing time or light and have time for plenty of distractions on the way – Aaron Barnes

Youth Hostels are great for meeting other folk, usually a drying room and washing machine. Take earplugs! – Lizzie Rosewood

Take in the views. The 1st pint of beer... – Paul Wakefield

Walking sandals or trainers to give your feet a break – Emma Furniss

Just carry a daysack and use a luggage forwarding service for other stuff. Makes it much more enjoyable – Dougie Dingwall

Vaseline – slather it all over your feet every morning and you won’t get blisters – Anis Ibrahim

Make day 3 a planned rest day – Bettina Kaltoft-Neal

Graze throughout the day. Eat something small every hour – Eilidh Scammel

Be brutal and cut gear to a minimum. A 35 litre pack is big enough unless you are camping – Stuart Gardiner

Don't compare yourself to anyone else, slow or fast. hotel or camp, boots or trainers. It doesn’t matter. It’s your challenge – just enjoy it! – Kathryn Tarr

Wet wipes! Useful for all sorts of things – Janet Harding

Change your socks mid-way through a long day – Helen Sproule

Graze throughout the day. Eat something small every hour. – Eilidh Scammell

Take at least 1/4 of the stuff you think you need out of the pack BEFORE you leave the house - you always pack too much and 100g feels like 20kg after 15 miles every day – Claire Donovan

Eat before you get hungry, drink before you get thirsty, rest before you get tired – Carol Gibson

Do not feel you have to do it in one go as a through-hike in one go – breaking it into sections over time is still great – Penny

I always walk with poles on a long trail – Anne Doyle

Compeeds, M&Ms & a sense of humour! – Rebecca Shevill

Merino wool socks will be gentle on your feet and as long as they are aired overnight they shouldn’t smell by morning – Amanda Millard