What's the difference between heat exhaustion and just being tired from walking?

Tired people recover with rest and food, but heat exhaustion requires active cooling and rehydration. Key signs are feeling disproportionately exhausted for the effort, nausea rather than hunger, pale clammy skin, and confusion or poor coordination.

What should I do if someone in my walking group has heat exhaustion?

Move them to shade immediately, remove or loosen excess clothing, and cool them with wet fabric on pulse points like wrists and neck. Give small, frequent sips of cool water and keep them resting—don't continue walking even if they feel slightly better after 20 minutes.

Can you get heat exhaustion on British hills even when it's not that hot?

Yes, absolutely. Heat exhaustion happens regularly on British hills when sustained climbing effort meets inadequate hydration and temperatures around 25 degrees—especially on exposed routes with minimal shade where your body generates heat faster than it can cool down.

Common Hazards

Heat Exhaustion on the Hills

Heat exhaustion happens on British hills more often than most walkers expect—warm days, sustained climbs and inadequate water combine to cause nausea, dizziness and confusion that people mistake for tiredness. Recognising the difference between fatigue and genuine heat illness, cooling down effectively and knowing when someone needs evacuation prevents heatstroke.

6 September 20268 min read