★ THE APPRENTICE HIKE

Trip 01 kit list.

SUGAR LOAF, WALES · 596M · SAT 20 JUN 2026

Sugar Loaf is a beginner-friendly Welsh peak, but it's still a 5-hour walk at altitude and the weather changes fast. Bring everything in the required list. The recommended stuff makes the day easier, not safer. Print this page or hit "Save as PDF" and tick things off the night before.

On your feet Required

  • Walking shoes or boots. Trail trainers fine in dry conditions; nothing flat-soled, no Air Force 1s.
  • Walking socks. Wool or technical, not cotton. Bring a spare pair in your pack.

Layers Required

  • Waterproof jacket with hood. Even if forecast is dry. Welsh weather turns in minutes.
  • Mid-layer (fleece or hoodie). Summit can be 5-10°C cooler than the base.
  • Base layer / T-shirt. Anything you'd run in. Avoid cotton, it stays wet.
  • Walking trousers or leggings. Quick-dry. No jeans, they get heavy and stay cold when wet.
  • Hat & gloves. Beanie + light gloves. Wind on the summit is real even in summer.

Pack Required

  • Daypack (20-30L). Big enough for layers + water + snacks. Doesn't need to be technical.
  • Water bottle (minimum 1.5L). Refill at the trailhead before we set off.
  • Breakfast & trail snacks. We don't provide breakfast or snacks on the coach. Bring enough fuel for ~5 hours of walking — energy bars, fruit, sandwiches, anything you actually like eating.
  • Charged phone. For photos, group WhatsApp, and emergencies.
  • Photo ID or driving licence. For travel insurance / emergency contact.

Recommended Optional

  • Sun cream & sunglasses. Even cloudy summer days catch you out at altitude.
  • Cap or sun hat.
  • Walking poles. Save your knees on the descent.
  • Blister plasters. Compeed-style. Better to carry and not need than the other way round.
  • Dry change of socks & t-shirt. Leave them in your bag on the coach. Future-you will thank you.
  • Power bank. Phone batteries hate the cold and the altitude.
  • Small dry bag. Keep your phone, keys, charger dry inside your pack.
  • Personal medication. Inhaler, EpiPen, paracetamol. Pack what you'd normally need for a long day.
What we provide: coach travel from Birmingham, group leadership on the mountain, smash burgers (halal default + veggie option) cooked fresh at the base after the descent. That's it. Everything else on this list is on you.

Welsh weather note

Forecast on the morning of will be in the WhatsApp community by 06:00. If conditions are unsafe (high winds, lightning, very low cloud) we'll re-route to a lower-level walk or cancel. You still get the coach, the burgers, and a refund if we cancel entirely.

Allergens & food

Default lunch is halal beef smash burgers in standard buns (contains gluten, may contain milk, sesame, soy depending on supplier batch). Veggie option always. Tell us in the booking form about allergies, vegan, gluten-free, or anything else and we'll sort it. Full ingredient list goes out in the joining email a week before the trip.