Let’s face it this year has been pretty tough but if you have friends or family that love the outdoors I’m pretty sure they’d appreciate a gift this Christmas!
Hiking can be seen as a good free activity to do but like any hobby, it can be expensive. A new waterproof jacket, backpack or hiking boots aren’t the cheapest of gifts for walkers so instead, I’ve picked some alternative options that won’t break the bank. It ranges from personalised hiking gifts, novelty items to useful hiking accessories between from £5 to £30 that any walker would love.
As a fellow walker, I’d like to think I have a good idea of what would make a good present but I’ve also asked my fellow hiking buddies for their gift suggestions too.
Take a look at these 10 awesome ideas for budget gifts for walkers and see if you can find the perfect present.
Budget gifts for walkers
The gifts I’ve selected are all from UK independent businesses, many of whom are struggling right now. Why not spend this lockdown doing something useful and supporting smaller businesses by shopping online with them.
They might not be able to do next day delivery (maybe they can) but if you start your Christmas shopping now there’s no need to worry about delivery times and you can get all your shopping done this month!
By checking out these beautiful gifts and buying from them you will make at least three people happy – 1. The gift receiver. 2. The small business and 3. Me – thanks for reading
PS. You can also make me even happier if you share this post on your social media channels – Thanks Becky 🙂
Read at the end more tips for supporting small businesses
UK National Park pin badges
Sponsored by Adventure Pins
The pin badges are from Adventure Pins and they make a wonderful gift for anyone who loves walking in the UK.
Adventure Pins is run by two brothers Chris and Dom who together design and create beautiful pin badges of the UK National Parks. They currently have 10 different designs including Lake District, Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Cairngorms and Snowdonia.
Each pin badge has captured a unique place or spot in the national park so even without the name you can recognise where it is. From Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, Beachy Head in South Downs to Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons. The attention to detail is wonderful and they would make a lovely gift for a walker who regularly visits one (or more than one) UK National Park.
If you buy one of these pins another gift goes to the UK National Parks Foundation too (no.1182566), as £1 from each sale goes to the charity.
Each enamel pin comes on a presentation card, with both a metal and rubber clasp so you can securely fit on either backpacks or clothes. Making it an ideal gift for anyone to pop wherever they want.
You can buy the pin badges directly from the Adventure Pins website. They offer FREE UK shipping and there’s an extra 20% off if you order 3 or more pins!
Check prices hereSheep hiking bobble hat
With the temperatures cooling whether you’re going to the shops or walking up a mountain everyone needs a good warm hat! Pachamama Woolies do the cutest sheep bobble hat, perfect for everyone (as long as they love sheep!)
The hats are made from New Zealand sheep’s wool and lined with fleece to keep you cosy and warm, a very thoughtful gift and useful too.
This is a UK shop but the hats are handmade in Nepal, so you’re actually supporting both a UK business but also a family-run knitting group in Kathmandu which I love.
Visit the Etsy shop herePeak District charity patch
I’m sure there are plenty of Peak District walkers out there who would love this charity patch as a gift. This is a mini charity project from my second website Peak District Walks. If you’ve not checked it out yet there are over 60 different walks in the Peak District, ranging from 2 to 24 miles so plenty to choose from.
The first design is the popular Mam Tor patch, showing an iconic view from Mam Tor of The Great Ridge looking towards Lose Hill.
And the best thing about this present is that you’re also giving another gift to Edale Mountain Rescue charity. Each patch sold will donate £1.75 to the charity. The patches are currently available on pre-sale.
Pre-order patches here
National Park Coasters
These are very unique coasters from Alp and Ash they would make a lovely gift for anyone who loves the outdoors and the UK’s beautiful National Parks.
The coasters are made from oak and have the maps from the Lake District, Snowdonia, Peak District and Cairngorms etched on to them. They also have a couple of challenge options – The Yorkshire Three Peaks and National Three Peaks too.
Check prices here
Mounted bothy prints
Artist Shona at Adventure Sketchbook creates some beautiful scenic landscapes with cute bothies. Some of the designs are prints of real bothies and others are inspired by her adventures, mostly in Scotland but they are equally beautiful.
If you’re looking for a budget gift for someone who loves walking then these mounted prints make a wonderful present. They will fit an 8 x 10″ frame with the mount or alternatively, you can get the print framed, although it might make it less of a budget gift!
Check prices here
Lake District scented candles
Do you know someone that loves the Lake District? I’m sure they would love these beautifully scented candles by a local family business in Cumbria.
They have different scents for the iconic places in the Lake District such as Derwent, Windermere, Honister, Wasdale and many more.
The candles are made from 100% natural soy wax and have two options – a 30-hour or 45-hour candle. And they come in a lovely presentation box so would make a lovely gift.
Check prices hereUK ventures zip collection
Another local business Apex International, yes I know it’s called International but they are UK based create some unique gifts.
You can buy a coloured zip and fill it with National Parks or challenge rings to celebrate all the places you’ve visited in the UK or maybe the person you’re buying the gift for! It works by simply attaching the zip to your backpack.
Pick any colour zip, then select from the National Parks range, (Peak District, Lake District, Snowdonia) or maybe pick a specific route or challenge, for example, Tryfan, Pen y Fan, Scafell Pike to complete the gift.
It then makes it easy for the next year as you can buy them another UK venture bead for their zip!
Visit the website here
Knitted hats and headbands
A beautiful selection of cosy hats and headbands. They are handmade by Fell and Broom who are based in the Eden Valley in Cumbria. And perfect for cold winter walks and hikes up in the fells. I love headbands for keeping my ears warm without getting too hot!
The hats and headbands are knitted in a range of beautiful colours so pick your favourite for a gift. You can place your order via their Instagram.
Visit InstagramWalking boot keyring
This walking boot keyring would make another lovely small gift to send to someone from Posh Paws Pet Tags. Yes, they also do tags for your pets too – maybe get a tag for your dog whilst you’re ordering the gift. And the lovely thing is you can select your own words to make it a personalised gift, which is personally hand-stamped onto the keyring.
It’s an aluminium, stainless steel keyring shaped in a walking boot for a perfect hiker present. It’s also a handy gift so you can attach your car key when hiking, easier to find in your bag and less chance of losing it too!
Check prices via Etsy here
Bonus option – Brambles Gift Shop
Ok, here’s a sneaky no. 11 option for online gift shopping. Brambles Gift Shop is owned by a lovely hiking friend of mine Laura and her. Like any small business, they were devastated when they had to close again for this recent lockdown, worried they lose all their Christmas business.
Now, I’ll be honest, they don’t have loads of gifts for walkers but they do have lots of beautiful things so why not check it out you might see something you like for a friend or family member.
And if you’re ever in Saltburn-in-Sea then be sure to pop in once they are back open again, I know they will appreciate the support.
Visit the website hereOther ways you can support small businesses in the UK
In addition to shopping with small businesses in the UK, there are a few other things you can do that are equally helpful and mean a lot to small business owners (including me).
I appreciate not everyone has spare cash at the moment so I’ve included a mix of things including some that just need your time!
- Follow and support them on social media – Like and comment on the posts.
- Share links and posts on your social media channels.
- Sign up to newsletters to keep up to date how you can support.
- Recommend them to your friends and family.
- Get organised and buy your gifts now so you don’t have to do rely on next day delivery.
And if you want to do some of those things right now I’ve included the Instagram handles for every business mentioned in this post.
Support and follow on Instagram now
Becky the Traveller @beckythetraveller
Peak District Walks @peakdistrictwalksuk
Gosshawk @flight_of_gosshawk
Adventure Pins @adventure_pins_
Alp and Ash @alpandash
Adventure Sketchbook @adventuresketchbook
Lakeland Lights Company @lakelandlightsco
Apex International @apex.international
Fell & Broom @fellandbroom
Posh Paws Pet Tags @posh_paws_pet_tags
I hope you’ve found some lovely gift ideas for your friends or family. Let me know in the comments any other great small businesses to support.