Route planning is all about getting from 'A' to 'B', and taking into consideration all the different factors which may affect the journey. It is about knowing the limitations and planning the route accordingly. A good route plan consists of breaking down the journey into stages, calculating how long each stage will take to cover and, by adding all these together, finding the total travelling time.

A Route plan is a blank form which records all the important details of a hike or expedition. It details the journey, broken down into stages; it gives the start and destination point of each stage, the distance apart, height gained, ground description and the time that you are due to arrive. You should not walk for more than six hours in any one day, and if you add on the time for rests and food stops to your given starting time, the time at which you are due to finish the day's walking can be calculated. It also includes the details of the party and, once the plan is completed, and before the party departs on the journey, a copy of it is left at 'base' and with the 'Home Contact'. This is an important security measure for a walking or mountaineering group as it alerts those responsible should a group fail to turn up at their destination when expected. The original copy is taken with the party and the route plan should be cancelled or collected when the activity is completed.