Read the water before you commit

A shallow river in the Lake District, the Scottish Highlands or the Pennines can look harmless from the bank and feel very different once you are halfway across. Depth is only one part of the picture. The speed of the current, the size of the stones underfoot and the consequences of a slip all matter just as much. A river that is ankle-deep in a wide, gravelly bed is usually straightforward. The same river squeezing through a narrow rocky gully, brown with peat and pushing hard, is not.

Stand and watch for a minute or two. Look at how quickly bubbles and bits of debris travel. If a floating twig crosses a ten-metre stretch faster than you could walk it, the water has real force. Look for the widest, shallowest line — often a braided section, a gravel bar or a gentle bend. Avoid the outside of bends where the current cuts deep, and be wary of water that is cloudy, because you cannot see the bed. In spate conditions after heavy rain, the safest decision is often to walk an extra kilometre upstream to a bridge or step back from the crossing altogether.

Prepare your kit on the bank

Before you step in, make yourself as safe as possible. Unbuckle your rucksack's waist belt and sternum strap, but leave the shoulder straps on. If you fall, the pack can be slipped off rather than dragging you under or filling with water. Put your phone, map and any spare layers inside a dry bag. If you carry a whistle and a head torch, keep them accessible rather than buried at the bottom of the pack.

Keep your boots on for grip and protection. Bare feet on slimy stones and hidden sharp edges are a poor trade, and numb feet make every step uncertain. Some walkers carry lightweight trainers or sandals for repeated crossings, but for a single crossing on a hill day, laced boots are usually the better choice. A trekking pole, a sturdy stick or even a long branch is invaluable. One pole gives you a third point of contact; two are better still on uneven ground. Shorten your pole slightly so you can plant it firmly without stooping.

Choose a line and cross facing upstream

Pick your exit point before you enter, not while you are being pushed sideways. Aim to cross where the river is broad and shallow, and look for a line of stones that breaks the surface. If the water is above your knees and moving quickly, turn back. As a rough guide, fast water above knee height can sweep an adult off their feet; above thigh height, even slow water demands a very good reason.

Step in sideways and face upstream as you move, edging across rather than walking normally. Facing the current lets you see what is coming and use your pole to brace against the push. Move one point of contact at a time: plant the pole, then a foot, then the other foot. Shuffle rather than lift your feet high, and keep your weight over your feet. Move diagonally downstream if that feels more stable, letting the current help rather than fight you. Keep your eyes on the far bank and your knees slightly bent.

Move with a group, or not at all

Crossing alone is always riskier. In a group, link arms or hold shoulders and form a line or triangle, with the strongest person upstream taking the brunt of the current. Move together, one step at a time, and talk to each other. Do not let anyone cross alone while others watch from the bank. If someone does fall, the priority is to let go of the rucksack, keep the feet downstream and try to get back to the shallows rather than fight the current.

Cold water shock is real, even in summer. A sudden plunge can make you gasp and hyperventilate, so the first few seconds are the most dangerous. If you do go in, try to control your breathing, float on your back with feet pointing downstream and steer towards a bank. In winter, a crossing that soaks you to the waist is a genuine hypothermia risk. If the water is icy, bitter or rising, the correct answer is to turn around.

After the crossing: warm, dry and review

Once you are across, do not simply march on. Wring out socks, tip water from boots and put on a dry hat and gloves if you have them. If you are wet above the knees, change into dry trousers or add a warm layer before you cool down. Keep moving to generate heat, and eat something sugary. If the weather is cold and windy, treat a soaking as an emergency, not an inconvenience.

Finally, learn from the crossing. Note how the river looked, how fast it felt and how your footing held. Rivers change hour by hour after rain, so the line that worked on the way out may be gone on the way back. On any hill day, the willingness to turn back, walk the long way round or abandon the plan is a countryside skill worth more than any technique. Shallow water deserves respect, and the best walkers are the ones who come home dry, warm and ready for the next outing.