A hike is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the
countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the
eighteenth century. Long hikes as part of a religious pilgrimage have
existed for a much longer time. "Hiking" is the preferred term in Canada
and the United States; the term "walking" is used in these regions for
shorter, particularly urban walks. In the United Kingdom and the
Republic of Ireland, the word "walking" describes all forms of walking,
whether it is a walk in the park or backpacking in the Alps. The word
hiking is also often used in the UK, along with rambling, hillwalking,
and fell walking (a term mostly used for hillwalking in northern
England).
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