Hiking Risk Disclaimer

A walker in a waterproof jacket holding a flask on a misty forested slope

Please read before you set out. Last updated: 28 September 2026.

Translations of this disclaimer are provided for convenience. If a translation differs from the English version, the English version governs.

Walk Via Francigena — this website and the Via Francigena Walk app — is a trail guide and navigation aid. It is not a safety device, a tracking service or an emergency service. Walking the Via Francigena is a strenuous outdoor activity that carries inherent risks of serious injury, illness or death. You take part entirely at your own risk and are responsible for your own safety and that of anyone in your care.

Before you use Via Francigena Walk

This is the notice shown in the Via Francigena Walk app. It applies equally to this website.

Nobody is watching. Via Francigena Walk does not monitor you or your wellbeing, and it will not alert anyone or send help if something goes wrong.
Information can be wrong. Routes, maps, GPS positions, distances, timings, weather, water sources, accommodation, and anything written by other walkers, businesses or our AI may be inaccurate or out of date. Follow local signs, closures and official advice.
Your phone can fail. GPS, signal, battery and the app can stop working at any moment. Carry a paper map and compass and know how to use them.
You walk at your own risk. You decide whether, where and when to walk, based on your fitness, experience, equipment and the conditions on the day. Walking can lead to serious injury or death.
Plan for emergencies yourself. Tell someone you trust your route and when you expect to be back, and know how to contact the local emergency services.

Inherent risks

Long-distance walking exposes you to hazards that no app, guide, or operator can remove, including:

Uneven, steep, slippery, or unmarked terrain, and the risk of slips, trips, and falls.
Rapidly changing weather — heat, sun exposure, storms, cold, and reduced visibility.
Remote sections with limited mobile signal and slow access to emergency services.
Road and traffic crossings, livestock, dogs, ticks, and other wildlife.
Fatigue, dehydration, blisters, and pre-existing or new medical conditions.

Your responsibilities

Assess your own fitness and experience honestly, and choose stages within your ability.
Carry enough water, food, suitable footwear and clothing, a charged phone, a paper map and a compass.
Check the weather and trail conditions before each stage, and turn back when conditions exceed your ability.
Tell someone you trust your route and when you expect to be back.
Carry travel and medical insurance appropriate for hiking abroad.

In an emergency

In an emergency, contact the local emergency services.

Tours, guides and other services

Accommodation, guiding, luggage transfers, tours and other services listed on Walk Via Francigena are supplied by independent businesses, and your contract for them is with that business. Walk Via Francigena is not responsible for their safety practices, equipment or insurance. See our Marketplace Terms and Terms of Service.

No guarantee and limitation of liability

Trail data, distances, elevations, and points of interest in the Via Francigena Walk app and on this website are provided for general guidance only and may contain errors or become out of date. They are not a substitute for your own judgement, official maps, or professional advice. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Pixelo Mobile Ltd (trading as Walk Via Francigena) is not liable for any loss, damage, injury or death arising from your walking activities or your reliance on our website, app or trail information. Nothing in this disclaimer excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.

To report an error in our trail information, email hello@walkviafrancigena.com. This inbox is not for emergencies.