by simon-b » Sun Jan 02, 2022 1:42 pm
You need endurance for hillwalking so cardio work is always good. Step, cycling indoor or outdoor, aerbics, etc. There's a lot of debate in fitness circles about steady state vs. high intensity interval cardio, but a bit of both shouldn't go amiss for hill fitness. Distance running will obviously help with stamina, but can cause joint issues for some people. Lower body strength and stability exercises are good for both leg power and injury prevention.
More generally, HighlandExplorer is right in that it's also worth putting in some upper body and core work for all round fitness. Lastly it's worth working on mobility and flexibility - perhaps stretching doesn't relieve muscle soreness like once believed, but it does help to maintain good range of motion. It might be worth foam rolling too.