This year seems to have brought out a lot of realy lush stinging nettles, and they seem to have really strong stings too.

I would find moving over uneven ground in woven trousers tiring - it does actually take more effort to be enclosed in trousers than to go freely in a kilt.

At least my heart rate is higher - so I assume the rest of me is also working harder.

Ordinary hose unrolled over the knees seems to work fairly well where the nettles are overhanging the path and I need to brush past them, but in really wild country I would be tempted to wear close fitting leggings of some elastic material I could do yoga in, but to cover up with a kilt in order not to scare the wildlife and other walkers.

You really need to know how much your skin will have to take to decide how much protection, and of what sort, you will need on the hike.