Quietest times to walk?

[SquashedFlyBiscuit]

We thought I'd get a shielding letter but didnt, so stayed home for 5 weeks and now cautiously going out for walks.

However I just wondered when the quietest times are by you? I dont want to go out for a walk and then find lots of people.

I'm not really asking all those "semi-rural" mumsnetters who can go for a 2 hour walk without seeing anyone!

We've been out at 8am and at 7pm, we live in a built up area with walks beyond - Im nervous of pavements (most aren't 2m are they!?) So drove short distance to walks. These paths seem busy with dog walkers and aren't always wider than say 3 or 4m. The dog walkers at these times of day seem considerate but Im still wary of passing.

Similarly Im wonderig avout beach/country parks opening after wednesday. Surely they will be packed - but mayve not early morning? At least there'd be space to move sideways/more than 2 m away.

I'm looking to walk, but wothout these "long country walks where you see noone" on my doorstep I am trying to work out safest times of day.

Thanks!

I'm out at 0600 and it is ok then. A river walk just across the road from my home. It gets busy by 0730 with dog walkers, joggers and cyclists. Most people are good at avoiding each other. Seems ok TIL 0900. After that I don't bother...it is ridiculous with people and impossible to pass safely in the narrow bits.

I am leaving shortly at 0630 for my daily doggy walk. Its quiet then.

dog walkers are usually out around 7am-8am & 5-6pm (times that suit the dog). 10am-6pm is anybody out time. Late evening is your best bet, OP. 10pm-midnight without going for graveyard times.

I go about 9. Usually quiet for us then. People quite considerate though if walking ok the same path. One of us will cross or move into the road to allow the other to pass.

7am is quiet here, during the day is busy, becomes quiet again around 7pm.

I find between 8:30-10 is the quiet time here. All the people walking/running/walking the dog before they start work are back home or heading home and there seems to be a bit of a window before the next wave of people. By 10 it starts to get busier with families with small children who aren't school age.

I take the DCs out around 7pm and it's already quietening. Far less families to dodge, which makes it more relaxing for monitoring my family.

5-6pm is the post-work surge.

Weather plays a massive part too. Surprisingly few yesterday with the cold wind compared to warmer sunny days.

A lot of the fair weather walkers wore off shortly after Easter, and older families must have got bored of taking their exercise together.

So probably what we're doing then.

A friend said it was quiet when they went out at 5, but it might be relative as they are often out and not as anxious as me.

I cant regulalry get the kids out at 6am or I would. We've done it a couple of times, but I want something we can stick to.

Id actually wondered if by 8 it was busier here with dog walkers "avoiding the crows" and quieter after! But I hadnt thought thats when families would come out.

People have been giving us a wide birth mainly. My kids are v good (at the moment!) as they're aware of the virus so we do go single file when we see someone but we dont see kids their age out so probably people are nervous of us!

I would like to go to some more open space - but I guess os will everyone come Wednesday 🙄.

There's a walk we do do offroad after 7 that is quiet, but I dont trust the streets/paths near our house at that time as I am more wary of people who have drunk a bit or teens who arent so worried . I guess that will be the smae for "beauty spots" or wide spaces people flock to after Wednesday people may have had a drink or two.

Thanks everyone.