Thread for people without cars who are desperate to visit the countryside

[tectonicplates]

You're allowed to visit the countryside to go for a walk, but only if you can get there by car! We're still not allowed on public transport unless it's an essential journey or going to work.

As a Londoner I am desperate to get out for a walk into the countryside but have no way of getting there. In normal times we get the tube or train there quite a lot. I just want one day out! I haven't been more than a couple of miles away from my home for ages now.

And yes I'm well aware of why the lockdown is in place and it's to save lives etc. I'm not disputing that. I'm still allowed to feel frustrated though!

Can you drive? It's possible to get a car hire and drive there, even if you don't own your own car, assuming you have a license. When I lived in a big city with no car, that's what we always did for a day out to the countryside. To be fair, it's probably cheaper than train for several people.

Is there actually any check on the purpose of the journey? "Health" was a reason to leave the house right at the very start.

I need a regular fix of countryside to feel balanced (but have been fortunate to have it accessible all the way through) so understand that need. With many people working and the weather being a but dull, it is quiet out there (drove off to a normally touristy village/ hill walk yesterday)

I'd go and do it on an off peak timeslot. What's the point in existing without living?

Is there actually any check on the purpose of the journey?

I have been wondering about this, and I actually have no idea. The police have stopped people in cars going places but I have no idea of their presence on the tube. I don't want to get into trouble.

In most parts of the country, there haven't been checks on car use, and certainly not since the initial round of restrictions eased. Wales is the only place I'm aware of that is being punitive about the whole thing.

hidden-london.com/gazetteer/osterley/amp/

Have a look here @tectonicplates you may find something near you?

No one will check, just go and be safe.

Feeling your pain. No car and no licence for either me or DH. Still don't really want to own a car (for financial, environmental, and local parking reasons), but I will be having another go at learning to drive when it's allowed again because it's been so frustrating that most of the 'opening up' is only any use for drivers. I don't want to get stuck like this again in future. If it was just me I'd go anyway, but a family of four would be a bit conspicuous and I'd worry about being challenged.

You are legally allowed to get the train to exercise and in my (very limited) experience there are no checks. I'd just do it - go off peak, wear a mask, stay fairly close to London.

I love the idea of getting the Tube to the countryside. Given that there are only five stations outside the M25, that must be quite a challenge! .

I live in rural Leicestershire. The bus which connects our village to the city operates five times a day and never carries more than a handful of passengers, even in normal times. Most of the time, it is empty. Would it be possible to get the tube to some suburban town, then get a bus from there to the proper countryside? It would require planning, obv, but it must be doable.

I was just going to say the same Age, when I read your post. I wasn't aware the tube went to "the countryside" either.

There are some fab parks in London which are almost as good as the countryside, certainly a good emergency substitute in days like these anyway, if not for ever. Which bit of London do you live in OP? Can you cycle anywhere?

No I can't cycle.

I was just going to say the sameAge, when I read your post. I wasn't aware the tube went to "the countryside" either.

There are buses and further options from the ends of lines, and you can also get the tube to mainline stations and a train from there. I know the places we usually go. It's not difficult usually.

Chesham and Amersham (and the other stations at the end of the Met line) are very much on the tube yet also in the countryside.

I feel your pain!
I also love going to the end of the tube or on short train journeys out of the city for a walk.

Friends of mine, who live in zone 5, have taken the train into London to walk. They asked at the station and I think also asked the police and were told it was fine.

walthamstowwetlands.com/ - This is supposed to be lovely, and within London! Also this walk tfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/loop-walk has some real country parts to it - other bits not so much.

Also to add I know people who have been taking train and tube for walks and to meet people and it has been fine, travelling out of rush hour.

The Thames Link is still open isn’t it? You could make your way to Leicestershire / Sheffield / Nottinghamshire via Luton. Or stop at Luton and take a taxi to one of the Milton Keynes lakes or woods?

Yes, we know these modes of transport are open, but Londoners are being told - repeatedly and forcefully - that they are for Essential Travel Only. I for one am wary of taking my DC up to the station just to get turned away or challenged by a guard or ticket inspector somewhere along the way.

Yes, we know these modes of transport are open, but Londoners are being told - repeatedly and forcefully - that they are for Essential Travel Only.

This. All the people recommending places in London and big parks etc, we'd still need to take public transport to get there.

@GrumpyHoonMain We're not allowed to take public transport!

There are buses and further options from the ends of lines, and you can also get the tube to mainline stations and a train from there.
It sounds like a major operation, with lots of different modes of transport. Personally, I wouldn't want to do this yet. I would in an emergency, but not just for a day out.

Could a walk to a big London park be part of the day out? Walk past interesting places etc, and make a bit of a history lesson out of it too.

Could a walk to a big London park be part of the day out? Walk past interesting places etc, and make a bit of a history lesson out of it too.

We have no way of getting there!

walthamstowwetlands.com/- This is supposed to be lovely, and within London! Also this walktfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/loop-walkhas some real country parts to it - other bits not so much.

We have no way of getting there!

Get a pointy stick and use public transport, if challenged say you have an unpaid job picking up litter in the countryside.

Can you not go to one of the big London parks Regents park or Hampstead Heath for example?