Walking

[justaweeone]

Hi
I wasn't sure where to put this. Myself and Dh enjoy going for a walk(gentle stroll then having a pub lunch!). However with Covid and the weather changing I really want to explore proper, longer walks. I've looked at a few websites but how do you find decent longer walks not too far from your home, suitable, cheap parking. What clothes do we need if out for longer walks and any other tips please. We are in south norfolk/ Suffolk border so ideally don't want to spend an hour driving to the coast.
Thanks

Second all trails! I’ve heard good things about the OS one. Signal issues aside it’s quite handy to be able to see exactly where you are if (like me) you meander and suddenly you’re not quite sure where you are. You can look for local walks or just start out and pick footpaths as you go. I like to take a flask of coffee with me, good for flagging spirits if you are tired!

The OS Pathfinder series are good, they've got ones for all parts of the country pretty much.

https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/books/pathfinder-guidebooks/guidebook-suffolk.html?SID=U

I don't know if they have any for your area but the Ciccerone walk books are pretty good too imo.

www.cicerone.co.uk

I would always take a waterproof jacket, small first aid kit, drink and snacks/picnic lunch and a map and compass (and know how to use it!) regardless of the length of the walk.
I like watching a YouTube channel called Abbie Barnes; spend more time in the wild. She does lots of walking around the uk, both day walks and longer distance walks and she's so engaging and enthusiastic about getting people enjoying the outdoors. She also has videos about what to take on hikes and how to plan hikes.

The Norfolk Suffolk border is nothing like the Lakeland fells! You will more likely encounter sand than wet rocks. We would figure 8 or 9 miles there would be 2 to 3 hrs walking , more like 6 or more for th same distance up hills

Walking on sand itself can be harder work than some other surfaces IME - zero rebound. (I grew up on the Essex coast). And boots can still be useful if you want to keep the damned stuff out of your socks.

Thank you very much to everyone so far that's posted, it's all very useful info
I'm still a bit scared especially as I have not a great sense of direction!

I pour over OS maps to find good routes, tbh. Landranger work fine, but also Ramblers, Pathfinder, Explorer, series will work. We bring water & snacks for oversized 6' tall never stop talking children. I guess plasters are handy tbf. I like my phone to take any pics. Get on Strava OP, you'll never look back!!

Mulled we are more attleborough/diss then into Suffolk

I'm still a bit scared especially as I have not a great sense of direction

Follow a well known path and use your compass to check where you are especially at 'junctions'.

Use the map and the land so you know exactly where you are. It stops embarrassing mistakes like doing giant loops like we did once.

With a lot of the paper maps OS sells now, you can get access included using a digital download code (uses GPS) that will show exactly where you are using the OS app. unfortunately my latest map I got for hols, the access code didn't work, but you can raise merry Hell with Ordnance Survey if that happens to you. It worked fine for DH on a previous hol; he thought it was marvelous to instantly tell where he was on the map. Anyway, should cut down hugely on getting lost.

Practise with a map on a route you know, learn what distance feels like

The os locate app gives you a reference so you can always work out where you are

And use a compass to check your directions

... just to check out the technology you understand

The OS books of circular walks are great - something like this might be a good start.

https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/books/pathfinder-guidebooks/guidebook-norfolk-into-suffolk.html?SID=U

DH does most of the map reading, but I'm better at knowing more or less which direction we're going in, provided it's not totally overcast and I know what the time is.
Of course you can get a simple compass, or if you've got an Apple Watch (or similar) that's got one ... which I've only just realised also gives elevation and latitude and longitude.

@ErrolTheDragon

Essentially you don't need anything special for less than 15 miles, just water and decent shoes.

You obviously don't have serious mud or partially flooded paths where you walk!

Or proper hills. 15 miles in the peak District, lake District, Welsh or Scottish mountains, Yorkshire dales or north York Moors is a serious undertaking and can be fatal if things go wrong that you're unprepared for.

OS map, paper copy. App is a good supplement.
Grippy, waterproof shoes/ boots.
Thick, comfy socks.
Layers of clothes including one more than you plan to wear and a waterproof.
Water and snacks.
Comfortable rucksack to accommodate it.

Most rural walking is about 2-3 miles per hour. It's slowed by navigation, stiles, mud and overgrown vegetation.

I go trail running a lot in my local area which is the uncelebrated part of a scenic country. I know the area well enough to go minimalist and keep warm by moving. I know short cuts home, where I am to individual fields, how much (little) food and drink I need to sustain me. As a novice in unfamiliar surroundings, it is worth being much more cautious.

If you are doing longer walks in out of the way places I think you need a compass and need to learn how to use it and read a map properly.

Parts of the Boudicca way, the wherryman's way, Thetford forest, Marriott's way would be perfect for you, and not too far

The advice that you don't need anything special for a walk of less than 15 miles is what results in people needing mountain rescue to bring them down off Snowdon

Indeed.

Mountain Rescue are volunteers and risk their own safety rescuing idiots.

Yes, but the OP is quite clear about being a total novice on the Suffolk/Norfolk borders looking to move on from gentle strolls to a pub lunch, so I doubt she and her DH are going to graduate to climbing Snowdon in sandals and tee shirts in sleet any time soon!

Honestly, OP — why do you want to drive anywhere? Unless you’re in the middle of a city, there are almost certainly pleasant fieldpaths you can access on foot from your house and plot a circular route on with an OS map.

Also walking in wet muddy Jean's are horrible
Dp and me are another couple who do 10 to 15 miles regularly (hes done a lot more but my feet hurt alot these days )

We are always prepared for the longer walks and by that I mean boots, waterproofs, base layers,hat and gloves plus spareif cold and we are up mountains or even flat if it's that chilly, propermap, first aid kit, torch, food and drink.

Even if you arent going up in the mountains it's still a good idea to take waterproofs, first aid kit and wear trousers and decent boots and take a map and food and drink at the very least

Surely the person saying that all you need is decent footwear and water for a 15 mile trek was joking!

Shame on them if not. I've seen to many unprepared idiots walking up mountains etc then again so nothing surprises me

Have a look for a local walking group, they will know all the best routes and the level of difficulty, they might even have some print outs you could use/buy.

We don't always take waterproofs (and we're in Lancashire!) ... but we do check the weather forecast. Even here, sometimes it's sunblock and sunglasses which are more appropriate.

We've had a couple of nice walks recently using Essex walks website essexwalks.com, there is a section for shorter walks, up to about 6 miles. You can use your phone, download instructions onto a tablet, or print them out. Maybe there's something similar for your area, OP? I agree an OS map is really useful too.

I cant bear the faff of extra rain gear so carry an umbrella. Much handier.
Cut toe nails before a long walk.

omg, this is Suffolk-Norfolk border, lasses. It's only slightly north of the driest place in UK. I'm in western England right now on hols so I get the instinct for waterproofs, but OP doesn't need them 80% of the time, especially if she checks the forecast. Never mind grippy boots -- my DC walk in plain trainers (Norfolk) year round. I wear sandals all summer on long walks.

pmsl at mention of Mountain Rescue for someone braving Thetford Forest or Minsmere/Southwold/Watton.