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'We went for a long walk' ... how far is this with your family?

131 replies

RedlightGreenlight · 04/04/2021 18:30

Obviously ages of DC can determine how far is far. But if your DC are 8+ how far is your long walk?

OP posts:
EugenesAxe · 04/04/2021 19:34

I would say 5-6 miles (9 and 11 year old). They would be capable of more but like others have said, they start getting tired and whinge a lot more, so I tend to make that the limit. I would call 3-4 miles a 'good walk' and 2 miles or under a 'short walk'.

Walk parameters; thrilling 😂

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 04/04/2021 19:36

We did the four waterfalls walk with DS 9 yesterday, in the Brecon Beacons. Only around 4 miles I think, but fairly rough going with lots of hills and scrambling, so it took us 5 hours. He was not impressed! Grin

enjoyingscience · 04/04/2021 19:37

10k would be a long walk (as defined by the need to bring a flask) 5 is a nice bit of fresh air (no flask required). DC are 12 and 7.

They both did 13 miles last weekend as a virtual scouting thing - they were fine, but my poor hips were feeling it!

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ceeveebee · 04/04/2021 19:40

Our usual weekend walk is about 2 hours / only about 6km as the kids faff around climbing trees etc
A long walk for us would be 3-4 hours, 6-8 miles, 10-12km
DC are 9yo twins

Marmite27 · 04/04/2021 19:42

My 3 year old can manage a 2 hour walk.

LadyDanburysCane · 04/04/2021 19:43

When my youngest was 8 years old he was okay with walks of up to around 8 miles. A “short” walk is anything up to around four miles. A “nice” walk for me and DH at the weekend is generally 5-6 miles. A “long” would be 7+ miles. We wouldn’t usually do more than 15 miles in one day (breaking for lunch) these days. TBH it’s not the distances that finish me off these days it’s any ascents I struggle with.

Marmite27 · 04/04/2021 19:43

Probably about 7k

RatintheCat · 04/04/2021 19:44

6 miles for us is max with a break in there too. Ours are 6 and 8.

ThePricklySheep · 04/04/2021 19:47

My youngest is a lazy toad of a nine year old who doesn’t like being outdoors Grin but he does a normal walk of 40 minutes and a longer walk of 90 minutes without really complaining. It’s at a reasonable pace so I’d guess that’s 4 miles? He walks a mile to school without comment in 15 minutes.

Not being able to walk two miles at age 10 and 12 is probably just that they’re not used to it. It’s a reasonable expectation I think. It’s a shame, but depending on where they live, maybe they’re just in the habit of driving everywhere.

LadyDanburysCane · 04/04/2021 19:48

My two both walked a mile each way to school from reception onwards and slightly more for secondary school. DS now walks a mile to the bus stop for college and then about two thirds of a mile at the other end so walking us just part of life for him/us.

itsgettingwierd · 04/04/2021 19:55

For us it depends on ds legs! He has a physical disability and sometimes can walk 5-6k and other days 5-6 minutes is too painful.

But he's 16.

I'd say 2-3 hours is about right for children 6+. I think as they get older you get more 'walking' and less strolling and ambling along stopping g and looking at everything, for an ice cream and at every little play park you come across!

But if we went to a country park for a walk we'd arrange to spend 2-3 hours there in time and do what we could at that age. Sometimes we'd take a picnic and shelter and games and spend 6-7 hours there.

MsTSwift · 04/04/2021 19:59

Dd aged 13 went on a Spanish exchange. Great build up that the family were going on a long walk lots of fuss about footwear etc questions would dd manage it etc. They set off walked 1.5 miles (basically dds walk to school) 😁 and that was that!

hellywelly3 · 04/04/2021 20:02

We’ve never walked for fun, we take the dog out but that’s about it, 1 hour tops even then it’s loads of moaning, from me usually Grin

33goingon64 · 04/04/2021 20:03

Since lockdown our now 10 and 5 year olds will walk up to 8-9km and this will take 2-3 hours. They have stopped complaining about going because we do it without fail every Saturday morning and they know it's actually fun once we get going (plus they know they'll get a good dose of screen time when we get home).

notanothersaveusername · 04/04/2021 20:03

2 miles maximum. DS (8) get 'tired legs'

BlowDryRat · 04/04/2021 20:05

10k+ for my two (11 and 8yo). That kind of distance requires bribery.

DancesWithDaffodils · 04/04/2021 20:06

The book is fine, and covering a wide range of ages and ability.
I've just done 5 miles with a friend - it's a route I do most of regularly with the 9 and 11 year old as an evening "get out of the house in lockdown".
So long walk over 5 miles.

SuperSleepyBaby · 04/04/2021 20:10

I’m amazed about 2 and 3 year olds happily walking for miles and miles

Solasum · 04/04/2021 20:10

@RedlightGreenlight your sister clearly hasn’t mastered the art of wall bribery. So interesting things to see at regular intervals and whatever they like snack wise.

For us, a long walk would be around 4 hours with minimal breaks

sqirrelfriends · 04/04/2021 20:11

About 4 miles with the two year old, he gets tired towards the end though.

Pre children we would spend half a day walking, no idea on the miles but for a good 5 hours easily.

CMOTDibbler · 04/04/2021 20:12

My standard walk is 3 miles, a 'nice' walk at the weekend is 8 miles (no water bottle, snacks or bribery required), 13 miles or more would need a flask and snacks but ds would plod on happily. He's 14, but we live in a small town and popping into town and back is 2 miles so he's done that since he could walk

Skyliner001 · 04/04/2021 20:12

12km +

Iseeyoulookingatme · 04/04/2021 20:15

We did a 5 mile walk today geocaching with ds 7. We also had a trip to the park on top we were out for about 3 hours.

HelenaJustina · 04/04/2021 20:17

Youngest DC is 7 rising 8.

3 miles is a ‘not far’ walk. 5 miles is ‘reasonable’ 6+ is long.

unexpectedthird · 04/04/2021 20:17

A lot depends on where you're walking I think. A walk with lots to do (woods to play in, lochs to paddle in etc) is much more fun and you can go further without realising. An out and back stomp is less thrilling and needs other sorts of bribery. The longest of the second type we've done is 6 miles but we've gone for longer over the course of a day in interesting places.

My big kids are cyclists though and don't like not being out without wheels. They'd much rather be out on a bike ride than a walk.