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Original poster

Do you do long distance walking? Coast to coast etc...

164 replies

CuriousMama · 03/04/2023 22:47

I do. Dh got me into it and I love it. Well, except when I don't. Then I swear I'll never do another one. Feet are screaming. Legs feel like they won't walk another few yards.

But the scenery is amazing. I've only ever done them in England. I'd like to do the West Highland Way one day. I've met lots of lovely interesting people.

Anyone else do LDWs? Which ones have you done and where next?

OP posts:
Original poster
CuriousMama · 14/04/2023 14:17

Doing about 40 miles next week. Staying at a hotel,youth hostel and an Airbnb.

How's everyone else getting on?

OP posts:
YogaLite · 15/04/2023 12:22

I am walking 3 days on the SWCP near Plymouth 🙂

AllIeveknewonlyou · 15/04/2023 12:27

You startled me a bit by that question! Yes I used to but had a back injury last week so no can't trot off to walk a few hours at present.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Exercise & fitness Fitness
Original poster
CuriousMama · 15/04/2023 12:53

YogaLite · 15/04/2023 12:22

I am walking 3 days on the SWCP near Plymouth 🙂

Oh fantastic that looks beautiful. I bet you've read the Salt path?

OP posts:
Original poster
CuriousMama · 15/04/2023 12:55

AllIeveknewonlyou · 15/04/2023 12:27

You startled me a bit by that question! Yes I used to but had a back injury last week so no can't trot off to walk a few hours at present.

It's an oldish thread I was checking how people are getting on. Sorry to hear about your back. What exercise can you do?

OP posts:
Iwantacampervan · 15/04/2023 13:03

I've thought about walks to do but I need to get time away from work first. This thread will keep prompting me to be organised.

YogaLite · 15/04/2023 13:12

@CuriousMama, yes, have read it (and 2 of hers since too) as well and some other books about long distance walking. Now catching up and making up for the lost time...

lifeturnsonadime · 15/04/2023 13:15

I've started, but not yet finished, a couple of long distance trail.

I've done just over 100 miles of the South West Coast Path, from Minehead as a far as Hartland so just north of the Devon/ Cornwall border. This path is challenging but amazing for variety of scenery. Agree with whoever recommended The Salt Path.

I've also done part of the Thames Path and have got from the Source as far as Oxford. This is much less challenging but it is very interesting non the less seeing the mighty Thames grow from a trickle that you can barely see to a navigable river and it will continue to grow out so far as the estuary.

Unfortunately a couple of years ago I had a serious ankle injury, 4 breaks resulting in pins and plates, I was just about to start back on the Thames Path and I've had another injury to the same ankle.

I can't wait to get back and to complete both paths. I'd also like to walk Hadrians Wall and do the Coast to Coast path.

Original poster
CuriousMama · 15/04/2023 13:17

Iwantacampervan · 15/04/2023 13:03

I've thought about walks to do but I need to get time away from work first. This thread will keep prompting me to be organised.

I'll keep bumping it.

Looks like good weather for my bit of the coast to coast next week 🌞

I want a campervan too, dh doesn't. To be fair there isn't anywhere to store one and there's the cost. If it was outside our house it wouldn't be for long 😂

OP posts:
faffadoodledo · 15/04/2023 13:20

Theskyoutsideisblue · 04/04/2023 06:43

Am doing South Downs way at the moment. Done Thames path, offas dyke, wye valley path, mendip way, Coleridge way and Cotswold way

Coleridge Way is a secret gem. Did it last year with a friend who I walk with every year. Also done Winchcombe Way and the southern bit of Offa's Dyke. I might take a look at the Wye Valley Path for this year if you rate it?

Mogginsthemog · 15/04/2023 13:22

No, but I want to. Friends of mine (in their 60s) have done the South West Coast. They did it in sections and each summer would complete another part.

Original poster
CuriousMama · 15/04/2023 13:25

Mogginsthemog · 15/04/2023 13:22

No, but I want to. Friends of mine (in their 60s) have done the South West Coast. They did it in sections and each summer would complete another part.

Do it. I have a lady in one of my Facebook groups who's 78 and does them alone. Carries everything! I couldn't carry everything for camping. I do carry everything for staying indoors.

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faffadoodledo · 15/04/2023 13:38

Looking for a three day route for this year - can do up to 20 miles a day. With great overnight stops. Any recommendations? Am investigating Wye Valley thanks to @Theskyoutsideisblue , who brought it to my attention. I travel from Cornwall and my friend travels from London once a year so we can meet for a long walk.

Original poster
CuriousMama · 15/04/2023 15:04

@faffadoodledo what is the furthest you'll travel?

OP posts:
faffadoodledo · 15/04/2023 15:22

I'd travel as far as the Dales or Peaks. We Cornish are used to distance!

YogaLite · 15/04/2023 15:56

Wye valley looks amazing, maybe one day when I finish SWCP...

AHugeTinyMistake · 15/04/2023 16:12

Recommend Hadrian's wall path

There's a bus that runs along the road (AD 122 haha) that will connect you to all the main forts and the YHA at The Sill which is super useful, so you can use it to take you back and forth when you're walking the middle bit.

I've done most of Offa's dyke - but not all in one go, several trips of a few days.

The LDWA does some great events, it's worth having a look on their website if you're building up to long walks. They are really well supported.

YogaLite · 15/04/2023 17:08

Thank u @AHugeTinyMistake for mentioning the LDWA events, never knew! Will try and make use of them in the future.

Original poster
CuriousMama · 15/04/2023 18:19

faffadoodledo · 15/04/2023 15:22

I'd travel as far as the Dales or Peaks. We Cornish are used to distance!

Dales way is lovely but takes more than 3 days. I've done it twice. You could do a circular or part of a LDW? Have you done any of the SWCP?

OP posts:
legoagain · 15/04/2023 18:34

Buttalapasta · 04/04/2023 09:37

Do you remember the name of the book? I've done lots of walks round there.

I haven't done any proper long walks though. I have been planning a 6 day walk between Bologna and Florence but can never find the right time/companion. Ds18 beat me to it as he went a couple of years ago with friends but he didn't want me tagging along!!

Show quote history

Sounds like A single thread by Tracy Chevalier. It is one of my favourite books.

Samphiredragonfly · 15/04/2023 18:35

Anyone done the Nidderdale way in the Dales ? I think Clare Balding did a bit of it on her programme 'Ramblings'.
We've got a tourer in Pateley Bridge which is not far from it. I've done a tiny bit of it as a short walk a few years ago. Got long covid in 2021 and now feeling much better, would love to do it properly. Not sure about staying in b and b's though, was wondering if we could make our way back each day and drive to the start in the mornings. It's a relatively short walk in total I think....

faffadoodledo · 15/04/2023 18:42

@CuriousMama I live in Cornwall
So incrementally have done all of the Cornish sections. The rest is a bit haphazard - tho I have my eye on the Dorset stretch.

I've been looking at itineries done by the walking companies for Dales way. They do have circular options I believe

Lansonmaid · 15/04/2023 18:49

If you want a shortish 2 day path I can recommend the Saints Way from Padstow to Fowey, it's pretty well signposted, think it's 28 miles.

About 10 years ago I walked across Devon with my teenage DCs on the Erne-Plym trail and the Two moors way. DH was working but would drop us off in the morning and pick us up at the end of the days walking. We saw parts of Dartmoor and Exmoor we never knew existed, it was lovely. We took 9 days to walk the 119 miles, but we had a very short day one day. If you go South to North the final day is interesting though- loads of ups and downs on the final approach to Lynmouth.

Want to do the Tarka Trail, and also the Wainwright Coast to coast.

Original poster
CuriousMama · 15/04/2023 18:55

faffadoodledo · 15/04/2023 18:42

@CuriousMama I live in Cornwall
So incrementally have done all of the Cornish sections. The rest is a bit haphazard - tho I have my eye on the Dorset stretch.

I've been looking at itineries done by the walking companies for Dales way. They do have circular options I believe

I hope to do some of the SWCP one day? I'm North east coast (England)

OP posts:
everlastinghope · 15/04/2023 19:00

My Mum brought me up to do long coastal walks with her and I'm so glad she did, she's 77 now and we still go and she's as fit and strong as me, I have 2 daughters now who come along and I hope my daughters will still love it when they're older and bring me out with them as it's a lovely bond my mum and I share, neither of us have anyone else to go with as my dad and husband would rather drive everywhere or stay at home.
I'm on the border of Cornwall and Devon so no shortage of beautiful walks for all ages.