To take DS out for the day in the countryside.

[DiaDino]

I live pretty close to a national park and i was wondering if I would be unreasonable to drive DS there, take a ball and go for a walk and a picnic in our car in light of all thats going on. We're not in self isolation, I just wondered if it would be classed as social distancing? I don't suppose many people will be using the area

Well, that is not the case here Wally, in fact people are being encouraged if anything to go outdoors in wide open spaces. When the government wishes us to stop doing that, no doubt they will say so.

Yep, I’m pregnant so in a ‘high risk group’ as of Monday so have been ‘socially distancing’ all week. Still need fresh air, it’s healthier in fact than staying cooped up indoors for the next few months. We’re going to a local nature reserve.

I would think you are much safer outside in the fresh air than you are queuing in a supermarket

Definitely. It will do both of your good

I live on the edge of town 5 minutes from open countryside in an uncelebrated part of the county. I would avoid honeypots that are well known as it's difficult to maintain 2m, but once I'm past the disused railway 10m from home, it's only the most intrepid dog walkers that venture off into the rights of ways through the fields. It's rare when I do encounter someone else through that area, so the chances of transmitting the virus through fleeting, passing contact is still incredibly low. I'm more concerned that I have to go to supermarkets.

With sports clubs begining to shut down last weekend and fairly pleasant weather, we did find more families out on the better connected part of the trail than usual.

If the National Trust is open tomorrow, then my DC and I will be out with a picnic. We'll drive there and back, piicnic in the car, and maintain a proper 2m distance.

We ned the fresh air and exercise.

I would think you are much safer outside in the fresh air than you are queuing in a supermarket

This. DH and I were saying this morning going to the supermarket is our biggest risk now.

Yes go, the fresh air and exercise will do you good. Just don’t touch anything

Yes absolutely, I'm hoping to get to a local beach soon, it's just miles and miles and miles of emptiness and the occasional dog walker.

Absolutely go. Fresh air and exercise are so important for mental and physical health. We just took our daughter around the local nature trail. We only saw two other families the whole way round so were easily able to keep some distance. I feel much better for it.

Even if in self isolation, if not ill anyway, you can go out for exercise.
You just have to practise social distancing - keep away from others, avoid touching things wherever possible.

It is better for everyone's physical and mental health to get fresh air & exercise. Just need to do it in a responsible way.

This

I dont think children can manage 2 m distance.I wouldnt risk it

It’s not OK but I guess you will need the government to prevent you from doing it because you can’t seem to help yourselves.

It's absolutely ok to get exercise outside. They explicitly said as much at the PM's press conference yesterday.

Only if you can find somewhere that’s quiet. A lot of people will have the same idea, I’m wondering if Nat Trust places will be busy and popular places for walking like parks and beaches.

Yabu. I am in Edinburgh today and people are walking in parks with kids. The advice is to stay home and minimise contact with people unless necessary. If you have a garden use that instead. I would not trust people to understand social distancing measures.

The rules need to let people pace themselves or there will be widespread breaches. So strike a balance and use some common sense.

I went for a run at 6.30 this morning, and only saw two people. We didn’t get within 10m of each other.

I’ll try to persuade ds to come with me next time. I wouldn’t take him to a playground though.

Yes go and have some fresh air. I have walked round our local fields with my dogs and it was lovely.

I'm on the fence with this. I think if you were gauranteed to be walking in an area closeby that is empty, then great. National Trust places are going to be very, very busy now because they're free. Wouldn't risk that. I live very close to a beach, but I've noticed with the nicer weather, it's getting busier. For the foreseeable it'll be super early or late walks and if it's busy we'll turn back.

And the air will be fresher than normal due to the dip in pollution.

We went to beach. People were in distance but no one walked past.

I live in a national park-type area and there's cars parked everywhere; yes everyone seems to have the same idea to get out into the country... people opening and shutting gates, walking on narrow paths like bottles on assembly lines, litter everywhere and public toilets used. How can this be 'beneficial to health'?

The advice is to stay home and minimise contact with people unless necessary

The official advise is that you can exercise outside, maintaining a distance.

Official advice:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/