to think it's next to impossible to have days out in this country

[penelopeplums]

I looked on the OS map and found a lake not far from here, not close enough to walk to but close enough to drive to. 2 parking spaces according to the trust who own it so we set off. When we got there both parking spaces were at the end of a single track lane with two gates both with signs saying no parking. There were three stiles, none marked public footpath and one blocked off with barbed wire.

Never mind, we decided to go to some wildflower meadows that we'd found the details of. We got there expecting to park on the road as the website said it was possible. We did indeed park on the road but there was no indication whatsoever where these wildflower meadows were despite the details we found online (again from the owners) saying there was a public footpath along the edge of the meadows. We put the location on on my phone and sure enough we were in the right place.

Never mind again. Lets go to a water park where their web site says there is parking and lake side walks which allow social distancing. There are apparently plenty of activities for families to do even when social distancing is an issue - hiring rowing boats, kayaks etc. We get there and it's a private mobile home site as well and there is no public parking available as it's all being used for the mobile home site and parking is not allowed on the adjacent road as it's a narrow country lane.

All we wanted was to be able to go for a walk somewhere without spending a fortune but ended up driving round for three hours and not being able to do any of the things we had hoped to do.

I know, it's a bummer if you try to go somewhere and then find that parking is the one thing that stops you, especially with country lanes. Google Maps can help - the aerial views can help you see how big car parks are, or if there is somewhere nearby where parking is possible.

@wanderings

I know, it's a bummer if you try to go somewhere and then find that parking is the one thing that stops you, especially with country lanes. Google Maps can help - the aerial views can help you see how big car parks are, or if there is somewhere nearby where parking is possible.

We were using Google maps!

Whereabouts are you , we are SE and very often take our dog to different country parks , all free except the parking and that’s generally reasonable (£1.20 for 4 hours kind of thing) as they are owned by the council . We’ve found some really nice ones in the last few weeks . I think its perfectly possible to have a cheap walk/ day out with a minimal amount of planning .

Do better research next time

And wherever you go there is always miles of traffic!

Are you near a train station? We always try and do days out on the train or bus. This avoids parking issues (and means if we eat out I can have a glass of wine!)

I think YABU to say it’s impossible to have a day out because you struggled here! We have National Trust membership which is great; there’s plenty of places to pitch up and walk round nearby here; as well as old faithfuls nearby like castles and parks.

I’d never go somewhere it says “there’s two parking spaces” and rely on that!

We’ve had similar misfortune in the past; it’s very annoying!!

whereabouts are you (roughly)

Maybe other posters could help with tried and tested suggestions?

I wouldn't say it's impossible based on one days bad luck, but it does depend on where you live. Where we are there is very little of interest to do unless you travel for hours and pay a fortune, it drives me mad.
Have you looked on sites like Daysoutuk?

And wherever you go there is always miles of traffic

Yes. I just don't like crowds. Hence why I don't particularly like days out and would like to get rid of bank holidays and take a day off when I want to (and hopefully not when everyone else has).

Google maps is great for working out exactly where somewhere is though and whether the car park is big enough. Did you use the satellite view, OP?

I agree council-run country parks can be the best option, though at the moment depends if they are open and if they insist that cars have to social distance and therefore cut capacity massively.

National Trust can be good but you've got to book (potentially a long way) ahead at the moment, can't just decide on the day.

Are there any local walking guide websites you can familiarise yourself with? Google maps is fine but sometimes you need advice from frequent visitors about best places the park, sites/ potential dangers to look out for etc.

You’re so right, it can be really difficult to just spend some time in the country side having a walk or riding a bike or whatever. Often feels like you’re forced to just spend time in NT places (or similar), can make everything feel very sterile.

Take the bus, cycle, or walk.

And wherever you go there is always miles of traffic!

ahem, hypocritical much? If you drive for you "nice day out" YOU are the miles of traffic.

It honestly sounds like parking/driving is your problem.

I looked on the OS map..... There were three stiles, none marked public footpath and one blocked off with barbed wire.

Public rights of way (footpaths, bridleways etc.) are marked on OS maps. Were there any marked on the map?

Are you near a train station? We always try and do days out on the train or bus. This avoids parking issues (and means if we eat out I can have a glass of wine!)

Yes, and you can get the train home from a different station, rather than having to go back to where you left the car - I've had days out where I ended up in a different town from the one I first arrived at, and just travelled home from there.

We live in a city. Before lockdown, we went out walking every weekend within a 25-30 mile radius just by Googling “walks around [PLACE]”. We went on loads of great walks around lakes, hills, woods, mountains, rivers, canals, countryside and cityscapes. Check with Streetview before you go, be prepared to park in different places on a circular walk than the “start point”. It’s not at all difficult.

I looked on the OS map
We did indeed park on the road but there was no indication whatsoever where these wildflower meadows were

With all due respect, the countryside shouldn’t be littered with signs pointing things out. If you have an OS map use that to find the footpath. If you can’t use an OS map properly stick to country parks and the like which are set up for crowds.

OS maps show areas where there is unrestricted right to roam. They're always a good bet for a nice walk.

And if public footpaths/bridleways are blocked, report them the to the council's Rights of Way officer. They can insist they're unblocked and prosecute the landowner for not maintaining them.

I've never used Google Maps for walking routes. Is it possible to have it display OS grid references, like the Garmin satnavs used to? I know you can convert grid refs to compass bearings, but I've never bothered to learn how. But it's hard to change the habits of a lifetime, especially one as long as mine!

Where do you live?

Maybe we’re lucky but we have several very nice country/canal walks from home and many many more a short drive away.

I can’t really imagine somewhere where there’s absolutely nothing .

I live in the countryside and public footpaths and rights of way aren't always marked. Some more popular routes are but other routes may not be. Additionally during lockdown some farmers temporarily blocked off paths that ran close to their homes or through their yards due to the huge number of people going through them. They created diversions through other fields at the time.
If you think a public right of way has been blocked you can report to the Council in the area it happened in. It does sometimes happen.

Oh, and public footpaths often aren't waymarked. Some landowners think it encourages people to use them!

Even when they are waymarked, they're not necessarily signed "public footpath". Sometimes it will just be a yellow arrow, or a blue one if it's a bridleway.

In the

Its one of the reasons i moved back to Scotland from the SE (that and house prices!).