Is an hour walking commute too much?

[crochetmonkey74]

I've moved a bit further away from work but am missing walking there. My old walk was 20mins , New walk would be an hour each way. Is this a terrible idea?
On the way home, I would have the option of getting the bus after 20 minutes of the walk but the morning one wouldn't have this option. Anyone got an hour long walk to and from work? How do you find it?

I would love this commute. That fresh air and time to yourself! As long as the hour each way fits in with the rest of your life, it sounds wonderful

I would love it - great way to stay fit and you can easily pop into shops on the way home if needed (assuming it's not a trek across the moors!)

I do this (like 45 mins though) and the only problem is you can't get back home quickly when you need to (e.g. you've stayed back to work, cooking, kids taxiing etc). Cycling is faster and eats into less evening time. (I did read you can't do that). I like the walking by the way.

I used to have a 55 mins each way walk to work and really enjoyed it. Listened to podcasts, decompressed from work or made phone calls as I was walking.

Probably 5 or 6 days in the year where the walk was just to horrid because of the weather which really wasn't so bad.

I did walk in trainers and kept a pair of shoes at work.

Or another thought, how are you getting there currently? If it's driving is there an option to park half way somewhere?
I can park for free about a 30 minute walk from my work, it's a lovely flat walk along a canal, whereas if I was to walk the whole way it's over an hour with a steep hill on the last bit.

I walk to work and enjoy it. It’s not quite as long as an hour, more like 45, but I’d do an hour. I drive if it’s raining though and check what the forecast is for my journey back in case I need to consider that.

I’d say it’s not just rain you need to prepare for. I carry a backpack with my laptop/lunch etc and can get a sweaty back walking in! I always wear a casual tshirt/jumper to walk in and change into a work top when I get there. Sometimes this limits what I wear for the day as a nice shirt can end up pretty crumpled.

But generally, I love the downtime between work and home. I either just think and take in the world around me, or listen to music/a podcast and zone out. I also love seeing the change of seasons and daylight. At the moment, I’m usually seeing lovely orange and pink skies on my way home.

Oh yes, as another PP says - trainers to walk in and shoes kept at work.

I do this most mornings and alternate it with running to work, depending on how I feel. I bought chep-ish running shoes for the walk and proper running shoes for my running. It is my form of daily exercise. Reducing commuting costs and avoiding the need to dedicate certain amount of time and cost for exercises.

I do about 45mins walk each way to work now, it was just over an hour in my last job. I love it, gives me a little bit of headspace and gets some exercise. So long as you have the time available I’d go for it. Investing in decent shoes, waterproofs and a backpack is important.

I often walk for an hour before work (wfh) once the youngest has taken himself to school and before I log on. And often after work aswell - it’s nice to wind down.
however life weather is shit then I don’t.
I’m not sure I’d like to HAVE to do it when the weather is shit etc but it’s definitely doable, especially with a bus option for part of the way home.

I used to walk an hour home from work just because I liked to, although I usually took the bus there. My current commute would be an hour walking, but I cycle it in 15. It's by far the best commute I've ever had - it's free, 100% me-powered, always leaves exactly when I want, and I'm impervious to traffic and train strikes. I might walk it sometimes in the summer just for variety and enjoyment. I have great changing facilities at work so just shower when I arrive.

I would encourage you to get a bit more confident on the bike to have it as an alternative option when you need to be quicker. But otherwise, sounds great.

Sounds fine to me. When DS was in primary school I'd walk him there which was a 30 minute walk, then walk another 45 minutes to work. Repeat again in the afternoon. I've never owned a car though and am used to lots of walking in all weathers. Buy some waterproofs.

I'd be fine with it, so long as it's a "nice" ish walk, like not along a dual carriageway or something. There are lots of 1 hour walks from where I live that are restful and safe, for instance, but walking along a busy main road would be quite wearing maybe?

But I would honestly use this as an opportunity to GET confident on a push bike. That 1 hour walk becomes a 20 minute chilled out cycle, which you will start to enjoy once you get confident on the route. I was a very nervous cyclist when we moved to this city, and was always too afraid to cycle with the kids on the back of the bike, for instance, but now I'm blissfully happy and it's very liberating.

You don't need an electric bike for that kind of distance. The people I know who commute on electric bikes do so for longer distances, like a 2 hr walk etc. Assuming that you're looking at about 2 - 3 miles, a push bike is grand, but do get one with some gears and practicality in mind rather than a pretty Pashley or something. Decathlon has lots of waterproofs etc.

It's fine. You'll need to add some time on for when it's snowing probably. Gets a bit tricky sometimes.

It sounds really healthy, but it could be frustrating when there's a long stretch of bad weather.

I used to walk 40 mins each way and it was so good for me both physically and mentally.

I've done this. It was brilliant for my health. I really enjoyed it.

I find cycling a faff. I used to cycle into work many years ago on an electric bike ( early adopter before they were fashionable) as every minute was so tight with DS at childminder and then school.

I tried again a few years ago but the traffic was a lot busier than what I remembered so it was very stressful,and because of new security arrangements at work it took an age to park the bike and walk round, plus the faff of changing and having to bring other clothes.

Walking is great unless it's icy. I just plug in my headphones listen to my Audible and off I go.

I was my most fittest when I walked 45 min ish each way to work (up and down some fairly steep hills too). I really enjoyed it, and to be honest because of the traffic it wasn’t that much slower than the bus! I started just walking to the next bus stop and realised actually I could just do the whole route easily enough.

Definitely have a bad weather/feeling bit crap/got loads to carry/ running late back up. Even if that’s the odd taxi, it’ll probably still be significantly cheaper than paying for whatever means of commute you would regularly.

My walk to or from work can be done in as little as 42 mins or comfortably and not needing a total change of clothes if it hot, it’s best done in 50 mins.

For me, cycling is an option that I quite like. I work hybrid now and the laptop I use is supplied by work. I have a docking station now at work, so I have to carry the laptop with me. We don’t have a car and wouldn’t get parking at work because I don’t live far enough away to qualify for a parking space.

Cycling deals with a laptop transportation better than walking. It’s not a huge laptop, but I did once really bother my back when I walked with it for about an hour and a half.

The buses are not a bad option, two routes but both involve a bit of walking too. Plus morning buses too busy and unreliable.

There have been times I’ve taken a cab in. Not owning a car, I definitely justify the expense but generally prefer not to.

In a previous job I used to walk 15 mins to the station and then 40ish mins to work and the same on the way home. There were plenty of bus and tube options but I enjoyed the walking, on the way in it gave me time to mentally prepare for the day and on the way home I could completely forget about work…
it kept me really fit and (though the last few weeks wouldn’t show it) it actually didn’t rain that much at all…

I'd worry about getting sweaty. I linked to walk fast so if it were hot I'd sweat

I walk 50 minutes to and from work, just get the bus/train if the weather is bad or I have heavy stuff to carry. But sometimes walk when the weather is bad, just in full waterproofs. I sit down all day in an office so enjoy and need the exercise!

I walk 50 minutes to and from work, just get the bus/train if the weather is bad or I have heavy stuff to carry. But sometimes walk when the weather is bad, just in full waterproofs. I sit down all day in an office so enjoy and need the exercise!

An hour walk is fine. If you find it too long you can always get a bike.

I wont have too much heavy stuff to carry luckily, I can work round this by not taking laptop home etc
I definitely do not want to cycle- it is just not for me - I don't tend to get too sweaty either
I think I am going to give it a go!