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?

tbh, I think you'll get used to it.
An hour commute and you are in control, so dont have to worry about train strikes, or buses.
I started walking further after it rained and I (sitting down), had someone's wet umbrella trickling down my neck. Obviously that person was standing.
After that I started walking. As Long as you are adequately dressed for the weather, then you should be fine.

I do similar twice a week and love it, rain or shine. I'm not particularly fit (in fact quite fat) decent coat, rucksack, headphones and good tunes and it's great.

I'd cycle instead.

It depends on what you have to do when you get there- if you have to be very smart it might be difficult if it's very hot or rainy. And I'd want to have an option if I didn't feel well or just didn't want to walk one day.

Go for it. I walk about 45 minutes to work at the moment and it's good for me as I'm rubbish at getting into a fitness routine, so it forces me to be active. I've just bought some waterproof overtrousers and wish I'd done it years ago. They're great for those windy and rainy days where an umbrella doesn't cut it.

Yeah I will have a back up - I can just get in my car on days when I cannot do it

If you like walking, have no problem with leaving the house earlier/getting home later then i don’t see why it would be a problem.

This is me ! I just CANNOT embed an exercise routine into my life - despite enjoying it . I have to trick myself into it or have a purpose for it.
I would HATE going for a 'fun walk' on the hills or by a beautiful river but enjoy having a reason to walk. I blame the fact I grew up in a city!

Is there a shower if you get really sweaty eg in summer?

I used to love it!! Perfect way to get some exercise, digest the day and mull over and upcoming or recent work issues, or let my mind wander. It was a safe and interesting route that I could vary with full bus and partial tube alternative through central London though. I wouldn't feel the same about an industrial estate or dual carriageway in winter. I actually started walking as rush hour traffic meant bus wasn't much quicker. Consider the route and alternatives but I really enjoyed it.

Definitely doable and great exercise. Just be prepared for all weather and invest in good footwear.

I used to have a long walk to work. Get a rain cover for your rucksack

Ah if you have driving as your fallback I'd aim to walk it 2-3 times per week to begin with and build up gradually with the car as a weekly treat.

Waterproof overtrousers are a godsend and a proper waterproof coat as well as something light on it in the winter - a reflective band or something. Proper shoes that are waterproof to walk in and a change of shoes when you get in. It also helps if you have somewhere to dry stuff at work.

Can you tell I live in the North West...it rains a lot.

I love the walk in summer and sometimes make it longer by taking a route along by the prom where I live.

In the winter it can be a slog. And its only 20 minutes each way.

I used to do a 45 minute walk each way in my 20s.

I've never been so slim and strong! [nostalgic]

Don't forget the DARK in the winter - instant death on Mumsnet. But the rest of humanity cracks on and deals with it.

Go for it, I try walk an hour a day. You’ll find after a few weeks it will take less than an hour as you’ll get faster at walking. If you need to carry a laptop, get a suitable back-pack.

I did it in lockdown and enjoyed it.

But I wouldn’t like it if it was the only way and I had to do it, no other options, day in, day out, come rain or shine and more rain , and yet more rain and in the dark.

Does that work out about 5 miles each way so 10 miles a day? That’s a lot in all weathers with a days work once you get there. I’m a dog walker so walk a lot and I’d say it depends how fit you are.

Only you really know how much walking you're comfortable with, but I'd be OK with an hour's walking commute if a) the weather was dry, b) I didn't have a heavy bag and c) I had an audiobook to listen to.

I used to do this but there was also a bus option in case the weather was horrible or if I had heavy things to carry Would you be able to bius sometimes and walk sometimes ?

Get wellies. Wet feet will ruin your day. Can you leave shoes/ clothes at work in case you get soaked?

This is pretty much my day everyday in work. My walk in is 3 miles and takes just under an hour. I then walk about halfway home and hop on a bus. I don't have the same energy at 5pm as i do at 8am. Like you I hate having to make extra time for exercise so this is built into my routine. So I say go for it.

What about using an escooter for part way? They are really cheap and can take some of the time off

You might want to consider an office hairdryer or straighteners too. On a slightly damp day my hair would be a nightmare by the time I got to work!

One of my colleagues runs to work and keeps a hairdryer in the office to use if she's a bit dishevelled when she gets here.