Can I drive 5 miles to walk in the woods?

[R2221]

Just that really. We’ve been isolating for over a week and these woods are the only thing that kept us sane. Isolated woods - not many people there. Those we came across were mindful of distance.

With the current lockdown rules, are we allowed to drive there?

I googled it. General consensus seems to be that both are grammatically correct.

No.

I don't know why people have to be so pedantic about the rules. It's like it's some kind of game, and some people can't resist the urge to keep testing them. And let's face it, you're unlikely to know if your actions lead to someone else getting it and dying, unless it's someone in your own family. Or you.

I think this has brought out the worst in so many people.

And why would people touch my car door handles? Is that a thing? Petrol can be paid for at the pump. People need to practice good hand hygiene after they touch anything like that.

I agree that we need to reduce risk. Which is why I'll drive to a less risky area.

Everyone will have the same idea, don’t do it.

The government guidance is properly clear. Stay the fuck at home.

Unless its essential OR you are having your daily allowance of outdoor exercise.

I get it now
People must be teleporting from their armchairs, into a plastic bubble suit in the driver seat, with breathing apparatus. Making the journey. Then from the car teleporting into the middle of a secret wood, that no one else in the whole world knows about. Then doing the same in reverse to return to their armchairs. The car never runs out of petrol, or breaks down, or gets stopped by the police

Let's hope someone in parliament gets a backbone and goes further so it's abundantly clear you need to stay your arse at home, FFS, because until that happens, eejits are still going to continue doing whatever the fuck they want because the rules don't apply to them.

Non. Essential. Journey.
Sure you could.
Doubt you'll get stopped.
But don't be a dick.

Actually when the foot and mouth disease was rife, cars were disinfected because they did carry the pathogen. Viruses can survive on hard surfaces for a few days. Yes, it’s an unlikely source of transmission but it’s all about reducing risk.

IT'S THE CAR JOURNEY THAT IS THE PROBLEM AND RISK OF HAVING A ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ON A RURAL ROAD.

I work in the NHS and will not be offering to work over and above in an acute setting if the place is full of muppets like the majority of the people on this thread.

Some of you should be on the very quiet thread about dog kennels where the OP insists the dog walker is staying open.

Froth on!

U2HasTheEdge and getting petrol, or using a charging station, or breaking down, or being in an accident.... why take even a minuscule risk when the fallout is so bad? IT IS NOT YOUR RISK TO TAKE.

We have healthy people in the village with corona, seriously ill. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. Their families can’t even see them. Honestly I get how boring it must be at home, but wait til someone you know falls ill. It suddenly becomes very real. You will be glad to be bored. Be grateful you are only bored.

Anyway I’m sure more drastic measures will follow if people push this.

Oh by the way... for anyone walking on the fells... be careful. Even today (!!!) we had mountain rescue out for some idiot on the hills. Two weeks ago we had someone break their ankle on the fell, they had to catch a lift as an ambulance couldn’t get to them. Genuinely - don’t expect any help if things go wrong!

And I am reducing risk by not walking in a populated area.

Anyway, night all.

@shinynewapple2020. I didn't realise isolated woodland paths had anti slip surfaces these days and CCTV. So I'm sure you're right, OP will be absolutely fine, plus of course nobody else will find her secret path. Maybe it's behind a magic wardrobe door? Or am I just being "silly"?

Of course you can - it’s even encouraged. Exercise once a day. Walk in the woods, keep at least 6ft from anyone you see and come home.

Unless its essential OR you are having your daily allowance of outdoor exercise.

Yep. Do your outdoor exercise far further away than necessary. You've found a loophole - well done you.

People who do this are dicks who make further enforcement measures necessary. The rest of us will go for a run local to our homes and hope we don't have to make a trade off between our safety and our civil liberties.

why take even a minuscule risk when the fallout is so bad?

Because it's essentially the same risk, if not in fact a lower risk for the OP, than walking in her local area with her dc.

No, how is that essential? This is exactly why we are in lockdown. Because people will not stay at home.

I work in the NHS and will not be offering to work over and above in an acute setting if the place is full of muppets like the majority of the people on this thread.

I don't think it's the majority - it's a few dickheads.
Thank you, though, for going into work every day. I'm terrified just working as a "key worker" in a school so I'm grateful for what you do.

The rest of us will go for a run local to our homes and hope we don't have to make a trade off between our safety and our civil liberties.

That's ok. At least it should be nice and quiet with all these people getting into their cars and driving to the woods.

Do you know I went for a walk in some woods today and I did slip and fell really quite hard on my coccyx. And as I sat there, bruised and dazed, I felt like a right twat and thought if I had been hurt (which I could have been quite easily by hitting my head on a rock) it would serve me right. It was a small hill in woods I walk in all the time. It was a genuine accident but I still increased my risk by going on the walk. I’ll be a lot less risky for the next few months or so.

Not a loophole. Again, I live in a busy area near lots of shops. It is safer going to a quieter area. If it isn't quieter I will come home.

If we are told that we can only walk locally then I will do so, but I know my area and I know I'm reducing risk by not walking around it.

This is exactly why we are in lockdown

It isn't. We are in lockdown because people were mixing in crowds of strangers and getting together in large groups in public places and taking their children to public parks.

We are not in lockdown because people go for walks in secluded areas

It is safer going to a quieter area. If it isn't quieter I will come home.

You believe is safer for you. Because you are assuming the local hospital has the ability to care properly for you. Go there, be sick, be cared for in a hospital with lower than average facilities. Whilst taking a bed from locals. Dick.

Pretty shocked by these answers. It’s like everyone e has had a common sense bypass. We’ll be driving a few miles to get to a more deserted spot with our dog so we can avoid physical contact on the town centre we live in.