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?

They 'guy on BBC news' who said it's ok to drive to go for a walk is Daniel Sandford, a Home Affairs Correspondent for BBC News.

You can watch it on today's BBC News Special (24 March 2020) at the 17:45 mark.

Q: "... Am I allowed to drive to a park and then go for a walk in the park?"
A: "... Strictly under what the government is saying that is absolutely ok..."

Personally however I see it as non-essential travel. Is it absolutely necessary to do this OP? Will it cause irreparable harm if you stay at home? Are there no other ways for you and your family to exercise indoors instead? I'm sure you've got all kinds of reasoning why

Personally however I see it as non-essential travel. Is it absolutely necessary to do this OP? Will it cause irreparable harm if you stay at home? Are there no other ways for you and your family to exercise indoors instead? I'm sure you've got all kinds of reasoning why

It doesn't matter how you see it and your little confused face isn't needed.

Exercise/ fresh air once a day is encouraged.

It is also encouraged to exercise in quieter areas.

Being stuck in without getting any fresh air is bad for health, physical and mental. Going out once a day, as long as you practice social distancing is healthy. I could keep my children in for the foreseeable future completely, but I care about their mental health too, and want them to get some vitamin D and fresh air, which helps to boost their immune system.

At some point, if we show symptoms, we will have to not leave the house for 14 days at least. I think it is pretty vital to get them some fresh air while we still can.

I imagine OP feels the same.

Stop looking down on people who are following guidelines and using common sense. If you want to exercise at home then go ahead. Other people feel it is necessary to allow their children some fresh air in the safest way possible. Stop judging other people for following guidelines and using some common sense.

It doesn't matter how you see it and your little confused face isn't needed

God, so much this.

When this is all over, it wouldn't surprise me if history showed that cramping families into flats with no outside space or fresh air, while one adult went back and forth to the supermarket, ended up being the worst possible thing we could have done.

When this is all over, it wouldn't surprise me if history showed that cramping families into flats with no outside space or fresh air, while one adult went back and forth to the supermarket, ended up being the worst possible thing we could have done. yeah, much worse than letting loads of people die and crashing the NHS.

"It doesn't matter how you see it and your little confused face isn't needed."

The OP's question invites others to share their opinion, in the absence of specific government advice (what the BBC man said doesn't count as government advice). Emojis are available to be used in posts.

"Exercise/fresh air once a day is encouraged."

It is allowed.

"It is also encouraged to exercise in quieter areas."

Where/who is encouraging this? The government text says "Stay at home"

"Being stuck in without getting any fresh air is bad for health, physical and mental. Going out once a day, as long as you practice social distancing is healthy. I could keep my children in for the foreseeable future completely, but I care about their mental health too, and want them to get some vitamin D and fresh air, which helps to boost their immune system."

All true. However as I have asked, does it have to entail a drive. Despite all care, is there a risk of people spreading outside their local area?

"I imagine OP feels the same."

Oh wait, is this an opinion??

When this is all over, it wouldn't surprise me if history showed that cramping families into flats with no outside space or fresh air, while one adult went back and forth to the supermarket, ended up being the worst possible thing we could have done.

Absolutely.

All true. However as I have asked, does it have to entail a drive. Despite all care, is there a risk of people spreading outside their local area?

I have applied logic and came to the conclusion that driving just under 5 miles to a quieter area is safer than walking around my street which is more populated. So yes, it does have to entail a drive if I want to exercise as safely as I can.

I bet the people screaming stay at home never exercise/take a walk anyway

If you are in the 14 day isolation because of illness, then no. You have to sit that one out.

If you are all fit and well driving to an isolated area to walk is fine. Keep the safe distance from others. Cars are not a danger, neither is fresh air. It's other people. You are allowed one walk a day. Ignore the nonsense about staying home and not exercising, not everyone has a garden. We are allowed to shop safely (we have to shop for food) and exercise once a day. There is no ban on driving or doing this exercise.

You no it's not an essential journey, walk from your house

I bet the people screaming stay at home never exercise/take a walk anyway one of the things I do instead of meditation is to walk every day outdoors, for an hour. Not hardcore exercise, but I use it to help me feel mentally healthy and happy. I live in Spain and I can't go further than the end of the street to throw the rubbish out unless I want to risk a fine. I'm managing.

All true. However as I have asked, does it have to entail a drive.

It may be much safer to drive to an isolate area than walk/run where you live if that’s highly populated.

I’m not sure why people are struggling with this point.

I bet the people screaming stay at home never exercise/take a walk anyway

Yes I’d say there’s some truth in this.

walk from your house

Which may be very populated and much harder to SD safely.

Why would that be better?

Said on tv today, in answer to a question, driving in your car isn't a danger. A daily walk is essential if you have young children or are finding it difficult mentally to be cooped up indoors.

I'd find it quite hard to walk from my house since it's a 60mph road on the outskirts of the village with no pavement and minimal verge (and whilst there are now fewer cars around, there are still cars). So I'll jump in my car, drive half a mile and walk from there thanks. Not everyone lives in suburbia

Where/who is encouraging this? The government text says "Stay at home"

Haven't we had a couple of police forces confirmed as encouraging exercising in more remote areas? I thought we had.

Where/who is encouraging this? The government text says "Stay at home

The government and police, I believe.

They didn't run it by the ANGRY CAPSLOCKS of MN though. Basic mistake.

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/drivers-queuing-up-visit-peaks-17977336

But I'm sure some will say, "Oh that's just for the Peak District...

If it’s crowded, you should go home. Simple.

But obviously lots of places aren’t.

So - anyone saying you can't drive 5 mins to go to the woods, presumably is also saying that you ought not to drive 5 mins to go to the shops - because that creates risk and you could of course walk.

The idiocy of the UK public is astounding - the risk of spreading is the people constantly going to the supermarkets - not those minding their own business and keeping a wide berth by going to open spaces. Stop going to the shops - its not essential until you are completely out of food, and then walk to the shops and walk home? Is that what those who are advocating not using a tiny bit of common sense?

We live in a densely populated road and we have young children. Its ridiculous to think that we cannot take them in the car 5 mins down the road to get their exercise in an environment where they will not come into contact with other people. Anyone thinking otherwise is bonkers.

The point is you NEED food. You don't NEED exercise in the woods.