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Can I drive 5 miles to walk in the woods?

805 replies

R2221 · 23/03/2020 22:12

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
SpokeTooSoon · 27/03/2020 10:08

Since everyone’s getting very aerated and caps-locky, here’s my twopenneth:

It’s stay AT home.
Not stay home.

Americans stay home.
Britons stay AT home.

LeniSpring · 27/03/2020 10:08

Yes you can. As long as you stay away from other people.

LeniSpring · 27/03/2020 10:12

I live in London, I'm far more likely to get infected walking around my local crowded park for my exercise than driving 5 miles somewhere quieter

LittleRootie · 27/03/2020 10:12

SpokeTooSoon I beat you to that years ago when the thread first got going! Grin it really grates on me as well

AlphaJura · 27/03/2020 10:20

I'm sure I read something that said you are not allowed to get in your car, drive somewhere to do exercise. Because a lot of people had the same idea and they were all piling into the Peak District on the weekend. It's not a holiday! Plus they have said extra stress on emergency services if there are car accidents or if people trip and fall in woodlands or on moors. You are not supposed to 'travel' unless completely necessarily. Like to get food or care for someone. What if you collapsed in the isolated woods? What would happen then?
You are only supposed to take your 'exercise' in your locality from your home. Be that walking, running or cycling or dog walking.

Laiste · 27/03/2020 10:22

And again (ad nauseum) please explain how are 'unnecessary journeys' are contributing to the spread of the virus?

Once again ......
ALL car journeys (even dinky little ones to your chosen spot) increase the likely hood of car accidents/car breakdowns/the need for petrol. These things then increase interaction with other people and the public environment. ie petrol stations, breakdown services, ambulance or police, GP surgeries, A&E.

And it's not just about spreading the virus. It's about decreasing the likely hood of needing the valuable time of any public service workers.

This has all been said multiple times on TV. All this ''but, but, but I don't apply'' is mind-boggling.

Shr1nkyD1nk · 27/03/2020 10:25

Hope it’s the same for your favourite dupermarket , surely you should make do with your corner shop.Food is food. They need to stop horse riding and cycling then,far too risky. Oh wait a minute BJ and co like both.

rogdmum · 27/03/2020 10:43

LittleRootie I’m in Scotland. We also have hundreds of miles worth of shared cycle/footpaths and woodland tracks etc all rarely used. The oddest bit is a random semi-maintained basketball court which is a 20 minute trek into the woods. You wouldn’t know it was there unless you accidentally stumbled across it- never seen another soul there.

vera99 · 27/03/2020 10:48

STAY AT HOME

Myhusbandischeating · 27/03/2020 10:51

This Morning are talking about this now

LittleRootie · 27/03/2020 10:53

Laiste and once again again - by going to remoter areas people are trying to reduce the risk That's the point, or certainly my point. I'm not going to my 'dinky' place just to cavort and gather bluebells I have calculated that it is the best way to REDUCE THE RISK (everyone else is shouting in caps so what the hell) - reduce the risk to me, to my elderly relative and to others.

Your points about risk aren't irrelevant but weighing them up the risk from exercising in busy areas of my town is greater.

LittleRootie · 27/03/2020 10:58

rogdmum feeling very jealous at the moment!

Hope it's nice and sunny where you are? Smile

rogdmum · 27/03/2020 11:03

Hahahahaha, sadly no- we have the haar even though it’s very early for it!

LittleRootie · 27/03/2020 11:18

The 'haar'? Is that a scots thing or a typo? Grin

Zaphodsotherhead · 27/03/2020 11:20

Haar is sea mist LittleRootie. It's a word here in Yorkshire too.

LittleRootie · 27/03/2020 11:23

Well I never, learn something every day...Haar..sounds very viking!

Zaphodsotherhead · 27/03/2020 11:26

I think it does come from the Norse, actually! That's why it's most common here up North!

Down south we always just called it 'sea fret'.

LittleRootie · 27/03/2020 14:57

Oh heck, never heard of sea fret either! Blush

LittleRootie · 27/03/2020 15:04

Speaking of fret - to satisfy CAP'N LOCK I walked to the parktoday with the dog for our ration of exercise. It was PACKED! Full of children, joggers and particularly cyclists who aren't usually there at all. I lost count of the cyclists coming up behind me and passing a few inches away.

Also lost count of the joggers who, instead of waiting for a proper gap, barged into the space I had put between me and others, huffing and puffing their germs all over us. Angry

I won't be doing that again. I will just have to get fined because I really don't feel safe going out locally.

AngryTruckDriver · 27/03/2020 16:11

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

LimitIsUp · 31/03/2020 00:47

Go for it @LittleRootie, and you can contest the fine as it has no basis in law

Thekindofwindowsfaceslookinat · 31/03/2020 01:21

They’ve obviously not seen the videos made by Derbyshire police, trying to stop swarms of people descending on the Peaks, very clearly specifying what is “non-essential” activity

Derbyshire Police have been singled out for criticism with overstepping the mark with their ridiculous, counterproductive antics. They behaved badly and risked harming what other forces are trying to achieve without creating community distrust.

EricaNernie · 31/03/2020 08:00

so i can drive a couple of miles to the local woods,
yay

GinnyStrupac · 31/03/2020 15:13

I agree that some of the police have seemed overzealous but I think it was with the best intentions. After some quite shocking scenes the previous weekend, drastic action was needed to discourage hordes of people from continuing to descend in crowds from miles around on rural communities and locations. With Easter coming, I hope the police continue to stop cars entering the National Parks and similar honeypot places, turning back those who are not travelling for work, care responsibilities or because they live there .

There has also been some selective reporting to grab headlines. I only needed to quickly google the location one police service are being accused of ruining to find out that this is a disused quarry. The water is highly toxic, with hidden dangers under the surface such as scrap metal. As long ago as 2013, the local council were putting black dye in to the water to deter swimmers, including parents letting their children enter the water.

I do however think that the filming and posting on social media has to stop. I'm only half joking when I say that I wouldn't blame anyone who decided to use rock, gun, or trained hawk to take down any annoying drones being used to film and breach the privacy of their family as they go about their lawful, responsible business.

We have the right to exercise under the law, but the responsibility is on us all to follow the guidelines which are designed to protect us all, limit viral spread and pressure on services - so to stay local for exercise, once a day, and to minimise the amount of time away from home.

Hopefully, especially with Easter coming, most people have got the message that it is a national emergency not a national holiday. We do need our Easter Eggs though - the plod had better not touch them or I'll be on to Amnesty International.

LimitIsUp · 01/04/2020 16:58

Have you seen this folks? The NPCC has issued new guidance to police forces across the country saying its fine to travel a short distance to exercise

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/31/uk-police-reissued-with-guidance-on-enforcing-coronavirus-lockdown?fbclid=IwAR1PONZUzhE7gNKz3Xlh1S1ww2o6sFxg0FRXbZ3zIaOoFwXe2n8JhK7QrcQ

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