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?

Last week BoJo said 'no travel unless essential '. Now, some of us pushed out luck with that. So now we have to stop pushing our luck.

No. It is a non essential journey. Cars on the road increase the likelihood of things happening that will need the emergency services. And they are a bit busy just now....

Because these places aren’t currently isolated, that’s why. You have almost an entire population of a largely city dwelling country confined to their houses thinking ‘where can I go for a quiet walk?’

My dm lives on Dartmoor, a mile from the nearest car park. On Sunday the car park was full and there was a line of cars parked on the verge all the way to her house, up her drive and across her gate. Even in peak summer the car park is rarely full. Everyone is going to the same isolated places.

OP, how old are your twins, who owns the woodland in question, and are you prepared to take a raincheck and look for another place to go if lots of people have the same idea, so that you cannot guarantee sufficient distancing?

Surely it's better to get in the car and drive for 10 minutes for an isolated walk than pass lots of people in the street all heading for a walk round the park?? Hard to say

Well, der.

Why on earth would you need a rescue service? We’re not talking a DofE expedition.

No ....it was quite clear. Essential travel!

Ffs, stay at home. Jesus it’s not hard to understand.

Go walking in a hidden, isolated place during a pandemic. I'm sure the rescue services will be delighted to come an

You need some fairly big assumptions to get to that level.

Quiet == isolated or needing rescue services if you trip, for a start. I'd love to see someone call 'rescue services' for a trip in the nearby woods.

Nasty Dartmoor is huge. The tourist spots are always busy and best avoided. Where we go it’s never busy, not even in August.

Every mile you drive increases your chance of being in a car accident. If you are in a car accident you are unlikely to get the treatment you deserve because the health sector is under such pressure. Or, if you are deemed worthy of treatment, you are denying someone else that ventilator. There is no clear rule, so do what you want and you probs won't get fined. But you absolutely will be putting yourself, and others, at unnecessary risk.

So STAY THE FUCK HOME.

Yes. It doesn't have to be an essential. It's your one daily exercise.

I think you're special and so you should be allowed to do something different to everyone else.

Just don't listen to epidemiologists who are telling you to stay at home. You're special. And different from everyone else. Special rules should apply to you.

www.placestovisitthisweekend.com

And the RAC aren't going to be tending to coronavirus patients so its fine to use them.

Honestly, this thread. Use common sense people!

If there's a quiet spot with no people around then enjoy your walk.

If this place starts to attract more people (as some of you say), we are heading back home straight away. No second thoughts about it.

FFS. Why has Mumsnet gone so thick?

Daily exercise IS essential for Immunity. OP is suggesting a very safe way to get her exercise, MUCH safer than residential street walking.

I despair I really do.

GiantRedPanda people in the countryside drive everywhere all the time.

But you absolutely will be putting yourself, and others, at unnecessary risk.

Absolutely. Which is why I am also calling anyone using sharp knives fucking selfish. Unnecessary risk. Twats

Here come all the speshul snowflakes, I'm different, it's isolated, no one knows about it but meeeee, but I have children!, I'm going to do it no matter what, I'm entitled to what I want!

The measures didn't go far enough so soon because people all see themselves as different, special cases we'll have army trucks rolling down the streets because everyone thinks they're above everyone else.

More likely to have an accident jogging round busy streets. They want people to get out and exercise daily. You don’t make the rules and we need to take advice from the powers that be not frothing MNers.As soon as they say no driving for exercise we won’t be.

we are heading back home straight away.

Wtf?! Why aren't you at home already? Think you're safe in a small community? You aren't. Low population places have fewer hospitals and fewer ICU bed. Go home!

No. We've had a whole forest closed off by us because so many people were turning up with their kids. It's ridiculously selfish behavior.

I'm in Portugal, there is a state of Emergency here, we can visit the supermarket or pharmacy for essential goods. The beaches are shut, all restaurants and bars are shut. All other shops are shut.
We can walk the dog in our own area, there are regular police patrols with loudspeakers telling us to stay at home.
The message from Boris tonight was really clear. Stay at home.
On the weekend just gone hundreds and thousands of people in the U.K. thought that the social distancing rules didn't apply to them.
On this thread it seems as though many people still don't think that the rules apply to them.
I definitely agree that positive mental health is a good thing, but positive mental health is not much good if you're dead.

@Tonyaster that's right, but don't you think RAC man is just the sort of person who can pass the virus on?