Driving to the woods to walk a dog?

[40feetathome]

Has anyone seen any definitive answer as to whether or not you can drive to the woods to walk your dog or whether you have to walk it from home?

Not looking for peoples views but need clarification for a friend who is confused.

Obviously that will count as the one bit of exercise a day and social distancing will be adhered to.

In my area the car parks are closed, so people can't park at the woods/Common.

No. No driving. It gives unnecessary risk. Just do the basics

NHS staff are making pleas for people to stop driving around so much.
So no

No.

A question was put on TV yesterday asking if you can drive to somewhere quieter to take a walk. The answer was yes, subject to the 2 metres rule when others are around. If I were you though, I would keep the dog on a lead even when in the woods.

Well it's not an essential journey, but if you are able to maintain social distancing then do it until told otherwise.

On yesterday's BBC News Special (24 March 2020) Daniel Sandford, a Home Affairs Correspondent for the BBC, said it was ok but to turn back if the place is crowded.

You can watch it 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..."

Note he's not a government representative and I don't think we'll get anything definitive from No. 10 on this.

But please consider: Is it absolutely necessary to do this (is this really an essential trip)? I'm not saying don't walk your dog, but are there no other places to walk your dog?

Driving when you don’t need to puts yourself at risk of being stranded should your car break down, or forcing a recovery service to come out to deal with you. In the unlikely event you're involved in an accident, you would be taking up valuable health care resources for what could arguably be viewed as a non-essential trip.

The question was among many asked early evening last night (and then repeated later) on News 24. I don't know who was being asked but they were asked loads of questions and answered as if coming from a position of authority.

The OP has already said they don't want opinions of MNers, they want the official directive.

We need to take advice from the government not random NHS staff. The government are advised by experts.

The most important thing is to avoid social contact. This question was answered on the BBC yesterday. It is ok but common sense is needed. If heaving you turn round and come back.

We have teens and take up a lot of space walking as a family. Keeping everybody the correct amount of distance on pavements to others is challenging at times although we managed it.Will be driving somewhere close and more remote at times until told not to.

What part of "no non essential journey" and "stay at home" don't people understand?

Yes yes and yes again. It is fine to drive a short distance to somewhere that will be quiet and you can exercise your dog whilst observing the two metre rule. Those are the gov't guidelines. That is far safer than walking through streets having to dodge dozens of people to get to the woods on foot. However, You will get dozens of replies saying "what part of staying at home don't you understand?!"

I rest my case.

Sorry everyone, please ignore my responses. I didn't realise the person answering questions was a BBC Home Affairs Correspondent and not a government representative.

Yes, I agree in that case, unless the government give their official ruling about it, to treat it as a non-essential journey and just walk a dog from their home and follow social distancing rules.

How utterly ridiculous to have not obtained the official government response. I think that was quite irresponsible of the BBC. I'll be more careful in future in finding out who is being asked questions.

I live near some main roads. I watch traffic from my window. I see ambulances and police cars, sirens on, struggling to navigate traffic ALL DAY LONG because people think this is some kind of extended bank holiday weekend, where they can just hop in their car with their children or dogs, go for picnics, bike rides and countryside walks whenever they please.

Mumsnet NHS worker plea

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3859469-Plea-right-here-from-NHS-staff

For those of you who are saying no, no driving unless it's essential - you really don't think it's a good idea to go from home to car, to secluded rural location for a dog walk, back to car and straight home again?

We are allowed out for a dog walk/walk alone with 2 people/a household once a day. I'd have thought it's one less person people have to pass on the street outside their houses.

Unless people are going from crowded parks and beaches to woods and it's proven, then it's less risky for sure. I live in a rural location next to a bigger, busier town and on my walk with my 3yo through the woods yesterday and across the fields, I came across one dog walker in the opposite direction. Not everyone is acting like a selfish twat out there.

It’s not just about social distancing Curious78.

What if you breakdown or need assistance from the emergency services if you have an accident. The NHS need to reduce all calls on services to a minimum. It’s only a for a few weeks (hopefully)

- you really don't think it's a good idea to go from home to car, to secluded rural location for a dog walk, back to car and straight home again?

And if everyone does it? What then for the emergency services?

Guys, a pandemic is not about asking yourself how far can you get, but how much can Ido to avoid spreading this cirus.

*virus, even

It's not an essential journey.
Can you take the dog for a walk round the block instead?

It's fine if woods are quiet and quite close.

No essential driving. If you drive to the park everyday you will need to buy petrol which puts you at risk there. Just walk around the block if you can. I know it’s dull but that’s what we simply have to do.

As someone who lives on the very edge of the woods unless you are actually rural it is unlikely to be quiet. Average footfall usually about 30 people a day...yesterday approx 500. People actually queuing to go through the gate. Most of the path is one person wide so there were people clambering up banks to avoid others.

*no non essential driving