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Original poster

So can we drive to mountain walk now?

99 replies

Hugglespuffed · 16/04/2020 18:36

I thought I'd heard earlier on today on tv (could be bbc news or this morning as those are what I have watched today) that we are now allowed to drive to exercise of the exercise will take longer than the drive
.. so can I get my walking boots and go for a walk up my nearest mountains? I expected to hear it on the briefing but heard nothing. Don't want to do anything 'wrong' and wont of course. But if we are allowed then I would love to. Living in a city, it is hard to find walks that aren't too busy (people are being great about keeping apart but sometimes it is more effort than it is worth!) And can feel the pound already piling on and need better exercise! Thanks :)

OP posts:
Picamyhoney · 16/04/2020 20:56

Yes, you can drive a reasonable distance for exercise. So half an hour drive for 2 hour walk = fine as long as you're following social distancing.
2 hour drive for 30 mins walk = nope.
It makes sense. We're in a seaside city where the seafront and parks can get busy while all around us is a national park with tons of space, empty of people.

DesdemonaRosa · 16/04/2020 20:56

People can do anything unless the law forbids it. Government cannot do anything unless the law allows it.

Picamyhoney · 16/04/2020 20:58

This is all aimed at the bigger picture of easing us out of full lockdown - one minute we're pariahs if we get in our cars and the next, actually it's alright... there's a worry that of lockdown is ended and schools open etc. we'll all be too scared to send or kids anyway

Peapod29 · 16/04/2020 21:01

Agree with pp’s. I think it’s more to bring the police back in line and stop certain forces acting like a mob. After another three weeks public opinion of them will be shattered if they carry on the way they were, inspecting people’s shopping and that sort of rubbish.

ElisavetaOfBumsornia · 16/04/2020 21:02

Yes, if you want people to actually respect lockdown rules, you cannot have police suggesting they're going to have their shopping checked or it's illegal to go in front gardens. Enough of that and people will simply refuse to comply.

youkiddingme · 16/04/2020 21:03

I'm really pleased with this clarification. We live on a really busy main road, opposite a really busy shop, and it's really not safe for us to go for a walk here. There's people all over the place. But there are several very quiet, safer, open spaces that are all only about a 10 minute drive away. Common sense has told us that these would be much better, and we'd be happy to get out just once a week, but have been frightened of getting stopped by police.
The only thing is the last time we went out, it was to open fields etc but there was one narrow path to walk down to access the fields and a huge gang of teenagers were sat on a wall blocking it. So we won't dare go there again.

Alialialiali · 16/04/2020 21:20

Well, I'm going camping in Wales then...

corabel · 16/04/2020 21:25

This is poor advice. This would make it ok for me to drive just over an hour to Brighton as long as I spend several hours walking along the prom when I get there.

Original poster
Hugglespuffed · 16/04/2020 21:28

@JinglingHellsBells the advice has changed though, today. Which is why I started the thread to ask.

OP posts:
MintyMabel · 16/04/2020 21:32

Only if you have learning difficulties / autism that makes it necessary for you to drive to your exercise

for example It also applies to anyone with a physical disability or other neurological issues.

Original poster
Hugglespuffed · 16/04/2020 21:32

And no, I'm not in Wales (but would love to be right now!)
I'm in England. I live in a city but I could drive about 20 minutes to do some lovely hilly walks. Obviously I won't now. Was just trying to clarify.

@JinglingHellsBells you mention that we are not going in our cars unnecessarily but if they've changed the rules to being able to drive for exercise then I don't see that journey being unnecessary? Like I say, so far I've only drive once a week ish to do a food shop, other than that I've been cycling locally or out for a walk.
I was never intending to drive an hour for a walk, it would have just been up to 20 minutes.

OP posts:
Teslaworld1 · 16/04/2020 21:33

People will be doing what they want soon anyway. I’m already sensing more people on the roads, more people just nipping to the shop for a couple of bits etc. These lockdown “rules” will be being broken left right and centre soon. People are getting fed up.

Sparklingbrook · 16/04/2020 21:37

I feel for the people that have been told to shield for 12 weeks by the NHS. Bet they would love a quick wander even to the end of the road and back, let alone driving to mountains. But they are staying safe.

Khione · 16/04/2020 21:46

@tilder

It boils down to

'is it essential' ? Exercise is essential for most people

Will I or others be less safe if I do it YES YES YRS

How much clearer does it need to be that they actual expect people to use common sense? To stretch - but not break the rules.

Yes go for a fucking walk - no don't have multi family get togethers.

Yes buy your wine, gin, chocolate and cake BUT go with a list don't pick everything on the shelf up and put it down, wander backwards and forwards and keep changing your mind.

If it doesn't compromise your or anyone else's safety then JFDI.

'Politicians'; 'People in power' didn't get where they are by blindly following rules (more about 'don't get caught than don't do it) and they really can't understand why anyone else does this. They are gobsmacked by how well most people are sticking to the 'rules'. Stanley Johnson is closer to what was expected than Fred Jones snitching on his neighbours.

We can't stay in full lockdown for up to 2 years until there is a vaccination (and even when there is it will take time to reach everyone).

Original poster
Hugglespuffed · 16/04/2020 21:48

Yes I feel for them too, massively. I have many family members in the shielding category. But you can feel sorry for other people and still want to get some daily exercise in.

OP posts:
SittingInMustard · 16/04/2020 21:52

i feel for the people that have been told to shield for 12 weeks by the NHS. Bet they would love a quick wander even to the end of the road and back, let alone driving to mountains

We are allowed to - the shielding details made it clear they were just recommendations and whether or not we follow them is entirely down to us.

Sparklingbrook · 16/04/2020 22:02

Looking at the list of conditions that you can have to be in the shielded group it's best to stay at home IMO.
The letter makes it pretty clear what's required, but it's all down to assessing the risk I suppose. The person I know in this situation is following the instructions.

vera99 · 16/04/2020 22:04

Soon life will have to go on. Those that need to shield should do so and be supported by friends/family/society. The rest of us will just have to take our chances with informed choice and say fuck this virus.

Toddlerteaplease · 16/04/2020 22:05

My sister lives in a tourist village in the Lake District. The locals have become very suspicious of anyone they don't recognise. And will challenge people. She says it's not a nice atmosphere.

FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue · 16/04/2020 22:15

The advice hasn't changed. What the government are asking us to do is more limiting than what is in the actual legislation. The Crown Prosecution Service has given these examples of what is and isn't reasonable excuse to leave your residence, and the police have sent that advice out to other police.

LolaSmiles · 16/04/2020 22:21

That law came into affect at the end of March and all this does is explain how it might be applied to different everyday scenarios as well as make it clear that the legislation uses the test of whether an action is reasonable, not essential

This.

It's clarification and guidance for police on what would be considered reasonable within the law.

You only have to look on here at the thousands of threads that boil down to "the law says only leave the house for the following 4 reasons, but can I get away with claiming X is necessary/essential, after all it really is subjective". This is usually followed with "I'm not interested in your subjective opinions. I'm only interested in the law and if the law doesn't specifically say I can't unicycle half way across the county to exercise my pet badger and call in at 91 shops on the way back to buy a special artisan chocolatey treat that is absolutely essential to me then of course I can do it, and I don't need any curtain twitchers telling me otherwise."

Ilovemypantry · 18/04/2020 18:58

@pleasedoone

you certainly can go wrong with staying at home....it makes some people feel ill

Catching Covid-19 can make you feel very ill, it can also cause you die. I know what I’d rather do.

EvianBath · 18/04/2020 19:02

I know what I’d rather do.

Exactly, it's personal choice. You can go out for the reasons listed in the law, or you can go out less than that, or not at all - so long as you obey the law.

The 'right' answer depends on the mutiple influencing factors in your life.

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