Can we drive to an area for a walk?

[Swissrollypoly]

Or is it like last time when you had to walk/exercise in your local area.
I want to be able to take my toddler on a walk in the woods that’s a 15 min drive from us.

Probably. Who's going to stop you? But to me it's not so much about what you're allowed to do as taking responsible decisions.

The guidance says You should avoid all non-essential travel by private or public transport. Exercise is not given as one of the exemptions. But I doubt there will be roadblocks.

I feel it’s a reasonable and responsible decision as it’s a big woodland area and we hardly see anybody when we are there.

I would guess all the details like this will be published in the next few days. I'm thought last time people could travel to exercise.

Just do it, no on is going to stop your car to ask you where you're going and even if they do, you can just say you're going grocery shopping.

I don't understand how we got to a point where people need govts permission to sit in a car and drive for 15 minutes....

Avoid all non essential travel, so I'd have thought driving to exercise somewhere away from where you live would class as non essential travel.

It's down to common sense. If you live in a busy urban area it is reasonable to drive 15 minutes to quiet woods to walk.

But probably not reasonable to drive 2 hours to a popular crowded beauty spot, where lots of people will be sharing the same facilities like toilets and picnic benches.

The police aren't going to be bothered about things like this.

We will be driving to all the places we usually go as that is essential for ds's well being.

We'll have to wait and see what the guidance says but I am hoping it is allowed. The footpaths around our home got very crowded when no one was allowed to drive a bit further afield.

You were allowed to drive last time. My neighbor walks his dogs on the Moors about a 10 minute drive away.in the last lockdown the police were checking the car park. We're fine with locals being there not so much with people who had driven from out of the county for a day out

@Swissrollypoly

I feel it’s a reasonable and responsible decision as it’s a big woodland area and we hardly see anybody when we are there.

But it's not just the woods and the number of people.

It's what about if you break down or crash and others now are at risk attending because you couldn't walk locally.
It's about an unnecessary journey. Unnecessary interaction in an area that isn't your local area.

I fully get your logic as like you, this is part of our normal activities. But not during lockdown.

Equally, if stopped by the police, do you really want that unnecessary challenge?

After all the backwards and forwards about this last time it landed on - yes, you could drive to take a walk.

So I expect it to be the same again now.

@Spikeyball

We will be driving to all the places we usually go as that is essential for ds's well being.

Yet more justifications of why the rules don't apply!

FFS walk locally. Why is that so difficult for 28 days?! You're not under house arrest!

It's a sensible decision. You'll be in your car then walking in a forest. There's very minimal risk.
I'm sure others will be along to say what if you break down or have a crash and have to be seen to by all of the emergency services soon though.

I will be doing this. I have young children who have nothing else to enjoy in lockdown. To avoid the crowded local walks will will travel to our special walk which is much ‘safer’ and where they can run free without coming near other people.

I would.

God the worst thing about this lockdown is going to be all the tedious frothing on here about minor things like this isn't it.

Mid April, the County police turned up to my door to say I had been reported for driving to take exercise (20 minute drive each way, 2 hours exercise while there, solo trip in remote area). Police very explicitly said people were Not Allowed to drive to take exercise. I live in England. "The police can't be bothered." or "Use common sense" didn't apply last time. The next day the govt press conference said people could drive short distances to take exercise. Pfffftt...

I don't understand how we got to a point where people need govts permission to sit in a car and drive for 15 minutes....

People want to do the right thing.

Ffs. It didn't take mumsnet long to revert back to "don't drive down the road because you will kill people". Get a grip. ....fucking insanity. Drive where you like.

Maybe we should all sit still in case we trip up, break a leg and have to use of A&E resources

Just do it. The whole point of the measures is to reduce social contact and social mixing. Driving to a secluded wood for a walk makes sense.

Mid April, the County police turned up to my door to say I had been reported for driving to take exercise

What sad bastard reported you?!

We do not yet know what the rules are SoloMummy, making your lecture completely nonsensical. Pipe down.

@Completmentfille

Mid April, the County police turned up to my door to say I had been reported for driving to take exercise

What sad bastard reported you?!

Probably someone with the same mindset as the police who were making up their own rules that went above and beyond the actual law and fining people who were acting legally, before the government stepped in and said that it was OK to drive short distances to exercise.