Walking for exercise/ mental and physical health/ as a hobby

[UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme]

Is there a thread or sub section for walking does anyone know? I can't find one and would like to start one here if there isn't.

I've been consciously walking for health and weight loss (walking helps me mentally more than by burning calories, though of course that and slowly building muscle has been a fantastic side benefit) for a year or so.

I have been trying to do around 5km most but not every day and a longer walk (anything from 10km to - rarely - 24 km once per week, mostly a favourite route of 12km).

I work shifts including nights, evenings and weekends and have older school aged children so often have the privilege of free blocks of time during the school day for walking. During the holidays the long walks have taken a hit as I've been doing things with the children, but I'd love to step it up a notch once they're back and do at least two 16km walks per week - that's about ten miles. I have a route in mind to replace my old standby 12km round with, which I'll try on Wednesday.

Does anyone feel like joining me on a thread where we commit to walking for health, whatever that means to us (can be longer or shorter walks obviously)?

I'd love to talk about what we do, how we work it into our day, long term goals, equipment especially boots, and just general chat.

I'd love to start doing multi day walks and very long trails some day - maybe next summer, maybe further in the future! I'd love to talk about that too if anyone has done/ does / hopes to do that!

ClaraTheImpossibleGirl you're right it's all walking - physical benefits definitely the same but I do find actually "going for a walk" rather than rushing from place to place on foot more mentally beneficial, unsurprisingly! I hope you can get time for a more peaceful walk soon!

PurpleDaisies that sounds lovely. I got a warm tomato mozzarella panini from a bakery on a walk the other day and it made it feel like a full on special day out - I don't usually eat before 1pm and don't usually go through towns or go in anywhere, but it does make a longer walk something more special

MarshmallowSwede well done on all those steps!

I did 3 walks yesterday - 40 minutes while waiting for dc1 to do her driving lesson again - found an absolutely lovely "panorama way" out of the town she has lessons from, and although I don't usually drive to walk I'm tempted to go there specifically to do the whole thing some time - its marked as a 17km loop so needs a a bit more time than a driving lesson takes obviously. Then an hour's walk from home with dc3 and DH, to get dc3 out of the house as he had been on screens all morning, then 40 minutes with my neighbour in her wheelchair - pushing a wheelchair really changes walks obviously as good surfaces are essential, and its a workout for your arms! I feel bad that we essentially only have one route option manageable with a wheelchair, but she says she doesn't mind and its nice to get out. She had a stroke earlier this year but used to help me by picking dc3 up from after school club when he was younger and unsurprisingly struggles with the loss of independence and her world getting physically smaller - I'd so hate to be in that position suddenly, it really makes you think

Since we got apple watches, we've found ourselves less annoyed by occasional wrong paths or needing to double back to the house or car to fetch something as all the distance counts.

We're on holiday, with lots of walking planned. Today we had a lovely hilltop with sea views and down through woods to a perfect tucked away thatched village for lunch, and this afternoon a stroll on a beach.

Today’s 8km walk around the lanes and bridleways was during early evening and the sky was gorgeous. Some countryside that hopefully isn’t too identifying!

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme I was hoping to do a 'proper' walk today (some scenery like @PurpleDaisies photo would have been lovely!) but instead we spent most of the day scouring shops for bits for the DC's latest art projects

I did a 5K run this morning but it was only my usual route; scenic enough in places but a bit dull through the housing estates!

It’s been an earlier walk today. More glorious sunshine and a trio of buzzards hunting which was a treat to see. It was a shorter 4km but I might pop out at sunset to see if I can spot the local deer.

That’s the wrong picture! This is what I meant…

Great thread OP. My boots are AKU but for dry walks I wear AKU walking shoes. I’ve gone a couple of multi day hikes carrying kit. DH insisted on a new route at the weekend but didn’t warn me of the distance (17 miles). We got home in the dark with a 10 week old. I couldn’t walk during pregnancy and my mental health plummeted. So whilst 17 miles was too far whilst I’m still recovering I do live being out and about. Came across a newborn calf too.

Newborn calf picture. Our house backs onto a long distance footpath, it’s amazing.

Gorgeous walk today - Lynmouth up to Brendon along the East Lyn, deliberately chosen for being in wooded combes with dappled light filtering through the leaves rather than out in the bright sunshine.

Urban walking for me today, down along back roads to the park and along the foot/cycle path to the city centre which was nice and shady. Doing the same walks at different times of year makes me really notice the seasons changing.

Have clocked up my 10k steps for today, but not my usual brisk pace because having some hip pain at the moment and trying to take it easy.

I used to get hip pain when I was about 50, but don't seem to suffer from it now at 60. Not sure whether it's doing regular Pilates which has made a difference or taking codliver oil or what.

ErrolTheDragon your holiday walks sound lovely, especially the dappled light. I don't like counting steps, but I expect its just my awkward nature - I lost 7 stone without any calorie (or point/ macro or whatever) counting and I've been steadily increasing my walking for the last year without any step counting - it perversely makes me feel checked up on to have a step counter, and I've heard people getting really frustrated that they've forgotten to wear their Fitbit and therefore their steps "don't count" which sounds like such a joy sucker! I know counting steps does motivate lots and lots of people though, I'm just awkward!

PurpleDaisies your photos are beautiful - actually especially the kind of natural tunnel in the wrong photo. Wildlife is hard to photograph that well with a phone - did you have a"real" camera? I see hunting birds and storks and herons almost every walk, as well as hares in spring, deer pretty often, occasionally a fox or a stoat, loads of black squirrel, and occasionally a water vole, but I've never got a good photo, at best specks which need to be zoomed in on.

PurBal welcome to the thread! Wow 17 miles with a ten week old baby having not hiked in pregnancy is hardcore! Did you have your baby in a sling? Did he or she sleep through most of the walk? I'd love to hear more about your multiday walks - did you do well known trails or something of your own planning?

RhinestoneCowgirl I hope your hip pain eases quickly. Your urban walk sounds nice, its good to mix it up and I agree about noticing the seasons when walking a familiar route.

I walked 8km today - a trusty often taken route over the hills through farmland on narrow country lanes with almost no traffic (today just one forestry jeep and one tractor) and then through the forest on earth tracks.

I like my Apple Watch - I like the distance measurement on walks, but I rarely look at the 'step count'. I'm pretty sure it's actually an arm swing count so not very accurate.

But looking at it today I'm at nearly 30K steps and 20km distance which isn't so bad.

When I started trying to lose weight I used a step counter on my phone and it told me I'd done some unlikely number of steps at work - 20,000 or something, but it had only counted about 100 steps on a 7km walk, which was a long walk for me back then and it put me right off! I do have a fairly active job, as in I'm not sitting down much, but its not one where I walk 16km in a shift! It must have been registering small movements of some kind whilst standing fairly still a lot of the time.

Thanks @UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme, those pics are just from my phone! It’s been so lovely out that pointing and shooting has produced some particularly nice ones. I’ve got an SLR camera I like but whenever I’ve taken it out, all the local wildlife seems to know ancestry goes into hiding. We’ve got masses of bats around here and it’s a bit of an ambition to get a good picture of one.

That’s a gorgeous little calf @PurBal. We’ve mainly got inquisitive/bolshy youngsters around here. They’re definitely cuter smaller. I decided to divert away from this guy last night! I really like the cows when they’re not in the same field as me.

Where did the word “ancestry” come from?! That should just be “and”.

I must admit I do like the motivation of my fitness tracker. I have a Huawei band which is linked to an app on my phone. DH and I like to joke that the Chinese government is keeping an eye on my rambles in Somerset

I've had a break from Pilates classes over the summer and have only done a bit of half-hearted yoga in the last few weeks. Classes restart next week so hopefully that will help with the hips. It's linked to lower back pain for me and I really need to get it sorted as I'm only in my 40s...

You have a gift for getting a good picture I think PurpleDaisies

I walked 16 km this morning but I felt really low energy and meh - having a weird day. I would have stopped earlier if I didn't have to get to a toilet (hence not turning around after about 6km but pushing on) and then get myself home by putting one foot in front of the other!

Another lovely day's walking in Horner woods - a set of tree-lined combes with crystal clear streams tumbling through. The path up one of the side streams winds its way up from side to side with over a dozen fords (each way!) so the waterproofing on my boots had a thorough test! I was very glad to have a walking pole crossing them, as well as on various slopes of course. Ended up at a tea shop which is always good.

And then we had a bit of an amble in the town and seafront, so we did about 16 km in all.

I had a busy day yesterday so got most of my steps round and about town. I managed a quick 20 minute power walk at sunset. It was worth it for the sky.

7km walk on country roads and a forest track today - same walk as the day before yesterday but with the corner cut off 😂

ErrolTheDragon it sounds like a lovely holiday. PurpleDaisies it brings home how much we miss just by staying indoors sometimes doesn't it - everyday beauty like sunsets and sunrises and the sheer magnificence of the sky in different weathers and light - most people miss what's all around them most of the time.

I’ve just got back from a 7km walk on country lanes and bridleways! A bit overcast but it’s a steep hill to start so I was glad it wasn’t too hot. I’m pleased to have my 10,000 steps done. Dh and I might pop out for a short wander near a local lake (and chip shop!) later…

No pics from today but I’ve noticed I forgot a pic of yesterday’s sunset. It was a good one.

You’re totally right about not noticing what’s around us until. We’ve lived here for ages but always driven for nice walks. There’s loads of lovely places literally out the front door.

That must have been quite a big corner you cut, OP.
Fabulous photo, PurpleDaisies.

We did Tarr Steps to withypool and a bit beyond today, so it ended up at over 18km. I never think to take photos when I'm walking, so far my holiday snaps are all of alpacas in the orchard next to the holiday cottage. Oh, and a robin on the table at the tea shop on the first day.

Today we walked in the Quantocks - parked somewhere on top, walked down Holford Combe, got a nice lunch on the lawn of a hotel then back up to Crowecombe gate, along the Drove Road to the Triscombe Stone and back.

This has some photos of the Drove Road, it's very atmospheric.

www.countryfile.com/go-outdoors/days-out/triscombe-stone-and-the-drove-road-somerset/

That sounds glorious Errol

I did a circular walk of around 7 miles in Somerset today, using the bus to escape the city for a while. The walk included an ancient stone circle, a pub lunch and meeting this tiny critter...

It will be my last long wild walk for a while as I'm starting university next week (eek!) and my days are about to get very busy. I tried out my cycle route to campus yesterday and it took me about 45 mins, hopefully that will reduce as I get fitter.