Hikers of the world unite! :D

[SirRaymondClench]

This can be our thread!

Ooo lovely thread....can I catch up? Always walk in Peak District/north staffs as really near....glad dd 3.5 now able to do around 5 miles.... Really miss my longer walks though.

Enjoy The Roaches.... Hope Valley area....also White Peak.

Used to love Whernside and Malham area when further afield....

BProud That sounds hardcore! You can do it though!! What boots have you got?

Chemin I think if I tried the National 3 peaks in one day (even after training for it) it would kill me! We are aiming for the Yorkshire one first then the National! (get me, all ambitious after my 8 mile walk at the weekend!! )

Scoop Welcome! We did Malham this weekend. It was gorgeous there but blustery! Luckily I had a buff which saved my face, DH was bright red by the end of it. (I don't want the rosy broken thread vein look of a seasoned rambler!) Do you get to walk a lot or occasionally?

Coast2coast sounds like it would be amazing. I always worry about the weather ough, all that planning and what if it rains for 2 weeks

SirRaymond we loved Malham, that's one of the places that's dragging us back to the Dales. We did the most amazing walk taking in Gordale Scar and Malham Cove after a night of heavy rain, it was breathtakingly beautiful. The little tea caravan was a very welcome and unexpected sight too It was our last day in the Dales and we took a punt because the forecast was for more rain but the rain stayed away and it was fabulous. We plan to do a longer walk taking in Malham Tarn this year.

Hey SRC ....sounds like you had a lovely time. Love Malham....a good scramble up Gordale scar....a nice flask of coffee to be drank at top.

Used to do lots more than we do now....but making walking again priority....had a lovely walk around Mow Cop yesterday and then a huge pub lunch and

Just the job....

Glad you are taking steps to prevent ruddy broken vein chapped cheek effects

Where will you be off to next?...

Just popping in to mark my place.

Who was it who did the Camino de Santiago? I'm walking it in stages at the moment, started last year and going back next month. Love it!

Doyouthink It was so lovely, we walked from the village to the Cove, then the Tarn, then Gordale Scar (at some point stumbled across the coffee caravan and had a nice scone ) and then Janets Foss then back to the village and had lunch!
It was so pretty!
Scoop How far was your walk? I'm glad you're getting back to it! We are looking tonight to plan where next!
Heels welcome!!

Did 5 miles dd did really well so will be building her up now....a little bit further next time. Should be heading up near Ashbourne if the weather holds out towards end of the week.

Hope the walk planning goes well

I really fancy a scone now

I've got Asolo powermatic boots, very firm and heavy leather, I'm still wearing them in, but they are very supportive of the ankles.

I don't mind wet weather, now that I have all the proper gear. I stopped scrimping and decided to invest in my hobby - still cheaper than the gym or even a bike in initial outlay and upkeep, I reckon, as once you have the stuff it generally lasts for a few years.
I got fed up with big and bulky coats, now have a cyclists waterproof jacket keeps the wet out, breathable but only weighs a few grammes and squishes up to tiny bag when not in use. Combined with waterproof trousers over running tights and merino base layer top, I stay super warm and dry.
Tired now after my early morning walk, day at work and yoga this evening, but at least I will sleep well!

I was going to ask about boots. Mine are ancient, uncomfortable and hurt in places where you can't put a plaster but when I've looked in walking shops the choice isn't great in the first place and for women its even worse. We are visiting the in-laws over Easter and hope to leave the dc with them for the day and get out fora walk in the Dales.

Sir - you asked about buggies. We stuck with a rucksack for as long as possible (18 months) but then used a very good 3 wheeler with large wheels and tyres. There were still a few occasions when one of us had to carry dc1 over a huge muddy patch, tell him to STAY THERE and then go back to help carry buggy containing dc2 over the bog.

Impressed with all the walking with smalls - I'm definitely too soft on my kids and should have been dragging them out in all weathers from v small so they are tougher now.

I've just bought new boots, Anatom - v comfy so far - wore them round the house for 2 days as they were only returnable if pristine, but today I could resist no longer and wore them for a quick one-hour dog walk. SO far so good - no aches or rubs but I think an hour was enough, I still had that little 'oooh' moment when I took them off. Mind you, I think I have that every time I take a pair of shoes off . I wish I could live in my Uggs!

I got some Brasher boots from Go Outdoors on Subday. They were £108 but I found them online for £90 and if you find them cheaper elsewhere they will match the price AND give you 10% off so I phoned them yesterday and I'm getting a £27 refund! You do have to have a Go Outdoors member card (cost £5 but I've saved a fortune with this)
DH and I decided we are going for a mild walk on Saturday and taking DD (8) as she is most likely to enjoy it.
For everyone breaking boots in (me included) I believe double socks is the way to avoid blisters (one thinner liner sock and thicker one on outside) then the socks rub against each other and not your feet.
Well it worked for me on Saturday!

Subday? Sunday!

Just done my 5.5 mile yomp! It's lovely there this morning!

Day off tomorrow so planning a quick local walk. Have lots of other work to do but that will be easier after a walk as it is thinking and writing, and walking makes the brain work better. Hoping the weather will be ok. I struggle with footwear as I have Big Feet. And "womens" styles don't always come big enough. Sir ray that go outdoors deal is good. It is hard for retailers to compete with online. We had a fab outdoor shop where I live and a combination of banks not lending and cheap competition finished them off.
If I get close enough to actually planning the C2C properly I will head up to Keswick for a proper day of boot shopping. Bproud are you backpacking or have you booked a bag carrying package? I'm planning to have my bags carried. It's just the walking I want not a survival experience, don't fancy lugging two weeks worth of kit up those Lakeland hills!

Letsgo I have big(gish) feet too (I'm a 6.5-7 but WIDE) and I got some mens boots. I know they have to be bigger than you'd normally wear so your toes can't touch the ends so mens 7s are perfect for me. Might be worth trying some mens on? TBH I know I'm no expert but I couldn't see much difference between mens and womens boots.
Definitely agree that walking is good for the mind! I find I sleep so much better once I've walked in the morning, and I'm also starting to notice my legs aren't as wobbly as they were a few weeks back!
The weather here (west Yorks) is showing as being cloudy but dry till lunch so get out there early, flood warnings shown for tomorrow aft in the South East (not sure where you are)
Hope it stays dry for you!

At risk of making this into some kind of competition, my feet are Bigger than that and I have no choice sometimes but to go into men's shoes / boots. The only difference is a wider heel but it depends on the make of boot. ( hence planned trip to the area likely to have a wide selection) I'm currently wearing.....(quick trip to shoe cupboard.....)...Merrel Moab (men's) size 9 in boots and walking shoe is the meindl men's, ( size 8.5) I so wanted the womens version in this it was a lovely colour but just didn't fit me my ordinary shoes are not this big but by the time you factor in thick socks and a full days walking the walking ones need to be bigger.
I'm in the south West Midlands and I think it's going to rain today! So I need to stop tapping and get out there now

Hope you're out there yomping as I type this Letsgo!
I think DH thought I was making it up when I said hiking boots need to be bigger than normal boots and last week before we went out had got himself some normal sized boots (only cheapy ones) that fitted fine. Once we got out there though and we were going downhill it was a different story! His toes were killing him! I pricematched some Brasher Fellmaster GX at Go Outdoors yesterday half a size larger than his normal size (he tried them on last week) and we got another £27 off their normal price
Maybe we should form a Bilbo Baggins Walking Clan
I like to think maybe this is why we were born with big feet, all the better for yomping!

ps Don't even get me started on high heels...

I like the bilbo baggins walking club idea
I had a nice walk the long way round into town, detoured via the shops and found a handbag. Not very hardcore walker I know but I've been looking for ages for an over the body style that's not too big not too small not too posh not too cheap. Popped into debenhams on the off chance and found one that's just right. Just enough room for purse, phone, specs, diary and keys. However the rest of the day has not gone to plan so I am having a restorative cuppa before setting off once more into the teatime fray.

Hey if you're going to walk for any reason then what better motivation than a new bag!
I haven't walked today but only because it's a Fast day (I am doing a 1:1 version of 5:2) and I find when I go walking I end up really hungry after which is fine normally but on a Fast day I can only have 500 calories so I save those for a nice dinner.
I'm really noticing my legs starting to tone up.
It's thrown it down all afternoon here and it's freezing!
I have an appointment at 10am tomorrow but am planning on walking after that. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed the weather brightens up fair weather walker
Have you got a link to your new bag?

Links. Um.

No. Technically inadequate and on my phone so all v slow loading.

m.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_089010215260_-1
Ooh. Done it I think.

Oh that's cute! It's the right size for every day mooching about!

I managed to get in 4 miles after work today, just got back before it got dark. I have found a route where I go up one hill, walk a ridge, then down hill. Then I turn around and do it in reverse, so 2 uphills and 2 downhills in a 4 mile route, good practice for C2C. LetsGo I am doing it the softies way, with luggage moved and accomodation booked every day.