Come chat hiking with me!

[SanFranBear]

I've noticed whenever hiking comes up as a general chat subject, loads of people jump in to say how much they love it. I thought there might be a general thread somewhere on this as I'd love to chat with people who walk regularly but couldn't find one.

Would anyone like to join me? I live down on the South Coast so am lucky that there are some gorgeous places for me to walk - the New Forest, South Downs and further up the coast in both directions. I normally manage a couple of decent walks a week, depending on DC's care pattern, as well as trying to get out for the occasional hour or so on other days. I mainly walk alone but do have a friend who joins me on occasion.

I'm quite a novice as only really started walking in February of this year and the furthest I've walked is just over 20k, but I'm finding it so liberating - I feel like a different woman after a walk, my mind is free and my body feels tired but satisfied, if that makes sense?

Would just be nice to have a friendly chat with like-minded bods. And perhaps share some photos - helps the weather is beautiful at the moment but I'm struck every time I'm out, just how beautiful our country is - even when I'm wandering in the inner city. Here's a couple of pictures from my Friday walk - a stunning church in a village in the middle of nowhere and some great graffiti on the side of a motorway underpass 😃

Hey all, yes is all a bit of a wash out here, that and the early darkness and also ds’s lingering cold means we haven’t got out much. Went for a little local 7k yesterday around Fleet pond (lived here years now but never actually walked round the thing!) and at a couple of points had to turn round and find another way- just too waterlogged and I refuse to walk in wellies.

Here’s some swans on the pond

Thanks I've got over 2 weeks to get over the lurgy 🤧

Signed myself up for a Conqueror Event (the North Coast 500) so really needed to start getting out there.

So finally made it into the Forest over lunch today - it was that horrid, mosty type rain that comes and goes (and of course, turned into blue skies as I was leaving!) But I eased myself in with a nice 12.5k although at one point, I had to cross what is normally a shallow ford... not today - 1ft deep most of the way across so got pretty wet as, like you LonelyCrab, I don't walk in wellies! Ah well... at least I started my challenge and am now on a random road, just outside Inverness 😆

*misty rain.. not sure what mosty rain is like!

Hi, can i join please? I love walking, particularly the mountains and aim to do more this year!

Absolutely, Gwdihooooo - it's a pretty slow moving thread, especially at this time of year, but I love seeing and hearing about everyone's outings so feel free to post as much or as little as you like 😀

It is miserable here today so will concentrate on home chores rather than heading out... next planned outing on Wednesday, I think!

Thanks! It’s miserable here to so I took the kids in to Grizedale Forest to see the waterfalls and hide fro
the rain! Pretty wet but worth it to get out! Came home to the smell of stew in the slow cooker 😋

I’ve only been doing very local walks as the weather has been so wet. Here is a picture of the same location (a field just off a new housing estate). First is mid December where I spotted a fox asleep in the grass, and today just before it rained on me again!

There is something quite soothing about the sound of raindrops on the hood of your anorak 😂!

Ah that fox pic is cute! I quite like going out in the rain… and the dark!

Happy New Year everyone. I took the wombling spaniel to Frensham little ponds at the weekend. It was absolutely beautiful and I definitely want to go back and explore when I have more time. Stunning views and big skies. Very good for the soul.

I’ve really struggled to get out walking thanks to the awful weather here in the NW. We’ve just finished 31 days of rain on the bounce and I just couldn’t motivate myself to get out. But, a dry day on Sunday so we did 6 miles from Todmorden up to the Bridgestones and back - felt so much better for it. I can’t wait for Spring and lighter, longer days to arrive.

Been to Keswick. Really felt it going up Helm crag. I need to get fitter!

Sorry for the lack of input. Following though! I walk about 5 miles a day and although the routes are stunning because i'm lucky where I live, they will get monotonous for you all!
However - some advice please.....
My friend and I go walking every year - three days usually, though its five nights because I live miles from anywhere in west Cornwall. We've done the Winchcombe Way, part of Offa's Dyke, and the Coleridge Way. So about 50 miles in 3 days in all cases.
Do any of you have any great recommendations for this year's adventure? She lives in London and I live i Cornwall, but I've decided I'm happy to travel Northwards in 2023.

@faffadoodledo it's down south but some friends and I are walking the Ridgeway this year. It should take us 6 days to do it all but you could always pick a smaller section. It is celebrating its 50th year as a national trail this year and we are all celebrating the same big birthday so it seemed fitting. There's loads of information on their website as well as quite a few podcasts etc about it.

I’m in NW too and the rain was really getting me down… That coupled with the cold snap and darkness I was going mad not being able to get out as much! I did try, but it’s just not the same as a clear calm day with the sound of the birds… almost spring like! 😀

Took my kids up Harrison Stickle in the Lakes on Saturday … Was a winter wonderland 🥰

So far my ds has done 29 and dd 18 wainwrights 😀

Loving all the Lake District photos - I’m half way through the Wainwrights so can’t wait for warmer weather to get the tent out and get back up there. At the moment the days are too short if I add at least an hour’s travelling time from home to the Lakes - probably longer as I’ve done nearly all the southern and central fells.
@CuriousMama - Helm Crag was my first ever Wainwright!

We’re really lucky as we live in the south lakes… But I’m still not getting out as much as I’d like!

Hello hikers! I’ve not been on here in ages but wanted to ask if anyone is in the Chilterns or has walked there- looking for a nice strenuous hill walk with a fantastic view - as far east as possible as would be a day trip from Norfolk. Thank you:)

I must admit I fancy this, but my friend, being from London, understandably fancies something further afield.
Post pics of your walk when you've done it. I'd love to see it

Lovely to see some little updates as we navigate through the cold and wet of winter.

I've been a bit of a rubbish OP, only managing about four decent hikes so far this year - although did make a nice 20k dent in my Conqueror event on Saturday with a lush hike across the bottom of the South Downs. Pic attached but not very inspiring (unlike yours, Gwidihoooo - absolutely stunning and love the fact your DC are clearly so into it!)

I used to live near the Chilterns, MegBusset and the Ridgeway is along that way as well, isn't it? I expect, like Underground suggests, there's possibly some challenging shorter sections of that route you could attempt? Either that, or there's definitely some hikes around the Dunstable Downs which would get the blood pumping!

Komoot has suddenly (and probably quite rightly) started asking me to pay to use it since the beginning of the year and the free 'region' is tiny so was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for a new app. I used AllTrails at the weekend and it wasn't bad but I had to keep unlocking my phone to check my route (whereas my beloved Komoot would appear on the lock screen!)

To keep the thread alive as we finally start to move into Spring (yay!), was out this morning for a good walk. I was going to head to the South Downs but ended up with a rather drunken evening last night so didn't think I should be driving. Luckily, there's some pretty places and woods nearby so just took myself off there instead. I did manage to get 'lost' on a golf course for about an hour which was very odd!

Hi @SanFranBear.

I've not done much walking recently. Dh and I have some trips booked though. A weekend in Ambleside this month. Ds2 is coming. He's 22 and in the navy and loves walking. So hopefully I'll get some nice pics that way? Been there a few times.
April dh and I doing part of the Wainwright coast to coast walk. We've done the whole of it before.
In May me and dh are walking up to skiddaw house for a night then some travelling around the lakes.

So I'll get some walking in before that to wake the legs up ☺️

Took Ds (age 2) and dh out for a wander along the lake this morning. It was cool but fine in the sun. Ds is getting pretty good now and can do a good hours walk
Eggs Benedict bagels at a little hut on return.

Been pretty quiet over here too. The short days haven’t helped but at least they’re slowly getting longer. It’s been very grey too, but Thursday on strike day the sun came out so went for a local 7k around the Basingstoke canal and stopped for a quick drink in the pub.
looking forward to spring, hopefully not long.