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 😃

I do a some hiking. Recently climbed my third wainwright. Walk from home and with a friend. We drive and walk where she mtb during lockdown off rd, still local

pictures Easter climbing pike o blisco

Ooh.. very atmospheric photos! Am loving seeing different parts of the country and really looking forward to seeing more...

I know you're in France, Humphriescushion which is wonderful - roughly whereabouts? I was lucky to holiday all over there as a child and I think it's such a pretty place.

And thanks for the tip about poles, SweatyChamois, although I definitely fall more into the 'walker' rather than 'hiker' category but if it saves the ole knees.. might be worth a try (slap, bang in the fantastic Peri-M, so perhaps that's also a factor)? I won't do the running as that's what killed them in the first place - although city/urban running which is probably not great for impact... perhaps more countryside running could work?

When I've tried running in the past, doing it on pavements hurt my hips. The canal towpath was ok though. A friend who was a serious long distance fell runner reckoned it's not just the hardness of the surface that matters, but also because on uneven ground you're not thumping your feet down the same way every step so, rather counterintuitively, it can be less wearing. Otoh of course more chance of a twisted ankle etc.

I wouldn't walk on hills without a pole now - apart from the downhills (which I'm not too bad on) they make rocky paths easier and are a must imo on slippery surfaces (we've got a lot of limestone hereabouts which can be lethal!) and especially fording streams.

What a great thread idea-am just recovering from Covid so lovely to see what I’ve been missing! We live in N Wales so lovely areas on our doorstep. We’ve recently been to Anglesey and loved Newborough beach-also managed to get a little walk in Snowdonia to Cwm Bochclwyd for a picnic. Local to us are some lovely hills.

@SanFranBear , I used to really struggle with my knees on hills. Fine going up, but agony coming down-sometimes I’d be in tears and worried I’d have to give up my beloved hills. What made a massive difference was doing lots of lunges and swat exercises-within a few weeks, the pain disappeared and has never come back!

I've got Arthur's Seat on my commute walk home from work.
Keep meaning to get out for a longer hike in the pentlandite

Op if you’re in the south have you walked any of the king Alfred route?

I have not and seeing as I'm Southampton, amazed I haven't even heard of it. Looks like an amazing route though - through some fascinating areas. I tend to do loops so I can start where I finish but this looks fun for a multi-day trek. I would only very rarely have opportunities for those as am a single parent who's Dad doesn't often see children for more than a couple of nights at a stretch... but maybe this summer?

I might look into the poles thing, especially if it helps with the slipping. As the sun has been out a lot these last few weeks, most paths have firmed up but it was a little slippery on Wednesday and I'm getting too old to go flying!

Your photos are incredible, Subbaxeo - is that Wales? Quite a few of you are based there and the scenery really is something... I went to University there and truly didn't appreciate it (although did appreciate the cheap cider!)

Personally I only use one pole as I like to have one hand free. I'd probably end up stabbing DH if I was carrying two.

I like having 2 but mainly using 1 unless it's a steep hill.
My daysack lets me stash the other fairly easily.

I’ve just purchased the guide book to king Alfreds way as it looks incredible. Might try on bike though

Went on a longer walk this morning thanks to this thread!
I am down in th south @SanFranBear near Aix en Provence. Lovely places to walk but getting hot now so have to go early. Originally from Wales and love walking there as well. Hoping to persuade my sister to do some of the coastal path some day soon!
great thread. And love reading and seeing all these lovely places.

Doesn’t our country look stunning in your photos ❤️

@SanFranBear yes that’s Wales! Cwm Bochlwyd off the Ogwen Valley-amazing and the second is a little local walk near Ruthin-Clwydian Range of hills which are gentler than the Snowdonia mountains but still give you a good walk. Come to Wales! If you want good weather, stay on Anglesey-if it’s raining on the mountains, it’s often sunny over the bridge on Anglesey and you have the lovely coastal path. We actually moved to be nearer the hills and mountains?😊
I love seeing the pictures on this thread-there are so many lovely places to walk. What was really useful for us was getting a subscription to OSMaps on our phone-so wherever we are, we get great access to all the local paths and we can do a little bit more exploring. The best place for hiking must be Scotland-I’ve never been anywhere which is so jaw dropping lay beautiful.

We had some good holidays in north wales when DD was growing up - much better than cornwall imo as it has great beaches but if the weather isn't good there's brilliant walking, castles, electric mountain, mines etc ... not just tin mines.

We've had MemoryMap for years, which is quite expensive but has been good value for us. Also highly recommend the OS pathfinder guides - good routes and info, and unlike other walk books of course they have the proper OS maps. We had one for Skye which we referred to as 'the book' and pretty much planned the holiday around it.

What stunning pictures! I'm very inspired to go and take off for a weekend soon.
I love hills and mountains and always get the urge to go and heed their call but unfortunately, there are none near me so I have to wait.

As gorgeous as Wales is, I have to agree about Scotland - it truly is the most spectacular part of the UK (slightly biased as my family are all Scottish) There's something so wild and untamed about much of the scenery - would love to wander round there but I am literally at the opposite end of the country 😆

Managed to get out round the South Downs this afternoon - oh my goodness, my legs are aching! Glorious weather though and the views were definitely there.. although bit gutted as at the Iron Age Hill Fort, some entitled man had set himself slap bang in the middle, had taken his top off and was doing a workout - sit ups, burpees, press ups! Utterly ridiculous and I really didn't feel comfortable, on my own, with this topless man.. so I didn't go look. I did see lots of beautiful yellow butterflies - a quick Google tells me they're Brimstone butterflies - sounds like they're close to the end of their life cycle.

Anyways - got some gorgeous photos... one from close to the top of Old Winchester Hill (argh, my legs!) and another of sweet, adorable lambs.

Gorgeous pictures @SanFranBear . I’ve never heard of people doing exercise routines in ancient hill forts before. Around here it’s usually hippy-ish folk doing little ceremonies involving pebbles and flowers. Also a bit odd (in my personal opinion), but less intimidating.

I had another gorgeous walk along the Yorkshire coast yesterday. I have a small pair of binoculars that I take everywhere with me. Those came in very handy yesterday for spotting puffins in the sea! We saw all kinds of other seabirds and seals 🥰 and spectacular chalk cliffs, caves and rock arches. I had no idea that the Yorkshire coast was this interesting. In my defence I do live completely on the other side of the country, so may be my ignorance isn’t that surprising.

Forgot to add my pictures 🤦🏻‍♀️

(I was also carrying a camera - the puffins weren’t quite close enough to snap them with my phone)

Great photos!

I love hiking too, but don't get out to hilly places as much as I'd like at the moment. I'm based in the North West so really have no excuse with so many great places within an hour's drive.

I do have some nice countryside around me though for shorter bimbles.

Just some info that might be of use if you don't have others around you to hit the hills with.

Country Walking Magazine do a 1000 mile challenge every year, which you can start at any time and set the "rules" for yourself. Some people only count "boots on" walking, others count every step. They have a very active Facebook page and also have smaller regional groups who meet up to do walks together. You don't have to subscribe to the magazine to join, but your local library may have a digital subscription through the likes of Libby/Overdrive/RBdigital etc which is worth looking out for.

Also on Facebook there is a group called Wild Wanderers which is a women only group that meet to do adventure activities, mostly camping and hiking. Wild swimming is also popular. You join the main national group and then find your smaller regional sub group. I was worried with mine that it would all be much younger women than me, but it's a good mix of various ages. I went on a 40 person night hike and have since done a camoing weekend away in the Lakes with 2 women of a similar age to me. We're going away again in a few weeks time as we really got on and walked at a similar pace. My regional group is quite big and there is usually a few hikes or trips every weekend. You just dip in to those you want to do and don't have to attend every time.

Aw, CrimsonAlligator, such an adorable little Puffin! I don't know why I didn't realise they were to be found in Yorkshire - I thought it was much further north - so you're not alone in your ignorance. Those cliffs look very majestic!

And thanks for the tip re groups, FortunaMajor. I will admit, I prefer walking alone as can then crack on at my own pace. Yesterday was probably the first time I've felt 'out of place' and a bit intimidated as the top of the hill was such an empty place. Everyone else I've met tends to be dressed for hiking, funnily enough, and always say hello but walks on by.

I do quite like the sound of the Wil Wanderers though, especially the night hike - will have a look. Thanks!

DC come home this afternoon so I snuck out this lunchtime for a quick walk in the north of the city. Holy moly - it was beautiful, once you got out of the residential streets - I had no idea! There was lots of woodland, a couple of streams and an amazing lake which I had absolutely no idea existed (and I've lived here for almost 20 years!) Ended up walking 12k which, after yesterday's hill climbs, did start to ache towards the end but totally worth it.. the weather is amazing at the moment!

I expect they'll post all wonky, but here are the lake and some woodland, about 10 minutes walk from the city!

18 kilometres around kinder scout today. Glorious and hot.

Silverdale today, which is gently hilly with a mesh of paths in the varied limestone countryside, so you can put together a lot of different walks of various lengths. It's a lovely corner which I think many people overlook as they rush up to the lakes or across to the dales.

As a distance challenge has been mentioned, there's one right here on MN - any distance, units and mode of self-propulsion you want!

www.mumsnet.com/talk/exercise/4441580-2022-run-walk-cycle-swim-etc-1000-km-miles-or-whatever

Ooh lovely Silverdale - just down the road from me! I particularly love walking around Gait Barrows and the Eaves Wood walk up to the Pepperpot.