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 😃

Did a high walk locally up at 1850m this morning to an alpine hut for lunch. It was a tad chilly, few patches of snow still, but nice when the sun came out. Took Ds (4) who hiked 98% with dh helping him on shoulder ride when a bit tired on steep parts up.

Lovely to see this thread still plodding ever onwards 😁 I've been out a lot but not really got any photos as such - but the weather is definitely on the up which makes me happy!!

Can't offer any recommendations on waterproof trousers, I'm afraid. I have a pair which aren't too bulky but make me sweat so much that I might as well not be wearing them!

I have the lighter weight paramo trousers because that's what works best for me - best balance / compromises

I do wear them with only my knickers under when it's warm

I've been rather slack and distracted by other things the last week or so - still walking but not really walking, if you know what I mean 😃

But managed to get out this morning for a lovely, early walk down to the coast and then up through a couple of pretty villages. The sculpture I've posted made me smile though - completely unexpected but striking nonetheless! The house where it was was very very fancy!

Gorgeous day here but I amnt sure if it's hay fever or a cold I have so taking it easy

Just ticking over for me. Got out on the mountain bikes with DS and my bro and his son the other day for the first time in ages, that was good, other small walks but not much distance. And today had a lovely kayak down the Basingstoke canal with ds and the ex, absolutely gorgeous day for it. Pic of some baby ducks:

Got my once a year get together with my old school friends for Snowdonia hiking and wild camping coming up in a few weeks again. Looking forward to that.

Lovely - everything has become lush green in the space of a couple of weeks !

Not so much a hike but a dusk nature walk yesterday - it's a beautiful time of day to be out walking, and we walked back in the dark. The senses are really heightened.

What a superb photo!^^

All the photos are great. It's good that you're all getting out. I've just been walking locally by the sea.

A good walk in the silverdale area today. The meadows are full of flowers including orchids starting to come out.

I have been doing my usual 9 mile round trip walk and listened to 2000 Miles Together on Audible.

Now I am watching it, as they vlogged their Appalachian Trail hike ... family of 8, six children aged 2-17. Hiking with children, for 6 months!

https://www.youtube.com/live/wopUQtXOsz0?list=PL8jVLi9OvEFFGWO4E1AneMONIFLqciu&si=8EIR6OcyCwWrqVfP

Out in the woods: Swinley Forrest, Berkshire

family of 8, six children aged 2-17. Hiking with children, for 6 months!

Holy bloody Moly.. I love my walking and enjoy company but the Appalachian Trail with six kids in tow.. that's next level!

I've been plodding ever onwards of late - nothing too wild and have a house of kids this weekend so no chance of escaping out early for my usual one! My back is also playing up...

Enough moaning however - gorgeous photos from you all... the red sky over the countryside is especially beautiful, wildnernesstips! I am hoping to get out late evening on Wednesday but not convinced the weather will hold until then!

Of my committed 1,000 miles of 'just walking' this year, I've managed 564. And for 'Boots On' type hikes - so only those where I've committed to a route or similar, I'm up to 360 miles.

Looking forward to knocking out some serious mileage as we head into the better weather - yay!

Beautiful day, no injuries or prior commitments - I think we spent as long sitting staring at the view as walking !

Just looked at my stats for the year so far @SanFranBear - surprised to see more distance than last year given the weather but I think it's because you can really rack up miles on the low level tracks - once it's back up hill the distance drops off!

you can really rack up miles on the low level tracks - once it's back up hill the distance drops off!

Wholeheartedly agree, Midgetastic - I am not the best at hills and they hamper both my speed and distance BUT when you get to the tops... ah, so worth it.

I finally invested in a walking pole for the downhills - pretty basic but wanted to see how I get on with it before getting too carried away. I might plot a hilly one for Wednesday so I can do a small, trial run 😆

I love my walking poles and they are fantastic for downhills

once it's back up hill the distance drops off

Ha! In north Wales last year the garmin was showing our group walk at a blistering 2km/h going up the side of cadair Idris.

I’m not a massive user of sticks but find them useful on the way up. Going down is about the only time ever that I feel the urge to run, and I quite like breaking into a jog on the way down. Maybe it’s the mountain biker in me.

Didn’t have to consider any of this on today’s lovely outing, a few easy hours along the Basingstoke canal once again. Very green and lush all round.

We usually take a pole when we're walking - apart from hills and rough bits, they're useful in slippery parts, living in Lancashire there's often mud and limestone which can be treacherous when wet. Also useful when crossing streams.

I think we get more cautious as we get older for good reason - joints aren't as good for one thing. We're on a boating holiday at the moment, it's noticeable my 25 yo dd will happily jump down much further when mooring than I can.

Bumping this thread as I’ve just got back from a long weekend in southern Snowdonia, we had a mixed bag with the weather but nothing terrible. The hikes we did were short but brutally steep and the sharper climbs I found quite a struggle. Slow and steady let’s say

First day was up a steep but very lush valley with waterfalls cascading all the way down, looked magical through the dappled light in the trees. Was around 400m of height gain in just a few km, emerging to old, abandoned (obviously) slate mines at the top.

Not been that way for ages. Love south snowdonia.

Been suffering with a nasty cold since the weather improved , but did a short slow walk on Monday as a kill or cure which seems to have worked

Rest up @midgetastic. Hopefully you’re out the other side on being ill. Sure you’ll be back to normal soon.

Sorry the thread has been so quiet, especially now the weather has improved so much that I'm sure we've all been out, hitting the hills and valleys!

I've been slowly walking away the miles with a lot of very local walks with the occasional big hike but it's been tricky as my childcare situation has changed and so I have very limited time to get out. That said, I've been off this week and have made the most of the early, cool mornings.

I did leave it until mid afternoon to go out yesterday though and bloody hell - it was sooo hot! Did not take nearly enough water as my route crossed a lot of open fields and unshaded paths... phew! I made it round though and have now racked up just over 800 miles for the year - dead chuffed.

Added bonus - we came across a new mum! This gorgeous girl had her piglets two days before and they were absolutely adorable - we just rounded a corner and there they all were. As well as those suckling, there were a little troop by the fence and then Little Miss Independent up by the stumps - 8 in total! Made my day - beautiful little things 💕

@SanFranBear - we haven’t hiked much due to the weather. We are southern Europe so it’s been mid 30s+ for about a month now.

However I took Ds for a walk on Tuesday With the local Alpine association. We only walked 8.30-11am so it wasn’t too bad heat wise. 90% of walk was through the woodland areas to keep in the shade, and it goes past an Alpaca farm. The woods is currently the best place to walk.

Ds is just 4, but I took jogger pram still as it was around 8km walk. He walked around half and jumped in pram for a rest, mainly towards end when it was hotter heading back.

Oh wow, the pig pic is lovely. I have been keeping my walks local and either early or late in the day. I have next week off so hoping to be doing some nice walks, if not too hot.