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 😃

Hoping to get out this weekend for first time in ages ( apart from a sea side trip last weekend )

Of which I took no photos again but it was lovely and the sea was cold

Wow - sounds HOT where you are, Caspianberg! Lovely you're still able to get out on occasion though - your walk with DS sounds lovely!

And yes, Wilderness - early or late is the key! I've had a couple of really lovely night hikes with my bf, heading out to the local country park, down on the water and having a glass or two of red! Highly recommend 😅

I've really enjoyed my time off - last hoorah tomorrow, got about 20k planned but split into chunks with lunch halfway and a nice pub three quarters of the way round! Looks like the weather is holding and whilst it'll be gorgeously sunny, hopefully not too scorchio!

Hope you get your walk in too, midgetastic! Minus the midges, of course 😄

I love all the photos on this thread, sad I didn't notice it as it started. Have added the 2000 miles book to my a audiobook library as that sounds interesting (and like hard work!).

Went walking with friends yesterday, we are North Greater London so train to Broadstairs then walked to Margate along the coast path with pause for a dip in botany bay. My legs are aching more than I expected for less than 8 miles. Sign I need to get out there more.

Got out yesterday



With photo

Has anyone done any long distance walking in the uk and used a baggage transfer service?

Thinking about the pennine way next year and could do with a rough idea how much it might cost to get bags carried - save lugging the tent around - and what problems that might cause

Can't decide - get luggage transferred or take much longer and do it pure !

@midgetastic https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/baggage-transfer/weather-goat-walk-support/ they're fantastic.

Thank you

@midgetastic This year I did 147 miles of the PW in June.

solo hiking and camping so I carried my gear! I did half in 9 days up to Tan Hill.
I bet it’s expensive with a baggage carry service.

It was amazing. I reminisce regularly. I feel so proud of myself and can’t wait to get back on trail next May

Here’s a couple of random non identifiable (🤣) Pennine way pics

Oh wow Doris

I'm just worried about the weight of a wet tent!

@midgetastic getting stuff carried to guest houses etc isn't expensive. It can get expensive if your accommodation and transport is booked too. But for some long distance walks are their holiday.

@midgetastic just had a look at Pennine Baggage Transfer. They do bags only and you book your own accommodation. They charge £20 per bag per transfer (min of 2 bags). So if you did the standard/average 18/19 days you’d be looking at £760 plus accommodation!!

My pack weighed about 7 /7.5 kilos Plus food and water. I think I left with approx 12.5kilos. You have no where to resupply food for the first few days so you have to be organised.

I took a micro cloth for the wet tent situation. It was always wet as I left so early in mornings. But I always got it out after a mile or 2 and let it blow dry in the wind!

I have only done half so far. But because I did some wild camping and mostly camp sites or hostels, I spend the grand total of £160 on my 9 nights!! Obviously my kit was expensive but it’s stiff I use anyway for other trips etc.

Mal at weather goat transports bags for one person.

@DelightfulDoris dh and I have done a lot of long distance walks and are thinking of re doing the Cleveland way carrying camping gear. We'd be sharing the weight of a 2 man tent. Probably mixing campsites with wild camping?

@DelightfulDoris

Why did I never think of drying the tent out at a random point in the day before !

@midgetastic what I would often do is drape it over my backpack and look like a green superhero. Or like I have a massive hunchback. 🤣

@Juniper68 I don’t know much about the Cleveland Way. Good thing about Pennine Way is that I didn’t have to pre book any campsites. I did plan in advance the hostel and guesthouse and booked and paid for them. To break up the camping and for charging up powerbank, have shower and generally used the time to wash some clothes and sort out my stuff.
you should have seen all my things laid out on floors. Loads of zip lock bags.

Washed knickers and socks hanging out of windows to dry. All good fun!!

Wow, Doris - that sounds like such an adventure.. just walking off into the wilds with everything on your back! Still some way off having the 'freedom' to do that but one day...

And Juniper - the word 'redoing' means you've already done the Cleveland Way? I'm always in awe of those of you who go so hard... I went out this morning and did just over 25k but that's probably me spannered for the day now 😁

I've not been great at taking any photos this summer which is a shame as the weather has been really lovely but here's one from the other night. Netley Abbey is a historical former abbey (funnily enough) which is only ruins now but randomly, someone took away some of the walls and a part of the main building and erected in locally, about 15 miles away! I finally managed to wander past it - it's someone's home now which I find rather reassuring... its still in active use even if its miles from its original resting place!

1 night out as a practise run

Only 17km and 500 m ascent each day and I am totally exhausted!

Quite glorious though

Need to find a little more training !

@SanFranBear
I am trying to wrap my head around the building going for a walk!

If anyone ever fancies long distance overseas hiking in the mountains, in Austria, Switzerland and France I think also they have lots of Alpine huts. So you can walk between them and stay at each. You can’t really use tent anywhere but at campsites which aren’t up high so this is an ideal way of not carrying so much. Most alpine huts you need to pre book to stay at especially in summer, but they also have food so again your catered for. And you can stop at other huts on route during the day for lunch or drinks.
The pilgrims way is a nice long route that you can just do sections of also

@midgetastic that looks like my perfect night away 😊 The problem is the more I do things like this the more I want.. I have 3 dc and so the peace and quiet is so special.

This was my favourite wild camp of the Pennine way. The evening was beautiful. This was halfway between Keld and Tan Hill.

Absolutely beautiful @DelightfulDoris

Kids grown up , work drawing to a close , time for adventures before the body packs in!

Superb pics midge and Doris. Can’t beat being up somewhere high in the middle of nowhere with a great view. And yes, those vertical meters are a killer!