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'm afraid I don't have any tips for you, StyleDesperation as I purposefully don't take my DC on my hikes.. the difference being that while they'd likely have the stamina, there is no inclination - so the opposite of your problem 😁

I guess perhaps look into a seriously sturdy backpack type carrier sling (not sure how big they go up to) or brace yourself for lots of piggybacks as little legs wear out quite quickly.

When mine was small I had a backpack to put her in, but by about 2 she started to get heavy to swing up and down unaided

Rule of thumb used to be a mile per year of age but that dropped to a km in latest reading - I think just a poor conversion

You can get books with routes for children - things for them to spot on the walk

Or let them loose with the map as they get a bit older

Oh and hi - been lurking on this thread

I only had just over 7 mile walk today. It was great. Dh and I walked and bumped into a guy we know out walking so alll walked together.
Only pic I got was an impressive fungi 😊🍄

I made it out today and after not walking for a week, am feeling it somewhat. The heavens also opened severely as we were driving to the coast to the point we could barely see the road and was a bit unsure if we'd get going as my friend does not do wet!

However, the sun well and truly got his hat on and we did a nice 13k down the Solent coast, just across from the Isle of Wight. Proper blue skies with cotton wool clouds to start, crazily enough, but was looking a bit more menacing when we left. Was wonderful to be out there again though - will be going for a longer hike up some challenging hills on Friday (if my poor legs can take it!!)

We had a backpack for DD when she was small but she wasn't keen on being in it. I think to some extent you just have to be patient, do more walks which are buggy-compatible for a few years and let them gradually extend their range. We had quite a few books of walks with children - I don't know if there are ones for the south coast, we're fortunate enough to be within day trip distance of the Lakes and had a really nice one called Rocky Rambles. Walks with added interest eg sculpture trails are good.
A mile per year after they're 3 or 4 is about right - DD could do decent hills by the time she was 6 or 7. That sounds a long time off when they're 18 months but it passes all too quickly in retrospect.

Hello! I like hiking too - now kids are in school I can go out more often.
I think I probably live near you @SanFranBear , I have definitely been to the racehorse monument you described!

Most of my walks these days are 4-6 miles, just to get out. Can do longer.
Will hunt for photos.

Photo from a local walk.

Oooh, Washaday, how lovely that you might be in the same area. Its been so nice seeing all the new life out in the fields hasn't it? Here are some little lambs from a recent walk I managed.

I'm out later for a nice 18k as DC not home tonight.. looks like it has a few challenging hills but having been unable to get out the last week or so really, I am really looking forward to it. Bet I was my words at the first sign of a slope 😉

*eat my words 🙄

Oh, this is a nice thread - can I join please 😄. Does it matter if some of my adventures are on my bike?

I am just leaving this here... been on holiday. You can't beat standing on top of a mountain!

@OceanAtTheEnd I'm a bike and hike woman so I'm always up for a bit of that. Have had a break from hiking for the past few weeks as I've been decorating, but still cycling to work and managed a few hilly bikepacking days in the Yorkshire Dales earlier this month.

I've been lurking here for ages. Anyone who's in the Lakes, bob in for a brew

Where are you in the lakes? I'm doing the Cumbria way soon. love the lakes.

No issues with bikers getting in on the action - this thread is really just to share top tips, nice routes and pretty photos!

Talking of which, what a photo Ylvamoon! That is just stunning.. bet getting up there was hard work but what a pay off!

I did make it out this evening and managed just over 18.5k and I must say, it was very hard... the last 5k in particular. It felt uphill the whole way round, which of course it wasn't, but am properly out of practice. Did see picture postcard cottages, lots of sheep, crossed the River Test a few times and actually walked some of the Monarch Way. Its fun now I'm home on my sofa but phew...

I was just about in the Lake District today, though my ~13 km of walking was not exactly a hike - mostly in the grounds of sizergh castle though we did walk out to a viewpoint with fantastic views across to the mountains.

Am South Lakes. Walking in the Howgills rather than the other hills is very rewarding and a lot quieter!

We've not been to the Howgills for ages (though see them from various viewpoints frequently). there's some interesting geology iirc.

I got caught in the rain today. The weather forecast this morning actually said you’d have to be “extremely unlucky to come across any rain showers today”...clearly I am THAT unlucky as I didn’t just come across one of them. They kept coming! They weren’t exactly showers either, more like torrential downpours.

It was lovely when it wasn’t raining though and we had a very scenic 10k walk around a lake. That was swiftly followed by a trip to a nearby town, full of outdoor shops, to see what the latest innovations in waterproof clothing look like 😂

@ILiveInSalemsLot can I ask about the group that gets you out of London to walk as I'd love to find people to go out of town with?

I'm going to join a friend to do part of the south wales coastal path next month - she is doing all the Welsh Coastal Path but that is way too much for me!

I made time to get myself out again today as thought should probably move the legs after yesterday. Managed a lovely 10k down to the Meon Coast with a gorgeous shady walk down a seventeenth century canal towpath... this is what my picture is. You can see it on the right and boy, are canals different these days! This one was very narrow and right beside the path and there is no way even a narrowboat would be able to navigate it. But steeped in so much history as this was one of the very first waterways enabling people to ferry goods inland.. loved it!

I won't be out now until maybe Wednesday? I've got a late meeting on the opposite side of the country but was thinking I could maybe take a walk round that area before I have to head home - see some different countryside? Either way, want to get back into being more active as I really missed it and my body does seem to love it - despite the aches 😁

Lovely thread
Can I ask for some help please? I'm not sure this counts as hiking - 10k, steep hills and pathways/bridleways

The public footpaths were not defined at all in an area of woodland and as you can see from the pic, went off route in one bit. Is there a 'live' walking map or app I can use to help me? I got this map only when I had finished from recording it on Apple Watch as outdoor walk ? The gap is just where I didn't resume recording walk after brief stop

@withiceplease welcome to the thread 👋

I think that the Ordnance Survey app live tracks your location, but you’d need to buy one of their maps and download it into the app first.

I use footpath maps to get live location but I'd like to see the route I've already been on