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 😃

You could try OutdoorActive. I've not got to grips with it yet, though did use the old ViewRanger app which I found was good. ViewRanger merged with OutdoorActive.
www.outdooractive.com/en/knowledgepage/what-is-a-track-/47519874/

Thank you! That looks great 👍

Hi withiceplease (very apt username right now!)..

I use Komoot which has pre-planned routes which I use and puts you as a little blue blob on the route map so you can see where you are. There is a 'map your own' type bit on there which I've never used but the main app certainly shows all footpaths, bridleways and cut-throughs so am sure that but would too...?

And your walks sound like they definitely count - its just about getting outside and seeing some of the country!

that bit *would too...

Argh... formatting fail but hope you get what I mean!

I quite like the All Trails app.

Thank you I'll look at all those

I went for a gorgeous walk down the Conwy valley yesterday. The first half was a hilly walk through dense woodland with some stunning waterfalls along the way. The second half was along the river itself, where sand martins and swallows were constantly swooping over the water.

Lovely, where did you start from?

Where did you start from?

I'm north Lancs and head to the Lakes and Howgills frequently!

What's your fave walk? I found a good 9 Standards Rigg on walking Britain that I can post if you're interested. I've also done a good Pele Tower, Arnside Knott and beach walk from there.

@Subbaxeo we started in Trefriw and headed in the direction of Gwydir forest. We came back via Llanwrst. About 10 km in total 😊

Long circular walk around Saddleworth this week. Did most of the route attached but finished after Pots and Pans as it was so hot we were running out of water, despite taking 3 litres each. So we called at the pub by St Chads for a quickie on the way back 😊

Wow... that view is stunning, SweatyChamois - I expect you were probably glowing by the time you got up there!

I also, finally, got out today for a long overdue walk. It was 15k ish but quite flat which was a bit disappointing but actually, not all bad seeing as I haven't been out properly for 10 days! My blooming GPS cut out as I had to go under the motorway and it didn't click on until I'd walked about half the route so my tracking app wasn't right which annoyed me (I do like to scroll through my routes and this one missed out all the lovely bit at the top of the one hill I climbed) but a minor annoyance really - it was just so worth it being out again and I'll be out tomorrow - probably slightly shorter route as will need to be back for DC and I want to enjoy it.

Couple of pics, not dreadfully scenic - the sky was so unbelievably blue though and the wildlife was out in force. So enjoyed myself!

I was definitely glowing - thank God for SPF50! Got a new Garmin watch recently so it was a good chance to get to grips with it too.

@IcecreamForAlcohol sorry, I missed your post! I mostly walk around Arnside, up the Old Man and any smaller hills I can get to from my house. National Trust membership has been brilliant for the car parks TBH, although I tend to try and avoid popular places because of the tourists.

Much duller skies today although still quite muggy but due to little showers, still felt had to wear a light coat. Just felt slightly uncomfortable all the way round which always sucks...

But I managed a nice 13.5k round a local nature reserve which adjoins a distant part of the city which I've never visited really. Was pretty nice and there was a lovely mirror effect on the millpond (very unique tide mill to the left, just out of shot!)

I'm going for it tomorrow as I'm still off and DC are not home in the evening so am going to take myself off to the New Forest for a long hike through unexplored (to me) territory - there's some lovely landmarks mentioned on the route and always hopeful to spot some wildlife (and the ponies!) Hopefully my legs will be up to it as they were a little achy today!

Jumping in on this thread, hope you don’t mind. OP if you’re walking in the northern part of the New Forest then I can highly recommend the Royal Oak in Fritham. Lovely pub!

Just back from a long weekend in N Wales near Barmouth. Went for a couple of great hikes up the Arthog waterfalls up to the two lakes. Stunning countryside!

Couple more pics

I’m no longer a hiker but love doing shorter walks with my dog. I developed severe heart failure 4 years ago that rather kyboshed longer distances so I’m really glad I had two holidays hiking in the Dolomites just before.
Nowadays it’s choosing flatter walks for me, but I enjoy exploring further afield when we’re on holiday.
I look forward to to reading more on this thread!

OP if you’re walking in the northern part of the New Forest then I can highly recommend the Royal Oak in Fritham. Lovely pub!

I've been over that way a couple of times but do tend to stick to the other side of the M27. That said, it is gorgeous in a very different way so may have to explore more... and a good pub is always worth knowing about!

Just about survived today - 22k across the New Forest starting at Beauleiu and taking in Bucklers Hard and some other little hamlets. Really hard going though as this was my third day on the trot heading out... and my longest one in a very long while. My legs are gently weeping!

There was loads of places of historic interest - one of which was just a plain field and I was like 🤔 But turns out it was converted to a WWII airfield and 100's of flights left there to fly over Germany and support the D-Day landings.

Bucklers Hard was also very lovely - absolutely teensy but lovely. Something like 75 Royal Navy ships used to be built here, including some for the Battle of Trafalgar. The houses in my photo include the Master Builders house... it was so beautiful.

And there concludes SanFran's history lesson for today. Sorry - I just found it all so interesting 😁

@YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp sorry to hear that. It's good you still walk though.

@SanFranBear you'll be doing a long distance walk at this rate!🙂 I'm doing another one soon the Cumbria way.

Quite a short, 12k walk out tonight, down and round the coast of the New Forest. I finally ventured out onto the Hurst Spit which sticks out almost to the Isle of Wight and has a lighthouse (which you can just about see if you squint hard at my photo - its white 😆) and a castle at the end.. proper shingle'y walk out to it though which made my legs burn!

Away this weekend so don't think I'll have a chance to get out again this week - life keeps getting in the way, not that I'm complaining!

Does sound like ExH won't be taking my DC for any length of time over the summer though so looks like a multi-day hike is out of the question this year. Pretty gutted as had been planning but what can I do - and its worse for DC really, being stuck with me whilst I work a lot.

@SanFranBear nice pics! That’s almost a second home to me down there as my folks have lived very nearby for the last 30 years. Guessing you went along the sea wall from Lymington across Pennington wetlands to the spit. And yes it’s bloody hard work walking out to Hurst castle on that shingle!

If you carry on from Milford along the seafront clifftop walk to Barton, that’s another nice stretch with a great cafe at the end.