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 😃

Oooh, Lonelycrab - that was pretty much my walk but started at Lower Pennington rather than Lymington. I did a much longer walk from Lymington a few months back and did go round the corner, up to Milford on Sea and then back across the fields. I did stop for an icelolly in Milford as it was back when the sun was out in force - its definitely hidden itself away a little more of late.

It is a lovely part of the world and have such property envy whenever I walk so am jealous of your parents being in the area. I think I like the idea of the solitude and enormous houses more than the reality, but I'd be willing to give it a try 😀 Mind you, Lymington is pretty bustling - I guess you just have to choose the place which suits you!

I went for a walk on my favourite mountain yesterday. It’s more of a hill than a mountain really, but it has a proper “mountain feel”, complete with less than ideal weather conditions and ravens and birds of prey circling in the sky above. At this time of the year, there are also a lot of delicious wild blueberries around 😋

I love this boulder I came across. It looks a bit like it was put there as part of an art installation, rather than something that was deposited by a glacier 😁

Did a 9 miler in the Durham coast on Friday. Doing a 12 miler on Wednesday and another long one Thu as practice for the Cumbria way very soon.

Love living by the sea 😍

Your description is very evocative, CrimsonAlligator - I have definitely got a vision in my minds eye... I like weather like that when you're out and about - not too hot, not too cold, just atmospheric! Cool boulder too...

And sounds like you're ramping it up, CuriousMama - I had a quick look at rhe Cumbria Way... sounds gorgeous but not for the faint hearted. Are you following a certain route plan ie with specific stops etc, or are you just striding out and seeing how far you can get each day? That second picture is lovely - such lovely colours in the flowers!

I don't think I'm going to be able to get out until Friday as have a busy week which is making me restless.. it is what it is, but sometimes life really gets in the way (and you do need time to get a proper hike in, don't you!)

@SanFranBear we're following a plan. Staying at b&bs pubs hostels. Which bit isn't for the faint hearted? I've done coast to coast walk, Cleveland way and dales way. So hopefully this won't be too difficult. Soon be able to tell you. I'll post pics etc whilst on it.

I guess it depends on how long you've got planned to complete it but over 100k is a fair whack.. plus there's a few pretty big hills! But I think it says more about me than you - I'd definitely find it pretty challenging!

And yes please to the photos - it sounds like beautiful scenery and surroundings!

We're not rushing. Doing it in 6 days.

Sounds very sensible but still almost 20k a day.. great stuff, can't wait to hear how you get on.

I was stiffed on my hike yesterday - had a lovely route planned, down a river and across some beautiful English countryside... and then got stuck in traffic for three times as long as it should've taken me. As I had evening plans at my destination, meant I had to cut it very short - still out for about an hour and did see some lovely green spots (see pics) but not what I'd envisaged!

To try and make it up, I walked to work and back today - roughly 14k round trip. Not sure what possessed me as am slightly achy now and it's just urban streets but felt better for it. I'm out properly tomorrow - doing a stretch of the South Downs Way and up and down a few hills. Komoot says about 18k but it regularly comes up short so expecting it to be closer to 20k - but weather looking good so am all set!!

@SanFranBear hope you get great weather tomorrow.

Did almost 10 miles today. Hilly in parts. We wore the pack weight we'll wear on the Cumbria way. Hot day but shady in the trees.

Goodness - the weather didn't disappoint, that's for sure and I managed to persevere and hit just over 19k on my wander through the South Downs National Park.. also feel like I'm getting quicker as it didn't take me as long as a similar length walk a few weeks back despite having much more elevation!

Didn't get many pics as was listening to a particularly gruesome podcast (love listening to True Crime as I walk but sometimes sends me off into my own head) but there was a lovely stretch when I was surrounded by trees and greenery and you could hear wildlife and bugs scurrying around and i felt so alone.. it was just smashing!

Glad you had a good walk. It's lovely listening to nature. The scents are nice too.
I had a short beach walk last night with a couple of friends. One is into foraging so she was showing us some plants you can use in cooking. There's a local foraging walk next week so I might go on that?

Short 4 mile walk this morning whilst it was cool. Sad to see the burnt heathland but it does burn from time to time and the firebreaks and the fire service helped prevent damage to property.

4 miles is still a decent trek, nanny - especially if it involves an early rise! Apologies if I've got it wrong, but are you Surrey based? Whereabouts are you that they regularly burn heathland as seems quite extreme or is it a common summer thing to stop larger fires kicking off?

They're very very strict about fires down here due to the nature of the New Forest and so rarely see anything like that here and they're completely banned on the campsites. Well, there is one rogue campsite which is right down on the coast where you're allowed campfires on the ground - we love it there and might try to head that way end of the month.

Happy trekking anyone who's out today - we're off to see the Rise of Gru for my sins!

Meant to say, CuriousMama - a foraging walk sounds so interesting and useful! If you go, you must tell me more 😄

@SanFranBear Yes, Surrey, right next to Greyspot range (part of Pirbright/Deepcut military area).
Chobham Common is close, that also has heathland fires from time to time.
Been in the area 25ish years and fires happen from time to time but the last few Summers have seen a heathland fire somewhere in the area. Sometimes it is started by humans, accident maybe. Others like this last one the cause is unknown. Might have been recent military activity or could be natural occurrence.

Trees... I love trees as they provide shade. The forest floor is a few degrees cooler than my flat.

@SanFranBear well the South Downs way certainly gets the legs going… so many ups and downs. Was up Harting down the other day, it’s one of my favourite places along there.

@nannynick you’re pretty close to me and yes, it seems like there’s been a lot of heathland fires over ash ranges way. Hope we don’t get too many more as obviously it’s turning into a tinder box out there now.

Had a nice little almost 10k with ds10 on Saturday, was keen to keep out of the sun so chose a route mostly in the trees. Started out at Fleet pond, up to the canal and then Velmead common I think it’s called for a drink at the pub before returning. First half hour my legs felt rubbish but I warmed up after that.

So pleased this popped up on threads I’m on, lovely to see your pictures. Advice please I went camping at the weekend and purposely only took these 😂 we had our old dog with us.
But I’ve got a big walk coming up without dog- 7 hours a day for a week in Saxony and Czechoslovakia and need some suitable boots. Cool, ankle support not bothered about waterproof.
Any recommendations? I’m size 6 and wide footed.

A pic

I'm not sure I'll be any help, Etinoxaurus - I got my walking shoes from Sports Direct as there's always a sale on in their Walking Dept. Mind you, if buying anything from SD leaves a bad taste in your mouth (and I wouldn't blame you) Decathlon have some good ones - and probably some knowledgeable staff too. If you're doing 7 hours a day for a week (eeek!), you need to get them right so maybe try somewhere like Blacks or Mountain Warehouse?

Loving the pics, nannynick & Lonelycrab. I'm having a much more urban walk this Wednesday as going to search for houses to rent in the part of the city I want to move to - RightMove is coming up short at the mo. That said, I'll combine it with seeing a friend so will hopefully get some greenery in!

Book in for a boot measurement at Cotswold. They're amazing.
Also for anyone with a blue light card I think you can still get discount there? I'll check.

Yes Cotswold do 15% off. Go outdoors do too. If you don't have a card a friend or relative might and go with you to buy? You have to show ID. I got money off in Asda last night. I was buying bits for the Cumbria way plus other stuff.

Millets can sometimes be good for discounting, they have 20% off vouchers available from time to time, and last time I was in there the assistant offered me a smaller discount if I signed up to their mailing list. Plus they seem to have a sale on almost as much as DFS

My walk tonight ended up at just shy of 18k which was unexpected.. the house hunting was a sort of success - nothing I saw worked but might have one to view tomorrow so we shall see.

Almost 18k round the streets and then out to a local nature reserve (which thankfully had a small cafe for an ice-lolly and a toilet... tmi, most definitely, but I needed to do the biggest poo which got to the point where walking was uncomfortable 😖)

Here was a lovely little bridge from one meadow to another - such a beautiful day!