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 😃

Wondering about planning a walk for the weekend. Sunday looks 🔥

Somewhere with lots of trees and a large stream. Was out last weekend on Basingstoke canal in the heat and we found a shady spot, shoes and socks off and feet in the water, it was perfect! I know of a few spots in the new forest like this but I expect there’s that sort of thing all over the place.

I echo Lonelycrab if you do decide to go out, FortonServices - you'll need lots of shade or covered walkways as it is definitely going to remain really hot for the next few days.

I made it put first thing today, to try and get some a decent hike in before the heat really landed. I had to be back for work at lunch but still got 10k in around some gorgeous forest with the occasional exposed moor type area (which was still pretty hot!) Think the animals out there are also feeling it - lots of herds in the shade and I've never seen as many ponies gathered in one area before...

Has put me in a fantastic mood though - hiking really is good for the body and soul!

Our plan is to walk on Saturday - if you're in the Forton Services area then I think the forecast is pretty nice. Not on Sunday - unless maybe a languid stroll in the parks/LNR in Preston which has lots of tree lined paths. Or maybe parts of the Lune valley.

Yes, we're in the Amber zone, not red.

Any suggestions for sheltered walks in south Cumbria, ideally with a swim at the end?

There's a nice walk around High Dam that's fairly sheltered and you can swim there too. I think it's about a 3 mile circuit.

I didn't know about that! Looks interesting (inc the bobbin mill).
I imagine quite a few of the actual lakes are plagued by blue-green algae again this year?

It's a nice walk @ErrolTheDragon and you can extend it to Finstwaite Tower, if you fancy a longer walk. There is also a farmer field near the LDNP car park that offers slightly cheaper parking and, importantly 🍦

There are some walks in the woodland around Wray Castle too, as well as Grizedale Forrest. I've done those several times though 😃.

I've just been mapping out the High Dam and tower walk, it looks like it's about 5-6 miles and the High Dam bit is more sheltered. Think we will start and finish at High Dam so we can swim and picnic at the end. Thanks!

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/claife-viewing-station-and-windermere-west-shore

My recommendation for a sheltered walk with a swim would be A Wray Castle and Claife loop. West shore of Windermere is generally a lot quieter and you could swim and picnic along the way. There are woodlands to walk through too for shelter from the sun. Joey's cafe at Wray and Claife for cake and coffee stops. You could add in Latterbarrow for beautiful views but it's an exposed Fell with not much shelter.

Sheltered walks sound very much the order of the day so take care if you're out and about over the next few days and lots and lots of water!!

We had a lovely 13.5 km walk in silverdale yesterday - so partly in south cumbria. A mix of meadow, woods and coast, with the tide surging in along the channels of the bay.

Finally made it out again today - the heat and work have made it quite tricky for me (and a long overdue boozy night instead of a healthy hike yesterday!)

But I went east along the coast some way and up a big hill... which was fine when I started and it was all downhill but by the time I'd managed my 13k and was headed back to the car, it was all uphill and my legs were crying! It was quite muggy as well and exposed which, after lots of lovely forest trails, was quite heavy going. So so glad I went though - got to see a different part of my local area - and some cows!

Bloody Decathlon, my go to store don’t stock hiking boots. I should have paid attention to your recommendations, now fingers crossed I’ll find something to mail order that fits and they arrive in time 😩

Oh no, Etinoxaurus - I would've thought they would... is yours a small store? Really hope you get something - when is it you're off?

I completely forgot to post pictures from my walking holiday in Northumbria last week. Lots of beautiful coastal walks, castles, seals, puffins and “cuddy ducks” (the local name for Eider ducks).

Every castle & old building seemed to be full of swallow nests, which was a fab thing to see, especially as it was easy to get close enough to the nests to see the chicks.

The picture is of the castle on Lindisfarne, where we spent a good few hours walking around the island. We kind of had to, as the high tide meant we couldn’t leave…it was a great place to be stuck for a while 😊

OMG... those baby swallows are just gorgeous!

Lindisfarne is a fab place - I got to visit a couple of years ago and didn't get trapped, thankfully.. I didn't know anything about it when I visited so really enjoyed myself. Did you walk over to the island, too?

I wish! We just took the car and drove across the causeway.

I knew we’d be cut off as I’d checked the tide times beforehand, but I guess I hadn’t explicitly told my DH. He freaked out a bit when I broke the news to him after we arrived. Oops! 😬

He soon saw the funny side though (especially after he found the ice cream shop). By the end of the day he told me it was one of the best places he’s ever visited! It really is so special with all the history, wildlife and lovely 🥰 views. A four hour walk wasn’t really enough to do it justice.

The first time we went to Lindisfarne, it was when we were much younger and working hard, commuting etc. I'm not sure we quite realised about the tides till we got to the causeway and had to make a quick decision whether to cross and be cut off or not. We did and ....it was wonderful, all the rush and stress just slipped away as we wandered with no point in hurrying around the island. A castle, seals, flowers, tea shops.... perfect. Not trapped, more like liberated!

It’s Surrey Quays and blummin enormous. Reassured the dog who didn’t love camping though.
I’ll report back- socks bumping up the order to get free delivery. If they’re rubbish I’ll have to buy there.

That's a great deal on those boots, Etinoxaurus and will have everything crossed they fit nicely! Your dog is also absolutely lush ❤️ (hope you've charged your phone now!)

It's my birthday today and for some reason, I thought a nice 20k hike was the order of the day. Went west towards Dorset and then walked into the very west of the New Forest and through a nature reserve - was absolutely gorgeous! I love the fact that the Forest looks so very different depending on where you explore - forests, lovely streams, open moorlands, crazy ferns like I encountered today.. always something new. I did encounter one or two very spiky bushes amongst the ferns which scratched my arms up quite a bit as well as some vicious nettles - nature, huh 😄

Few pics from today... the aforementioned ferns which were wild and abundant from the start of my journey, a picturesque tree from about halfway round and then a fascinating, arid desert type area where everything seemed bleached by the sun. Just a wonderful walk ❤️

Wonderful pics @SanFranBear
That final one is quite spooky!

Had a couple of wales in the New Forest this last couple of days as Ds1 and I are visiting parents/grandparents for the first few days of hols.

Went for a pretty short 6km yesterday on the forest around Burley way near Sway, was overcast but muggy muggy! Found this amazing tree, must be very old with the most tentacle like branches ever. Also saw a deer pretty close up near the end which is always nice.

Today we had cloud to start them clearing, we walked for 10k from Milford to Barton and back, along the clifftop. Really love this walk and the sea was like a millpond, sun came out and it was gorgeous. Couple more pics.