Long distance walk solo?

[willowboom]

I would like to do a long distance, multi day walk on my own. I'll soon be 40, kids now at school and feel like I want to do something for myself and i'd love to have a bit of space to think. I've never done anything like this before, am fairly unfit, introverted and usually a bit unadventurous.

I don't want to leave my family for too long but could manage up to five days I suppose.

Is this a stupid idea? Anybody done anything similar? Which paths would you recommend? Any tips.

I've been listening to The Salt Path on Audible and watched Wild during lockdown so feeling inspired but is it realistic?

Look at the Serpent Trail, about 70 miles long linking Heathlands in Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex.

Heathland is lovely and soft to walk on and although the South Downs are involved, it is more varied (and less windy) than the South Downs Way.

Ahh I love threads like this- so much inspiration!
I've done walking holidays for the last 2 years. All based in one location and branching out on day trips, doing sections of long distance hikes. The average hike was about 15- 20km. I find this a better approach for a beginner (like me!)
I'm working towards the Alpine Crossing - Ü, not the E5 for those in the know!
My UK list incudes the Northumberland Costal Path and Hadrians Wall.

On the fitness point, I usually walk five miles every day and probably 10 at weekends. I'm sure I could do 20 miles without too many problems but doing that repeatedly day after day might be an issue.

You'd be surprised. I do a similar amount to you and I've been on week long walking holidays, it just felt like starting afresh every day! I wouldn't do twenty miles a day though, that's too much of a slog to be enjoyable I think.

I've done lots of solo long distance working. It's perfectly safe.

I've done the Pennine Way, the Cumbria Way, the Cleveland Way and the West Highland Way.

Can fully recommend it.

Some of them I carried camping stuff and wild camped as it was rather a last minute thing and I couldn't get accommodation, others I managed to stay in pubs and b&bs. Much preferred the latter, but you need to be organised.

The Thames Path is great and relatively easy as it’s flat. It’s lovely following the river and going through all the locks is lovely. The Sussex Coast Path is also gorgeous. The South Downs Way is stunning landscape but so overrun with cyclists it pissed me off and I gave up on it in the end - I got fed up with near misses with lycra-clad lunatics.

Oh and I forgot the Wealdway - also gorgeous.

I'm female. In my forties a walked the Ridgeway on my own. I was fine. I took a calculated risk.

I checked in with friends very evening.

Dh and I do a fair bit of walking so not inexperienced. We decided to do an organised walking holiday a couple of years ago in France with a company called Inntravel. It was such luxury to have the route and accomodation planned for us so all we had to do was walk. Really easy to follow and lots of information on the areas we passed. There are plenty of similar companies and I think it would be an ideal way for a novice to get started. You don't have to join a group, DH and I did it on our own.

How about the Thames path if you’re in London?Flat,easy to follow,beautiful views along the way and easy access to public transport.We began at the Thames barrier and have git as far as Pangbourne so far very easily. I
There is a website that someone has put together with helpful advice if you go that way ( the books start from Kemble and go towards London)

@Changechangychange

I’d love to do the Ridgeway, mostly for the prehistoric monuments, but also because I’m assuming if you are up on a ridge, it won’t be too muddy (we did the Thames path ore-kids, and lots of that floods). It can be done over three weekends if you don’t want to take too long away from home.

I personally wouldn’t be too worried about safety if you are walking during daylight hours.

I did the Ridgeway when I was a student, and the problem then — this was late 1990s — was the very deep furrows made by quad bikes and the like along it. I don’t know whether that’s improved, but parts were almost unwalkable in any comfort back then.

I’ve walked parts of the Pennine Way, the South-west coastal path, and the Cotswold Way solo — as well as some long distance paths in Ireland, and enjoyed it thoroughly.

I did one with a baggage transfer to B&B every night and just walked during the day and really liked that set up. I did the Cumbrian Way.

The Cleveland Way would definitely be a good choice for a first one. It's pretty well signposted, not too mountainous and really varied in terms of terrain and scenery. There are also plenty of accommodation options along the way. Closer to London, I think the Ridgeway would also be a great option or the South Downs Way.

I would suggest saving anything mountainous until you have a bit more experience and your navigation skills are up to it.

The Dales Way is low level and fairly short. Could be a perfect first walking experience. The route is clearly marked and goes through many villages so you are never that far away from people.