Walking "close to home" - what does this mean?

I keep getting told "Oh you are lucky to live in Cornwall. So many beaches to go to for walks". I don't as this means I have to drive, min 30 mins travel time.

I am lucky as we live in a wooded area that we own. My walk is the same every day. A 30 mins walk with the dog around the wood. I neither see or hear anyone.

Gov indict a walk around eg a NT grounds is allowed. I have a NT property but it is 15 min drive away. I normally go there once a week for a 2/3 hour walk. Because I have somewhere within walking distance, I don't intend to go there until lockdown is over.

I would have been clearer if we had been told not to drive to exercise or exercise in places you can walk to from your home.

NotSpaghetti

My son just sent me this link!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-55560814

This is shocking, out of proportion and unnecessary

My sister just sent me this

There are plenty of walks close to Ashby-de-la-Zouch so maybe it's not so out of proportion.

The rules are stay at home and go a short distance for exercise.

We wouldn't be in this mess if people had obeyed the rules in the first place. It is draconian but it needs to be.

The problem as far as i can see lies in the definition - or rather in the absence of a written definition - of the words 'local area'.

I have no idea at all what would mean to me. Our parish boundaries? The area covered by South Northants Council? Something else? Not that I know where any of those boundaries begin and end.

It's neither clear not specific about what this means, and makes the fine handed out seem very unfair to me.

I bet it wouldn't stand up in court!

Callistemon

^I guess you will be plonked on the sofa watching daytime TV^
Ooh, ouch.
Miaow!

At least you aren't out all day today, MissC, as you were still on GN at noon, not striding across the moors.
As it gets dark early now, don't leave it too late to set off!

I’m really not sure whether to laugh or cry at your comment. Are you seriously monitoring my movements? What times I go out for a walk? Seriously....Is this the digital equivalent of curtain twitching?
Does it really matter to you whether I’m out for a walk in the morning or in the afternoon? Would you like me to send you my daily itinerary so you can monitor me? As it happened I was a bit late setting off this morning through the woods as I had a paint delivery and was just about to go up on the moors when I thought I would have a look at the thread.
As you can see from the attached photo it was really difficult fighting my way through the hoards of people who I’m selfishly endangering ! Oh and thank you I am safely home before it starts to get dark.
Tomorrow I shall be out from 11.0 to 4.0. I won’t need to drive and will stay in the valley. I will probably not see another soul all day and it will be bliss.
A thank you to all the contributors who have supported me both on here and by PM. I wasn’t aware that this facility existed until yesterday but it was lovely to hear from all the people who believe that an isolated walk is beneficial to our mental and physical health as well as being a great way to pass the time.

Yes and what about those who can't walk long distances anyway, due to disability? Does that mean cant drive or be driven (by people whom they share a house with) to get a bit of exercise with a little gentle walking/get fresh air in their lungs??This sounds like power going mad- or what about Click& collect for food? Our nearest are 3& 4 miles away.

Marmardoit, Foremark reservoir is just up the road from Ashby. I wonder if it's because they crossed the boundary from North West Leicestershire to South Derbyshire?
It's 4 miles from some parts of Foremark by car. Probably much less as the crow flies.

Well said MissC!

This is what happens when things are left to people's so-called "common sense". It would appear that a few people don't have much sense and many don't have much in common. All that ends up happening is that people end up squabbling.

It might be more to the point if a few police started doing a plain clothes check of random supermarkets - and slapping instant fines on people who are wearing masks under their noses or on their chins.
From experience so far, no member of shop staff ever says a word.

Oh my word! Those 2 young ladies must have been frightened, Notspaghetti, would they have done same to 2 old(er) ladies? Well, probably yes, and they could have given them a heart attack! Derbyshire police seem to be the ones 'getting out of hand'! Its bloody ridiculous! And yet they dont give fines to the ones who ARE genuinely flouting the rules, not just on a stroll.And when did a cuppa become a'picnic'??(that would involve at least a bun as well?)??

NotSpaghetti. So glad your son sent this link. I found the BBC report at lunchtime today and would say that the content and responses from Police and The Cabinet Office say it all! Interesting that the ‘legislation’ does not specify interpretation of the word ‘local’. Since when has walking with a cup of any liquid in your hand constituted ‘A picnic’ ? Like so much - ‘as clear as mud’.
Along with hundreds of thousands of others I am continuing to abide by the strict rules and enduring ‘shielding’ for my own good and that of my fellow human beings.

Well I'd be content with something clear such as "do not drive to walk" or "stay within parish boundaries" or whatever.

Some people get support walking with friends from somewhere near - I know two people in London who each walk 10 mins to meet up and walk in a park. One crosses the Thames. I suppose that probably isn't allowed - but who can say?

All this is probably brought on by police not fining Dominic Cummings for his long drive to a place for 'Testing his eyes' last time- they want to be seen as 'doing something'- idiots!?

I agree with you NotSpaghetti. Ideally, everybody would stay within their own four walls to stop the virus spreading. This is an acceptance that people do need to stretch their legs occasionally and take dogs out for walks, but if people start taking advantage, it will ruin things for all of us. What happened to the idea of collective repsonsibility?

Calender37

NotSpaghetti. So glad your son sent this link. I found the BBC report at lunchtime today and would say that the content and responses from Police and The Cabinet Office say it all! Interesting that the ‘legislation’ does not specify interpretation of the word ‘local’. Since when has walking with a cup of any liquid in your hand constituted ‘A picnic’ ? Like so much - ‘as clear as mud’.
Along with hundreds of thousands of others I am continuing to abide by the strict rules and enduring ‘shielding’ for my own good and that of my fellow human beings.

On the other hand, why do people need to cling on to a cup of anything to walk through a field? Or at any time for that matter?

I wonder who took the photo. The article says that they were surrounded as one of them got out of her car, so why were they still walking?

I imagine that the photo accompanying the article was taken some time later, Growstuff, and quite possibly nowhere near the site of the incident in question.
An alternative to finding a suitable stock photo.

^ Are you seriously monitoring my movements? What times I go out for a walk? Seriously....Is this the digital equivalent of curtain twitching?^


Oh, priceless.
You have given us all an extremely detailed account of your day-to-day movements in extremely lengthy posts.

Are we interested - not, not really, unless you break rules or bend them.

NotSpaghetti

My friend ventured from England into Wales the other day

She just wanted to put the bins out.

If the details are accurate then I think it was a heavy handed reaction by the police officers. But I did wonder about the photos which look rather stage managed. It made me wonder who took the photo and how they managed it if the police surrounded their car and sent them home. Including a close up photo of their Starbucks cup with a caption saying it contained peppermint tea wasn’t necessary.

Witzend

It might be more to the point if a few police started doing a plain clothes check of random supermarkets - and slapping instant fines on people who are wearing masks under their noses or on their chins.
From experience so far, no member of shop staff ever says a word.

Agree 100%

Grannynannywanny

If the details are accurate then I think it was a heavy handed reaction by the police officers. But I did wonder about the photos which look rather stage managed. It made me wonder who took the photo and how they managed it if the police surrounded their car and sent them home. Including a close up photo of their Starbucks cup with a caption saying it contained peppermint tea wasn’t necessary.

They'd obviously provided the press with another photo, looking very glamorous. A little bit of me says that these two young ladies are relishing their moment of fame. (And as for "mental health" ...)

I have two young dogs that need lots of exercise, but I have arthrisis in my back and in this cold weather walking even 15 mins on the pavement leaves me in pain. I drive my dogs 5 mins to a local park where they can run round like crazy whilst I stumble along the leafy path, and the nature around me is so good for my soul. I am a key worker and as such I have to drive two lots of 2.5 hours a day, getting out the car sees me staggering but a bit of gentle stretching and walking the dogs in the lovely woods, keeps me sane, and eases my back. I won't give this last bit of freedom and relaxation, but I happily forego shopping and crouded areas.