Where shall we go today. Shall we take a small step forwards or a big step backwards? Or hey, why not a strong, confident leap into the unknown?
When I was little my dad used to love taking us for an after dinner stroll along pavements, past rows and rows of houses and up a hill to the local patch of green. We didn’t have family holidays, but I have fond memories of spending precious time together, just walking nowhere in particular. I guess that’s why I was so at home when I lived in Germany, because the Germans love a good Spaziergang.
In the UK, we are fortunate enough to have a large network of generally well signposted public footpaths that direct us through thick forests and open fields, following alongside canals, fording streams and even trailing the coastline. Many footpaths give walkers right of way over private land. In recent years, I have grown to love exploring new paths. Most towns will have them, even in London. You can start off in a built up area and end up to your surprise, in a meadow of wild flowers. This is a great place to get started if you’re interested.
There isn’t much unspoilt countryside to dream of in the UK, but I enjoy how a lot of paths take you through farmland, maintained woodland, round the back of someone’s garden and along dirt tracks and bridleways. When it comes to putting on your boots, trainers or wellies to blow a few cobwebs away, it really does almost feel like we live in an equal society.
#14 | ARROW
Further links that may be of interest (more via the Visit Britain link – as above):
- Walk 4 Life – great site where you can set up a walk challenge or get involved in one!
- Ramblers Free Led Walks (London 2012) – walks around Olympic locations led by volunteers. I’ve also seen maps around town showing you nice green routes you can take on foot to the Olympic sites.
- Walk England – more walking stuff.
[This post is one in a series inspired by Fat Mum Slim’s photo a day challenge. I’m exploring ideas and often writing off the back of the idea of the day. It’s a chance to relax a bit in August but also do something slightly different. If you take part let me know – I’d love to see how you get creative with the daily posts!]
this is lemonade 
20 August 2012 at 00:36
Dear Lemony,
There’s not too much a walk can’t solve in my humble opinion.
😉
Love, Lis
xoxo
31 August 2012 at 13:15
You are too right. Thanks for leaving me so many comments to come back to! 🙂
31 August 2012 at 18:16
Dear Lemony,
🙂
Love, Lis
xoox
15 August 2012 at 01:22
Now you’re preaching to the choir – I love walking! We have a pretty good pathway system in Calgary if you want to stay in the city, but we have the added benefit of lots of untouched spaces just outside the city as well. 🙂
16 August 2012 at 11:29
Must be amazing. Calgary can’t be anything like London! Being by the Rockies and all – am I right? (My geography is awful!)
16 August 2012 at 13:31
yes, we’re about an hour east of the Rockies! I love the mountains – you should come see it sometime!
14 August 2012 at 22:35
i walk around the beautiful Jervis Bay area on the south coast of NSW, Australia ! Walking around London would be such a completely different experience !
16 August 2012 at 11:11
Oh absolutely so different to your amazing amazing edge of the ocean! Beautiful just doesn’t even begin to describe it! 🙂
14 August 2012 at 18:53
It really is amazing to get outdoors and walk. I am biased of course, but it really is the best form of keep fit. Try to get outdoors people and maybe even climb a hill! (That’s my obsession). Great post Lemonade!
16 August 2012 at 11:04
Your words are true, not biased at all! Hills are exhilarating (and for me sometimes a little scary)! Everyone would do well to listen to roxyboots – thanks for passing by 🙂