Walking

Dun some walkin' lately. Last weekend did a bit of the green chain with another forum member who shall not be named lest he be associated with this less distinguished form of transport. Quite pleasant really.

But there are some guided walks this weekend (both days) in London, if you go in for that kind of thing.
http://www.walklondon.org.uk/our_events_forthcoming.asp

bet it was Tom. A nice romantic walk.

Ha.

All the better reason for getting back off the horse, prancer.

A few of us were talking after Ride East yesterday about the possibility of a forum hillwalking trip. Either a one day walk or a couple of days with camping in between, depending on what people would like to do.
The suggestions were either Shropshire/Mid Wales or a shorter trip closer to home.

Would anybody be interested if a forum walk was organised?

I'd definitely be up for something like that.

A few of us were talking after Ride East yesterday about the possibility of a forum hillwalking trip. Either a one day walk or a couple of days with camping in between, depending on what people would like to do.
The suggestions were either Shropshire/Mid Wales or a shorter trip closer to home.

Would anybody be interested if a forum walk was organised?

Nice to see Shropshire mentioned anywhere.
It's a good place for walking, I'm very lucky.

So, silly question, but are wellies ok for a bit of light walking in Scotland? I can't afford proper boots, and we've been told there could be an issue with keeping our feet dry while we are out and about. I've never owned wellies before...are they ok for a bit of walking in a field and whatnot?

Depends on distance and terrain - if it's flat, muddy and between tent/house/bothy and pub - probably....

If it's anything uneven, rocky, not muddy, then you could be in much trouble with no ankle support, so risk of a twist, and no grip either from a pair of wellies.

More detail of nature of 'light walking' required I think for a proper answer :-)

I genuinly don't know what kind of walking we'll be doing, but I suspect wellies will have to do. Mostly I'll be walking to the pub, me thinks.

Wellies will be fine - don't wear ones that are a loose fit, and if you're walking anything more than a mile or two then wear two pairs of socks - I once walked 10-20 miles a day through the Andean foothills wearing $5 wellies and I was surprised how good they were for the job.
And they offer you an extra layer of protection from snakebites, which would be really useful in Scotland.

Nhatt, check out your local millets. My good lady picked up a pair of goretex boots for £20 last weekend.

So, silly question, but are wellies ok for a bit of light walking in Scotland? I can't afford proper boots, and we've been told there could be an issue with keeping our feet dry while we are out and about. I've never owned wellies before...are they ok for a bit of walking in a field and whatnot?

A cheap way to keep your feet warm and dry is to use sealskins goretex socks. Keep them in reserve until your normal socks are wet, then dry your feet, put on fresh socks and then sealskins, and then put your wet footwear back on.
It feels like new shoes, and you can repeat the trick as many times as you like, as long as you pack enough pairs of thin dry socks.

I genuinly don't know what kind of walking we'll be doing, but I suspect wellies will have to do. Mostly I'll be walking to the pub, me thinks.

Mate, I used to voulenteer for the Braemar Mountain Rescue service during my summer holidays at school, the number of people who we had to stretcher down footpaths every year was quite large, because those guys have were a bit silly, the level of understanding and therefore pain relief offered to them was minimal. If you are walking round flat fields wellies are fine but they don't have the best grip so you could end up putting a tooth through your lip (a common injury) when you slip, wellies offer you no arch support or ankle support which can cause HUGE problems over longish distances 7 miles plus. To be honest you would be better off with good quality trainers as they will at least give you good arch support and some ankle support, although not lateral which is most important.

I cannot emphasise this enough IGNORE dugtheslug people die or are badly injured in the highlands every year through bad planning and the wrong clothes (snakebites are also a possibilty dug if you don't know this shit you should not be giving advice).

The best advice that I can give to you nhat is stop off in a large town where there is an outdoors shop near to where you are staying, Aveimore would be good but I don't know where you are staying, most of the staff in the shop will work for or be connected with the local mountain rescue service and can give you advice about the area you are staying in. Additionally they will be able to rent you some decent quality walking boots for about £10 - £30 p/w however you will have to buy your own socks. PM me if you would like more advice.

And wear a helmet...

in the end it was ok, not much outdoors walking for me as I remembered I hate the country, dislike sheep and have no time for painting.

Just bought myself a Buffalo Special 6, can't wait to try it out in winter, good with a base layer down to -15!!

Just went for a walk, first time in 15 years. Wasn't so bad, walked to the shops and back. People seem more patient on pavements than on road. No one told me to get out the fucking way you stupid prick when I walked slowly. There were many hazards though like boards advertising shops and lampposts and not much room. Looking back seems not as necessary as on the road but still useful... And hand signals are redundant. need to get some special shoes I think, shoes without cleats. May try it again sometime soon.

heh... nice.

Also doing a skid is harder when walking.

it is good to get off the bike, even take a stroll.. down the old kent road, doing the lambeth walk.. oy!

#clicksheels

Also doing a skid is harder when walking.

Nope. Skidding was too all easy on cleats and wet pavement. definitely need those special shoe. Also now got achey thighs, probably due to using muscles i've not used before.

Make sure you have a proper shoe fit before walking far.

Joe will be along shortly to give you some advice. I know he subscribes to this thread.

^any advice much appreciated :) Can you you get walking training?

Whilst going for a pootle along some canal in east london the other week, I noticed a sign post for a walk pointing one towards Richmond. It was like 60km! Anyway I did some google and found this...
http://www.walklondon.org.uk/walk_finder.asp

It looks ace! I'm going to do a bit one saturday soon.

^That orange walk around the m25? How many miles is that?
I'd be up for a forum walk (clickty clack).
List time?