Hiking/Walking in general

I am lucky enough to live in an area of England (Shropshire) that is very good for hill walking so I can get out often to enjoy the natural beauty of the countryside. However, I work away from home for about two thirds of the year and so have to get my walking kicks elsewhere then. There are a lot of wonderful things about walking for pleasure. * It need not cost anything * You can do it on your own, if you prefer, or with any number of people from a single companion to a whole group * The United Kingdom is very well laid out with footpaths, so you need never run out of new places to explore * There is much greater satisfaction ...  Read the complete review

As a result of the Foot and Mouth problems some UK county councils have installed maps on their internet sites to show closed and open ROWs (Rights of Way). I have used the Dorset one ( http://194.238.223.186/dorset/mappage.asp ) and the Hampshire one ( http://www.hants.gov.uk/maps/paths/index.html ). There are some problems with selecting the exact area on the Dorset one and with getting printouts of all of your selection. Other Dorset walkers I have talked have reported differences so the PC and printer set up obviously make a difference. The council employee responsible for the team who put the material on the web site has responed to my comments and intends to keep ...  Read the complete review

Get those hiking shoes on or a pair of your sneakers and a pack on your back and head towards the woods. It can be any woods where there is a walkable path. Most states and countries have abundant areas of nature and trails you can hike on. Hiking is the ultimate outdoor sport to do. It not only exercises your body but it clears your mind of all the cobwebs. It makes you appreciate the beauty in simple things. To hear the birds singing, to stop and smell the flowers, to analize the different flora on rocks, to perhaps try to catch a butterfly and to be one with the universe and feel peace within your soul. It is a different world being in the woods. Many people ...  Read the complete review

Everyone knows that walking is an enjoyable form of exercise and I have always thought of walking as easy. Why, I do it every day! You just put your best foot forward and go! And, that was always the way it was until I decided I could walk a marathon for charity (see my opinion n the Playtex Moonwalk). Oh how wrong I was! Let me tell you, walking is not easy! I have the aches, pains and blisters to prove that! So in the spirit of DooYoo, I though I would share my discoveries about walking in order to prevent you from getting into the state I am in today! Let me present: Missbrowneyedgirl's Top Tips for Pain-Free Walks! ...  Read the complete review

“As we came down off the hill, the reservoir slowly came into view. The sun was glistening off the water. We stopped and listened. There was a peaceful silence, just the lapping at the waters edge, a gentle breeze whispering through the trees, and the occasional whistle from some unknown bird. On we carried, lost in our own little world, oblivious to the goings on of our lives back home.” That was this morning, and we were walking through the woods and around the reservoirs of the West Pennine Moors. 5½ hours later and we’re back home, completely exhausted, but feeling all the better for it. 2 years or so ago, I had never done any ...  Read the complete review