Hello, Explorer!
So you want to head out into the unknown, but you’re unsure of where to start? Well, you’ve made it here, so you’ve basically already started!
Live in the city far from countryside? You may well find there are actually walking paths not far from you; the UK has a huge network of public access footpaths throughout the entire nation, and that includes paths in cities and towns themselves. The quickest way to find them is by looking on Ordnance Survey maps, as they’re always marked in green. They’re also usually marked by small green signs in both urban and rural areas. If you don’t have an Ordnance Survey map handy, take a look at this site, which shows the network (in red solid/dotted lines) without having to pay.
Longing for bigger green spaces than those around you? Even if you live in central London, you’re not far from countryside; hop on the Metropolitan Line towards Chesham/Amersham and you’ll find that from Rickmansworth onwwards the tube stations are not far from open country walks. Alternatively, hop on a train down to the seaside and stretch your legs on some of our wonderful coastlines. National Parks are great places to visit too, as are National Trust and Forestry venues. Point being, if you look, you’re going to find places to go, and they’re often accessible by public transport. All it takes is a bit of investigation and planning!
If you’re totally new to the outdoors, the first things you’re going to need are a good pair of walking shoes/boots, and a waterproof jacket (simply because the weather in the UK isn’t the kindest when it comes to dry conditions). You’ll find information about gear here on this site to guide you through the veritable minefield of gear shopping, as the sheer amount of stuff out there can be quite overwhelming if you’re not totally sure what you’re looking for.
Well, what are you waiting for? 🙂
