Rambling Out of Lockdown

We’ve been emerging from lockdown the past month or so, looking out from our cottage cocoon and seeking adventure beyond our garden walls.

The U.K. is opening up – first with outdoor areas and retail; then pubs, restaurants, salons and barbers two weeks ago, though we haven’t been to any. (I’m finally getting my hair done tomorrow, and while the boys are in desperate need for a professional – i.e. not done by me – cut, they don’t seem too bothered. Nate has decided he loves it and would like to grow his even longer, like his older cousin.)

Today is the last day of school. Certain year groups were allowed to go back about six weeks ago, including Nate’s. We kept him home an additional two weeks mainly since Bennett wouldn’t be back yet, but then school said Bennett could go back for a few hours each morning with his year group, so they started back about a month ago. We felt comfortable with the school’s plan and measures in place, and it was a good experience that brought some sense of routine and normalcy for a bit.

Mainly, we’ve been exploring the great outdoors. I’ve joked a bit about how the boys roll their eyes whenever we want to go hike/walk/climb, but coming out of weeks and weeks on end at home, even they were semi-OK with it. Unlike them, I don’t think I will ever tire of the saturated tones of green rolling hills, the waterfalls, stone walls, and narrow dirt paths that surround us.

We’ve been exploring the Sandstone Trail, 55 km/34 miles of continuous walking trails through Cheshire and surrounding areas, through wooded areas, fields, and up hills and near castles. This walk was on a section between Willington and Kelsall. Our FIRST OFFICIAL TRIP AWAY from the house – I think this was at the very end of May – felt freeing, though we were just a few miles from home.

A few days later, emboldened by our daring escape to the trails, we continued on a nearby section of the Sandstone Trail, to Delamere Forest and climbing Old Pale Hill with views overlooking the county.

The next weekend, we tackled another section of the Sandstone Trail – walking between Beeston Castle and Peckforton Castle, soon followed by a walk along the canal in Beeston. There, we got our new favorite pizza: Baked on Board, made in a large wood stove on the back of a canal board. Genius and delicious. We’ve become a bit like rock band groupies, following their touring schedule.

Feeling a bit more adventurous, a couple of weekends ago we went one county over, to Derbyshire to walk the Derbyshire Bridge/Goyt Valley in the Peak District. The drive was about an hour (we were careful to not go too far, or anywhere we would need toilets since most weren’t open), pulled into the designated car park and headed on our way.

We walked along a road, at one point seeing a sign that said something to the effect of, “this land is accessible to walk” so we started climbing the hills around us, climbing up over the road and scrambling across the top of the hills. There were stone walls and little spots of built of stones on three sides, perhaps providing shelters to animals in the wind or rain, or perhaps used for other reasons long ago that I’m not aware of. We stopped and had some snacks, taking in the view, before working our way down to a spot with a little waterfall.

 

Once back down to the road, we saw a nearby footbridge and decided to cross it and try to follow a new path back to our car. The path came to a stop for us, in the middle of a steep hill and creek. No need to be a hero today, or do anything that would involve rock climbing or fording a river.

As we turned back, the rain started to fall. Pour. We retreated back through the wooded path, crossed back over the bridge and scrambled back on to the road, completely soaked. The storm cleared quickly, as we decided we had been pushing our luck and it was better to just take the marked road back and call a winning walk a win.

I believe the word to describe what we’re doing would be “rambling” – here’s what ol’ Wikipedia says:  Walking in used in the U.K. to describe a range of activity, from a walk in the park to trekking in the Alps. The word “hiking” is used, but less often; the word “rambling” (akin to roam) is also used…walking in the mountainous areas of the U.K. is called hillwalking, or in Northern England, fell walking, from high, uncultivated land. Mountain walking can sometimes involve scrambling.

There’s no doubt that with the country codes allowing walkers right of way across field and property, and the amount of ramblers clubs, it’s a popular pastime. We just need better gear – trekking poles, a rucksack, compass, laminated map hanging from your neck, waterproof over-pants and jackets, headlamp, etc. We have boots, but boots does not a rambler make. Goals!

At this point, we had used up most of our good graces with the boys on walking days, so last weekend we instead headed for the beach, feeling better that things had been opening up again and car parks and toilets were open. We still kept distance from people, which was easy enough to do on the beach.

North of Liverpool on the west coast is an area called Formby Beach in Merseyside. We spent the afternoon playing in the sand, walking around the dunes, splashing in the water (I watched supportively from the dry towel on that one), and lounging around. It was much needed, a contrast to the feeling of needing to explore on the go.

That’s what we’ve been up to, and now on to summer. We’re sad we can’t make the trip back to the U.S. as planned, but we’re hoping to explore around here as much as we can, being as smart and safe as possible and soaking up the sun and our time left.