UKH

Mr Drakeford is due to announce steps to (perhaps) partially release lockdown in Wales on Friday.

I have keen interest (as I'm sure many do) as I'm itching to get into the mountains and to visit family (I live in England)

With the virus seemingly taking its summer holiday (perhaps in Brazil) and England merrily embracing its new found freedoms, what do UKC-ers expect, especially in regard to the 2 points I've mentioned? 

I live in Wales, and I'm hoping very greatly that we will be allowed to drive a moderate distance to engage in exercise. At the moment we are allowed to go climbing if we walk to the venue from our house, which is less than is allowed in England.

My takeaway from today's news story showing deserted Welsh beaches and crowded English beaches is that the Welsh government do not want people to drive to exercise. I really hope that I am wrong, but I am not anticipating too much from Friday's announcement.

As I understand it, it would be fine for me to drive 250 miles tomorrow to  climb in the Peak District, but not to drive 6 miles to St Govan's car park.,

I'm wondering if we'll get the 'you can drive a short distance to do exercise' option. Wales is being pretty cautious and the photos of empty beaches on the weekend were quite impressive, but the places that people can get to round here (the barrage in Cardiff and round to Penarth) are getting pretty crowded.

I don't see the National Parks being opened just yet - there's going to be a massive overcrowding problem when they do open and social distancing on the path up Pen y Fan will be impossible.

Is that actually the case? I understood it that you're still not allowed to drive unless for work/food shopping/getting supplies for 'at risk people' . Maybe I'm wrong tho.... 

BTW I live in Wales and have family in England so share your pain 😔 

It's that tricky definition of 'moderate' that is so difficult...  Sturgeon has tried that in Scotland but not with great success I think.  5 miles?  25 miles?  250 miles?  What's the actual difference in risk?  Is it a credible policy or just arbitrary numbers?

Yes you could drive there - but not back again!  good point...

I'm really hoping the NPs will be opened as the risk of outdoor transmission seems to have been confirmed and very small.

I have family in Cardiff and Bangor so also hoping travel within Wales (and of course from England) will be derestricted, presuming outdoor family visits will be allowed

Would not go anywhere near the Central Beacons in summer anyway, but was discussing that exact point with partner. 

It's pretty clear - have a look at this https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52416541 .

'Some people with health or mobility issues may not be able to exercise directly outside their homes. They may drive to the nearest convenient spot'.

That's different from me (with no health or mobility issues) driving to woodlands north of Cardiff so that I can go for a run or a mountain bike ride on trails.

I expect anyone to be allowed to drive up to 260 miles each way, then drive to a local beauty spot to test their eyesight. Our leaders have been showing us the way out, after all, despite the rules 

It’s a tricky one. I think that we’ve all become accustomed to having what we want and have it now.

Personally I’m not keen for National Parks and beaches to be opened as a free for all for of our four countries. 
It’s not so much the transmission risk but the inconvenience of large amounts of traffic.

The day before the lockdown the lane to Moel Famau was a log jam, necessitating it’s closure. How are we to prevent areas being swamped as soon as measures are eased is my concern.

I would suggest opening areas to the more local first, with policing at the border. Then, once the locals have had their fill, open it up more widely by July.

Ive not seen my parents in Stoke for 16 weeks now, and given my line of work am in no rush to. 

Guess they could wait for a spell of bad weather in the forecast. Surely not too long to wait now.

Yeah, if only the lockdown had been in the beginning of February and not so near to better weather and the clocks advancing.

Well, in one respect yes, and I completely understand where you're coming from, but I don't think the folk flooded out of their homes would have appreciated having to deal with that and lock-down. It's been a cr@p year for some folk up the valleys, and we're not even half-way through it yet

My boat is still trapped 3 miles over the Welsh border. I have no idea what condition it is in. Depending on what happens, maybe I should use my common sense?

No, the official advice is that all exercise should start from home unless health or mobility issues make that impossible. It is utterly unreasonable, but that is the official position.

I think they now say 5 mile distance is the maximum for most people

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/coronavirus-5-mile-travel-rules...

They do although I’m not sure whether this is 5 miles to see family or 5 miles to do what you want.

Indeed. Does it mean I can drive 5 miles to see friends (with whom I'm allowed to socialise in their garden), and then go for socially-distant exercise with them from their house?

Sounds reasonable to me Kate.

For me it means that I can legally drive 5 miles to see my friend, which is a tree, and a very lucky one at that, whilst walking the dog.

:-D