So over the past year, I’ve been wandering through the National Forest every week, from misty spring mornings to hot summer days, to bright autumn afternoons, and onto the dark wintry days, where it sometimes never seemed to get light! On each occasion, I walk slowly and silently, filming the amazing scenery and capturing only the sounds of my footsteps, the breeze and nature. The walks are all uploaded to YouTube and mapped on a Google map to give a permanent collection of places to visit, either virtually or in person. I now have 52 weekly walks and around 200 ‘shorts’ (shorter, daily clips) on the YouTube channel.
I was born in the National Forest and have lived here for most of my life so I thought I knew it well and that this would be a service provided to others rather than a personal journey. What I discovered, however, was far richer: lessons about nature, community, and the simple joy of putting one foot in front of the other. I also learned a surprising amount behind the scenes, from getting to grips with new video editing software to learning how to film and share the walks (and even buying a drone). This project has pushed me in ways I hadn’t expected.
I’ve tried to boil those discoveries down into just 10 things I’ve learned along the way. Of course there are many more, but these are just a start!
1. You can walk for a whole year in the National Forest and still find new places to explore. People have asked if I’ll eventually run out of routes, and the honest answer is that I could walk for another 2 or 3 years and still find new places. Not only are there lots of places to walk, but the footpaths are generally well maintained and well-marked in the National Forest. We’re very lucky.
2. There are far more open access areas than I’d realised. Open access areas are those where the public can roam freely, which is a lovely feeling. For those who aren’t familiar with Ordnance Survey maps, open access areas are marked as either yellow/orange or purple boundaries – the map key will show you which. I also found that not all areas of open access are particularly accessible; when my nephew and I visited Barton Park wearing shorts, we regretted the choice of clothing. But that was also part of the fun - exploring places that feel unexplored is a rare pleasure in a country as densely populated as the UK!
3. People love seeing green spaces, even if that’s virtually rather than in person. I know this as I’ve had so much lovely feedback from the walks. I’m a geographer so I understand the value of green spaces, but I’d underestimated how much could be gained by virtual access to green spaces. When I started the project, I also set up a Facebook group so people could follow along more easily and share their own experiences and recommendations. That’s been one of the most rewarding parts of the year - what started as a way of posting videos has grown into a small, supportive community.
4. There’s no obvious reason why films of some locations get more views on YouTube than others. For example, Walk #32: Dunstall has had around 6,300 views so far, whereas Walk #24: Hick’s Lodge has only had 30. Both were uploaded and shared in the same way, and both are stunning landscapes that are well-known and accessible to many people.
5. A surprising number of people can’t read maps. Many people have asked how I know where to walk. To me, the answer to that is obvious: buy an Ordnance Survey map (which gives you access to a digital map on the OS app) and check the key for the footpath symbols (usually green or orange dashed lines). If you’ve never done it before, finding routes on a map is easier than you think, and the app has GPS geolocation, which means you should never get lost!
6. I need to explore more of the far north and east of the National Forest. The National Forest is bigger than you think – there are over 200 square miles of beautiful countryside to explore. Even after a year, I still have plenty left to explore.
7. Most communities welcome walkers. As I travel through the area, I always meet people along the way. It’s rare that people don’t stop and chat, and I’ve found they’re always proud of their local area and keen to tell you the best places to film. Sadly, I did get to hear of one community unhappy about me promoting footpaths and walks close to their homes in case people parked on the roads in their estate. I won’t name them.
8. Many public footpaths and open access areas aren’t truly accessible - not just because of public transport limitations, but also because of difficulties with parking. Few people can cope with long-distance walks, which means that some more remote routes are rarely used. Not everyone has access to a car or nearby green space, which can make even short walks difficult to reach. As the year of filming has gone on, I’ve increasingly been on the lookout for safe laybys – I could probably map them…and maybe one day I should!
9. The footpaths off the beaten track are often the most beautiful. Despite having high density settlements within it, the National Forest countryside doesn’t experience the masses of people you find in the National Parks. I think that’s the beauty of it. I can walk for an hour or two and only encounter a couple of people. Or sometimes, none at all!
10. One thing I’ve become more aware of over the year is how much planning can go into something as simple as a walk. I share my location, think about where I’ll stop, and consider how isolated a route might be. It’s not something everyone has to think about in the same way, but it does influence how and where some people choose to walk. That said, my experiences have been overwhelmingly positive. I’ve never had any problems, and all my encounters on the paths have been friendly and reassuring. It’s also made me think about how different people are perceived in these spaces, and how important it is that everyone feels welcome and comfortable enjoying them.
So, what’s next? Well, at any one time I have numerous projects developing in my head! I filmed silent walks, presuming nobody wanted to hear me speak over the rustling leaves and singing birds. But several people have asked if I’d create some narrated walks. So, I’ll give it a go! I can’t promise anything close to weekly uploads as they’ll need a bit more thought and editing, but with my 360 camera, I can share a mix of nature and information. Watch this space!
If you’ve followed along this year, thank you. And if you have favourite places you think I should explore next, I’d love to hear them. Here’s to more footsteps, more discovery, and more of the beauty of the National Forest!
You can explore the walks and join the community here:
Weekly walks map: https://tinyurl.com/NFweeklywalks
Weekly walks YouTube channel: https://tinyurl.com/weeklywalksYouTube
Walking in the National Forest Facebook group: https://tinyurl.com/walkingintheNationalForest
