We’ll soon be out on the road again and once you reach your destination, there’s no better way to explore than on foot, says Marcus Leach. Here he recalls some favourite family hikes

Marcus Leach

FOR MUCH LONGER than I care to, or can actually remember now, I have been craving space and the freedom to go somewhere, anywhere that isn’t home. Instead, I have found myself, along with the rest of the nation, confined behind the all-too-familiar walls of my house and my mind.

At last, after many long weeks, it seems there’s light at the end of what has been a very dark tunnel.

With the restrictions on movement and our ability to travel to outdoor spaces now slowly starting to ease, and with a roadmap of how they will continue to do so being laid out, there is a rising sense of optimism that all of us might yet be able to get away on a trip or two during the summer.

There being no imminent prospect of any travel abroad is a lesser concern, because we have all that we need right here in our green and pleasant land.

It is that very land that I, and many others, have craved. The rolling hills, craggy mountains, magical woodlands and vast open spaces.

For that reason, as we tentatively start planning our first post-lockdown journey, our focus is on submerging in the wilderness – and for our family, there’s no better way to do that than by walking. What’s more, given that many of the local attractions might well remain closed for some time, and with the continued need to maintain social distancing, it’s one of the few activities still available.