With the extension of Covid restrictions in Northern Ireland, it is important to remember that it is incredibly important to still get out and exercise for your physical and mental health.
The advisory guidance of staying within 10 miles of home for this exercise is still in place and intended to help reduce the potential spread of the virus. If you or a friend have an accident on the trails and need an ambulance, it’s adding pressure to the NHS at a time when it is already severely overburdened. We’ve our fingers crossed that in a few month’s time we’ll be back to normal and can take the bikes all over the country!
Leaving Home: You may leave your home for exercise, as permitted in the regulations.
Travel: You should not travel more than 10 miles from your home in order to take exercise.
Outdoor Gatherings: Up to six people (including children of all ages) from a maximum of two households can meet outdoors for a permitted reason. You should maintain social distancing by being at least two meters apart, as well as good hand and respiratory hygiene practices.
Outdoor Areas: Outdoor parks, play areas, outdoor areas of properties operated by the National Trust, and the outdoor areas of stately homes, historic homes, and castles are permitted to remain open.
Exercising Outdoors: You should minimise time spent outside your home. You can leave your home to exercise in a public outdoor place: by yourself, with the people you live, with your bubble
or, when on your own, with one person from another household
You should not travel more than 10 miles from your home in order to take exercise. If, when you arrive at your proposed destination, there are crowds that will make social distancing difficult you should find an alternative place to exercise.
Outdoor Sport: Outdoor sport is not permitted, other than at the elite level. You cannot participate in personal one-to-one training sessions or group activities such as running or cycling
Spending time outdoors can significantly improve physical and mental wellbeing. To stay safe outdoors, you should follow the ‘Be Outdoor Smart – Leave No Trace – Love The Place’ guidance by:
Planning ahead – check if your destination will be open and what facilities are available
Respecting the emergency services – now is not the time to end up in the hospital
Scaling back your ambitions – choose activities that are within your skills and capabilities
Parking with care – careless parking can create a road hazard or block access for Emergency Services, local farmers, and residents
Avoiding peak times and popular sites to help maintain social distancing
Bringing and using hand sanitiser, especially after touching surfaces and wash your hands as soon as you are back indoors
Respecting the wishes of landowners, local communities, and other users of the site
Keeping at least 2 meters apart from anyone outside your household or bubble where possible
Not leaving your house if you have any COVID-19 symptoms or if you are self-isolating
