Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Walks of Marlborough 5: options for all
Before the lockdown began in March, I had been advocating for the greater use of the many walkways, tracks and paths around and in Blenheim itself.
My wife recently walked with friends along the Snout in Picton. She reported a great longer walk with lovely views and a good stretch of the legs, along with the companionship and camaraderie of being with old friends.
Those, in essence, are the reasons for walking; physical and mental health both benefit. It is a very human activity, and one we are very well designed to do.
Director-General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, has encouraged us to keep up this activity which got people out of their houses for exercise.
In the past two weeks, I have walked about the top end of town and in the Wither Hills.
My Sunday walking group walked up to the ridge on the Mt Vernon track to the Henge, where we take a coffee break, and then walked back down the Sutherland Stream. That walk is a good stretch of the thighs and does need a certain level of fitness, and warm clothing. It was surprising to see how many people are now doing that walk as compared to pre-Covid times.
A short walk suitable for a person walking with a stick starts at the Howick Rd carpark at the base of Harling Park, goes past the west boundary of Witherlea School and along the Mckenzie Stream, out onto McKenzie St and then back along Howick Rd and to the carpark.
Other walks based on Harling Park have options ranging from going up and along the hills or walking along their base and through Blenheim streets as well. More on that in next month’s issue.
These little by-ways and paths are all over town and there are maps and directions available for them at the council office, for example, or online.
All age groups use these tracks and paths, and the range is so wide that people in wheelchairs can use some; likewise people with walking sticks, right up to the fittest of runners.
See you out there sometime?