58
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How does water depth affect swimming safety? Why do signs, especially in the UK, say "DANGER: deep water"?
Well, there's the obvious issue that the bottom may shelve very steeply, so that non-swimmers trying to paddle may drown.
Beyond that, I think there's a specific point and a more general point.
...
- 11.7k
30
votes
Why would one choose to use a Harvey map rather than an Ordnance Survey map?
Well, if you've ever tried walking in countries like Spain or Italy, we should celebrate the fact that we are spoiled for choice. You can always get by with an OS, so why would you ever choose Harvey?
...
- 11.7k
29
votes
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How likely are you to be injured by falling shot from a game shoot?
Pheasant shooters will almost certainly be using shotguns, not rifles. A shotgun cartridge contains many small pellets, and they lose their velocity much more rapidly than bullets do. In fact, their ...
- 3,898
24
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How does water depth affect swimming safety? Why do signs, especially in the UK, say "DANGER: deep water"?
I cannot swim, so if I am expecting something to be shallow enough to stand in and then it turns out that it is much deeper then I will die.
Normally I would expect that water gradually get deeper ...
- 340
20
votes
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Deer activity in the wet
This behavior is well-known to be honest. There's this myth that white-tail activity increases if it rains (the deer seeks shelter). However, the truth is that this doesn't really affect the daily ...
- 23.5k
18
votes
How likely are you to be injured by falling shot from a game shoot?
Falling birdshot stings a little, but I've never known it break the skin. It's no worse than having a 5p piece dropped on you from a couple of feet up.
If you're on a public footpath, guns may not ...
- 4,662
17
votes
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Difference between a "path" and a "footpath"?
A path indication on the map means that when the mapper mapped it there was physically a path on the ground. It gives no indication as to who is or is not allowed to use that path.
The brown ...
- 287
16
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How does water depth affect swimming safety? Why do signs, especially in the UK, say "DANGER: deep water"?
One thing not yet mentioned is quickness and ease of rescue.
In my younger years, I was a trained lifeguard, and though my certification is long expired, I remember most of the concepts.
A ...
- 5,168
15
votes
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Is there a difference between Trail and Fell running?
I think the main difference is probably in British vs American (/rest of the world) English. Fell is a particularly British term referring to areas such as the Lake district that does not really have ...
- 7,089
14
votes
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Can you identify this lizard-like creature I observed in the UK?
That's not a lizard that's a smooth newt.
Source
None of the lizards in the UK look anything like that, and the tail and lines are what I am basing my identification off of.
Also see Attracting ...
- 69.2k
13
votes
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Getting into canoeing - UK
It will depend on whereabouts along the Thames you live but there are many canoe and kayak clubs and water-based outdoor recreation centres around. It is possible to get into it without any training ...
- 4,088
13
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Why would one choose to use a Harvey map rather than an Ordnance Survey map?
I've used OS 1:25k and 1:50k extensively in the UK. I also have a little experience of using 1:40k Harveys maps (Lake district, for mountain marathons).
I have been impressed with the Harveys: in ...
- 2,330
13
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OS Map Symbols - Black Dots
According to the Ordnance Survey legend, those are
BOUNDARIES
Civil Parish (CP); England
or Community (C); Wales
See page 6 of the legend under boundaries. There are no other small black dots on the ...
- 69.2k
12
votes
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Can you identify flying bats?
I absolutely love bats and always have.
In the UK we have eighteen species of bat. The Bat Conservation have a nice list for all the common UK species, including those which breed in the UK (which is ...
- 15.4k
12
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Did I see an Osprey?
The osprey does seem the most likely option. There are only a handful of breeding pairs in North Wales, but they are in your area so it's credible.
The wingspan of a small common buzzard starts at ...
- 11.7k
12
votes
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Is there a reason for seeing a lot of roadkill badgers in the spring?
Its a combination of the male badgers out looking for mates,
Springtime is the most perilous time for wild animals, says Whelan. “A lot of male badgers are killed in spring because they’re out ...
- 69.2k
11
votes
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Are there any inedible seaweeds on the UK coastline?
There is one poisonous: the Desmarestia. The other species should be okay. However, I can't say anything about if they are "worth eating" :)
Desmarestia is a genus of brown algae found worldwide. ...
- 23.5k
11
votes
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Where can I take a dip?
Here is a good summary of the legal position of swimming in the UK
www.river-swimming.co.uk/legal.htm
I think the opening line is most interesting "The right to swim is a complex issue which, in ...
- 933
11
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Is it illegal to walk on single or dual carriageways in the UK?
A motorway is very strictly defined and will always be named Mn or An(M). There are A roads sometimes called expressways that look a lot like motorways but they don't have hard shoulders and their ...
- 26.1k
11
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Do any of the routes up Scafell Pike start easy to a good "halfway point" where people can stop and return?
This is a bit tentative, as I haven't done it myself. So think of it as a suggestion to be looked at on the map, and apply all the usual precautions for mountain hiking, not just for you but for the ...
- 26.1k
10
votes
Can you identify flying bats?
The best way to identify bats in flight is to use a bat detector. This is a device with a microphone that listens to the bats high frequency calls, and plays them back at a lower frequency.
Bats use ...
- 894
10
votes
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What to do with a wet dog while camping
One very helpful thing is to brush him while you're towel drying. The brushing will help separate the hair to keep it from matting and will allow more air drying to occur.
Also, if you use chamois ...
- 520
10
votes
How does water depth affect swimming safety? Why do signs, especially in the UK, say "DANGER: deep water"?
Depth affects safety because you can't breathe if the water level is above your nose, when your feet are standing at the bottom. After that point, it doesn't matter much; there is no difference ...
- 101
10
votes
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Hiking/Scrambling Etiquette? (UK Specific)
It's not very different but here are a few things that might help
Coming up from behind, a greeting is more common than a warning. I'm often on a bike and if I'm gaining on a hiker or horse rider (on ...
- 26.1k
9
votes
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How to start foraging in the UK?
Foraging is actually really easy in the UK, there are plenty of easy start plants and berries you can look for.
Do you require anything specific to start doing this?
Realistically, no not at all, ...
- 15.4k
9
votes
Accepted
What type of bird seed attracts the most amount of birds?
This answer may apply to other countries but is pretty cert for the UK.
Bird feed sold in the UK (from big chain pet stores, to garden centres, to little corner shops) usually comes with a time of ...
- 15.4k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible