Walking is such an amazing activity.
It’s often called the perfect exercise, the reason being that it’s an exercise that almost everyone can do. You can do it from your front door; you need very little gear; you can do it alone or with others; it’s open to all ages, sexes and races; no training is required; it’s a low-impact, aerobic exercise; you can do it where you want when you want and for as long as you want; it’s non-competitive and it brings so many mental and physical benefits. My current list has 41 health benefits on it and it’s not exhaustive.
No matter where you are in the world there are places to walk.
Walking is such an amazing activity.
It’s often called the perfect exercise, the reason being that it’s an exercise that almost everyone can do. You can do it from your front door; you need very little gear; you can do it alone or with others; it’s open to all ages, sexes and races; no training is required; it’s a low-impact, aerobic exercise; you can do it where you want when you want and for as long as you want; it’s non-competitive and it brings so many mental and physical benefits. My current list has 41 health benefits on it and it’s not exhaustive.
No matter where you are in the world there are places to walk.
They can include places that are close to home but you may not have found them yet; well-known places that are on your bucket list perhaps and being open and curious is a great way to approach things.
In the UK, we are so lucky to have every kind of terrain under the sun – undulating hills; large mountains; moorland; the coast; canals and rivers; national parks and places of outstanding beauty; long-distance paths; quaint villages; local parks; city parks; old disused railway lines etc.
In the USA, I have walked in many of the National Parks and there is great variation from somewhere like Monument Valley to Arches National Park to Yosemite and, as the US is a much larger country, visiting many of these may be a major trip. When I have been in Vancouver, one of my favourite cities, I have loved morning walks in Stanley Park and walking is my favourite way to see a city.
In contrast, I have stayed with friends all over the world in small and large countries where I have been able to walk close to their homes along a beach, a carefully planned pathway that connects neighbourhoods and included play areas on route and along some of the city walks, rivers and local areas. Walking is a great way to get to know a new place.
Achieving distance and mileage is not the main thing as far as I am concerned.
Local walks are on the same level as ones you take when on holidays or on a day out, in your own country or elsewhere. You are in control, you decide where you go depending on what you want and what suits all of you.
New to all of this activity? Start small and build and ask for tips and suggested routes.
One way to increase your activity is to plan some mini walking adventures that you can take alone or with family or friends. You will find all you need to plan one in our Walking Toolkit. Grab your copy here.
