One of the advantages of getting away in your Motorhome is the pleasure you can get from walking along the many footpaths and trails in the English countryside and there are lots of camp sites that are very close to some great walking places.  Now of course we all know that walking is a healthy form of exercise – or is it?

Well yes, walking really is healthy thank goodness.  A brisk walk is one of the best forms of exercise you can get because it’s free for a start, anyone can do it, it tones you up and clears your head of all the everyday stuff and clutter that surrounds us and impacts our lives in one way or another.

You can walk on your own, with a partner, friends, or on a group walk and for those of us that either don’t have time or don’t want to visit a gym then it’s a perfect compromise.  The medical profession recommend walking and swimming as great exercises with very healthy benefits but out of the two walking for me is by far the best choice.

There are some precautions you do need to take to make your walking more enjoyable and worthwhile:

• Please take account of the climate and the fact that in certain regions this can change quite dramatically 2 or 3 times a day eg, the Peak District or the Lake District

• Make sure you wear plenty of sun block and a hat if you’re like me and thinning a little ( a lot ) on top.

• Bear in mind that as you walk uphill it will get windier and colder but that’s a small price to pay for the views.

• Wear stout shoes or trainers and do not wear jeans because if it does rain the cotton will just soak it up and will take ages to dry.  It is best to dress in layers that you can remove as you get hotter or the reverse as it gets later in the afternoon.

• I find that a drink and a snack always come in useful even on a short walk.

Are there any particular benefits that I think are more important that any others; well yes there are.  How about these:

• Just 10 minutes walking has immediate, mood busting qualities.  Even if you think you are too tired to walk it’ll energise you and raise your self esteem.

• Pick a sunny day to head into the hills.  According to experts looking into the effect of Seasonal Effective Disorder (SAD) there’s nothing like a natural vitamin D hit from the sun’s rays to raise your mood.  An energetic walk in the sunshine for just 30 minutes will help your body convert natural vitamin D levels and so raise a smile.

• Even 20 minutes walking can reduce the levels of Cortisol your body releases and so ease your anxiety.  Cortisol is designed to regulate blood pressure when you’re stressed, but you can have too much of it, especially when you’re under a lot of pressure.  Cortisol floods can overpower good hormones, upset sleep patterns and ruin your mood.

• Researchers have compared the benefits of a 30 minute country walk with that of a trip to an indoor shopping centre and the benefits of the country walk won by an outdoor mile.  Maybe retail therapy doesn’t work after all.

• Brisk walking is especially good for ridding us of the extra tummy fat that we can collect through the years and a direct benefit is that you can then reduce the risk of heart problems and strokes.

• Don’t walk alone if you want to keep the germs at bay.  There’s plenty of evidence to show that social support and camaraderie can boost your body’s defences.

When it comes to keeping your marbles and staying sharp as you get older, walking may actually be better than running since there’s more oxygen left in the blood to reach the brain than from most vigorous exercise.  Studies of women aged 50 and over found that those who walked 17 miles or more a week were about 40% less likely to experience mental decline than those who walked a half-mile or less.  I do hope this applies to men as well!!

Source : Country Walking April 09. Have a look at their excellent web site here.

Please also have a look at my earlier Walking with Wainwright post.