Walk yourself HEALTHY

Revitalise your walking and supercharge your wellbeing with advice from health and walking expert Dr Nick Summerton

- TANYA PEAREY

Walking is a powerful medicine. If you remain active, you are less likely to suffer from strokes, heart problems, diabetes, dementia or even cancer. A walk strengthens bones, lowers blood pressure, improves our thinking and makes us feel better.

Some people worry about doing exercise if they have other health problems, but keeping fit can often help – many people with cancer feel much better and do much better if they continue to walk while on treatment. Just ask your own doctor for advice.

Although it is important to try to get a dose of exercise every day, don’t stick to a single prescription. Think about altering where you walk, when you walk, who you walk with and how you walk. New experiences will make your rambles more interesting – and even give you some extra health benefits too.

Here are seven suggestions to freshen up your walking.

Look back and look up

Our country has a rich heritage: the fossilised remains of ancient life, and the marks of early humans on the landscape, in addition to forts, castles, churches, abbeys and cathedrals. Immersing ourselves in all this has been shown to help our mental wellbeing.

The archaeological remains of the Romans are scattered widely across the country and are often found in stunning locations. The panoramas from Hardknott Fort, Cawthorne Camp or the Lydney Temple always raise my spirits. Circumnavigating the Roman walls of Silchester or Caerwent is a great antidote to the stresses of modern life.