Now that the majority of us have finished all things turkey, and waved goodbye to gorging on far too much food, thoughts inevitably turn towards New Year’s resolutions and vows to stay fit and healthy. Whilst gym memberships and dieting often fall by the wayside by mid-January, resolving to take regular country walks could well help you to achieve your goal of a healthy lifestyle. Even though many see walking as the soft option, there is an increasing body of scientific research that suggests that donning your outdoor clothing and heading for a walk is great for both body and mind.

Walk, Don’t Run!

It has long been supposed that running long distances is not what our bodies were designed for; conversely, our ancestors used to walk massive distances. “Our ancestors weren’t running around. They were walking an estimated 15 miles a day when they were hunter gatherers,” supposes Michael Delpege of the University of Essex. It is estimated that the strain on the joints when running is almost double that of when walking.

Great for your Bottom, and your Brain

Walking is said to be fantastic exercise for your backside, as long as you “do it with a long stride” according to fitness expert Lucy Wyndham Read. American scientists have concluded that walking increases the size of your brain. A study at the University of Illinois found that those who walked for forty minutes a day had increased brain mass of up to two per cent following the yearlong experiment.