May is National Walking Month

Dig out those hiking boots....because May is National Walking Month.

 

Next week it’s Walk To Work Week (May 9-13) and the following week, it’s Walk To School (May 16-20).

 

Walking, as every self-respecting dog (and its owner) will tell you, is a great way to stay healthy, happy and sane! It’s cheap (usually free), helps reduce stress and anxiety and can even boost concentration levels (why not walk to work next week and see the difference for yourself).

 

In fact walking for just half an hour each morning really can transform fitness levels and, unlike running or jogging, it’s a low impact activity which is kinder to hips and knees, making injuries low risk.

 

And when you’re surrounded by the kind of stunning landscape we’re lucky enough to live in, what’s not to like?

 

There’s lots of ways to get involved and make walking a priority in your own family or workplace this month; you could organise a family walk to the beach for a picnic this weekend; contact the local Dogs Trust (Ilfracombe) and offer to walk some of the animals waiting to be re-homed or simply take time out to enjoy a walk with work colleagues in your lunch break.   

 

You might, like The Plantsman who contributes to this site, walk to look for rare plants or you might take a wander through the woodlands at Rosemoor; the stunning RHS garden we have on our doorstep.

Whatever your destination, you’ll discover what all walkers already know – that every walk is a mini adventures, whether it’s the light, the plants, the wildlife or the landscape that catches your attention.

 

National Walking Month is organised by Walk England (http://www.walkengland.org.uk) in conjunction with Living Streets (http://www.livingstreets.org.uk) so check both those websites for more ideas.

 

Another company that celebrates the joys of walking is Walks Around Britian (www.walksaroundbritain.co.uk) which is currently inviting Bideford People to nominate their favourite local (or nearby) walks to feature in a new series of national video walking guides. You can visit the website to nominate your favourite walk or tweet it to @walksbritain.

Happy Walking!