Let’s get walking! That’s the message this month, also known as National Walking Month!

And what a month to get walking! According to the met office, May boasts an average of 185.9 hours of sunshine and an breezy average temperature of 14.7 degrees in the UK. With recent temperatures already busting that average this is certainly the perfect month to give your legs a gentle work out.

We love this opportunity get fit and save ourselves some pennies. Even more motivating are the statistics included in a report last year. The report suggested that if people in England did the recommended 150 minutes exercising per week, we could be saving 37000 lives every year, preventing 6700 cases of breast cancer and reducing cases of type 2 diabetes by 300000.

Huge numbers aren’t they? And to think all it takes is putting one foot in front of the other a few times a week – to the shops, to work, round to your friends’ house.

In fact, the week starting 12th May Walk to Work Week. A week officially dedicated to get you and your colleagues walking to work. Walking to work with your colleagues is great way to encourage a little fun competition in the workplace whilst invoking a sense of team spirit. To find out more – follow this link.

If you don’t work – don’t worry! Walking is one of the most inclusive kinds of exercise, suitable for all ages. (If you use a walking stick – read our post on how to make the most of your walking stick and use it safely when you are out and about.)

Walking is not too strenuous and is the kind of exercise that is gentle on your muscles. You can take the whole family, stroll and catch up with friends or if you prefer, you can get your walking boots on and wander by yourself.

Aimless ambling has many benefits other than keeping you healthy and fit. A mindless ramble will get your creative juices flowing. Walking is thought to have inspired many great writers, including Virginia Woolf and Charles Dickens.

Strolling through the countryside or a city can lead to a path of discovery beyond the mind too; a mindless stroll can lead you a literal new discovery. You may stumble across new hidden treasures, new architecture, shops, historic buildings, a brilliant café, a new green space.

Of course, walking, as an alternative to using a car, is a better for the environment as it reduces the amount of carbon dioxide we put out into the atmosphere. The fresh air and clear head is bound to leave you feeling good. A study by Mind found that 88% of people saw an improvement in the mood after going for a walk.

A few tips from us when planning your aimless rambles:
• If you have GPS on your phone – use it! You can make use of the maps on your phone by either panning walking routes, or if you prefer the “aimless” approach, you can use your GPS as way to help you find your way back.
• Take your bus pass with you. If you are elderly, or not used to exercising keep your bus pass with you in case you find yourself too so tired you cannot walk home.
• Keep some change on you. You never know what hidden gems you may find – you stumble across the most delicious juice bar and regret not having enough change to give one a try!
• Finally, keep an umbrella with you. We may be approaching the summer solstice next month, but England will always be England and you never know when you may get caught in a shower!

We hope you enjoy all the walking and let us know what you discover on your walks this May!