Wonderful Winter Walks - A New www?
- Jan 6
- 5 min read
Many of us use the start of a new year to review things we'd like to change, and taking a little time to reflect on the last year and how we might improve our lives can be greatly beneficial. We might want to lose weight, increase exercise, reduce spending, or spend less time doomscrolling. Whatever our plans, something as simple as taking a brisk walk outside can help support our resolutions.
There are many reasons why we don't always achieve our resolutions, not least that we try too hard and set unrealistic goals. With a little more planning and a little self-kindness, success will become more likely. It's important not to be too rigid in your desired outcome, and it can be much better to commit to starting and continuing a journey rather than focusing solely on the end goal. Change is better made in small increments, and reviewing and celebrating our tiny successes along the way allows us to enjoy the journey and modify the goal. We are in charge, and a good walk can help us stay in charge.
Why Walking?
According to NHS UK, walking is simple, free, and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight, and become healthier. It can be overlooked as a form of exercise, but walking briskly can help you build stamina, burn excess calories, and make your heart healthier too.
Meanwhile, according to the Mental Health Foundation, people who are inactive have three times the rate of moderate to severe depression compared to active people. There is also strong evidence to support the role of physical activity in the reduction of symptoms of depression and anxiety. Regular physical activity can reduce our risk of depression by up to 30%. Many other mental health benefits of being active have been identified too, including increased self-esteem, reduced stress, and improved quality of life. According to a Mental Health Foundation recent survey 82 percent of people in the UK agreed that physical activity is important to our mental health and wellbeing, but more than 33 percent of us are not meeting the recommended guidelines. So if we know it's good for us, why aren't we doing it?
Path Blockers
The Mental Health Foundation investigated why we're not doing what we know is good for us here's what they discovered is preventing us:
Poor weather 42%
Finding an enjoyable activity 31%
Cost of gym membership and classes in the local area 29%
More facilities/activities in the local area 19%
Local groups for beginers 15%
Support and Ideas to help them become more active in their daily lives 15%
A regular brisk 10-minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your 150 minutes recommended weekly exercise.
Where to begin
Look after your feet: You'll need any comfortable shoes or trainers, which provide sufficient support and do not cause blisters.
Be Prepared: For long walks, you may want to take some water, healthy snacks, a spare top, sunscreen and a sun hat in a small backpack. You may want to invest in a waterproof jacket and some specialist walking shoes for more challenging routes.
Safety: Do tell someone you trust when and where you plan to walk and if you're going into the countryside consider sharing your location with someone you trust and using what three words where postcodes and google maps won't reach.
Walking Q & A
How do I know if I'm walking fast enough?
A brisk walk is about 3 miles an hour, which is faster than a stroll.
You can tell you're walking briskly if you can still talk but cannot sing the words to a song.
What if I'm not very active?
If you're not very active but are able to walk, increase your walking distance gradually.
If your joints are a problem, check whether your local swimming pool holds exercise classes.
The water helps to support your joints while you move and can help you strengthen your muscles.
If you cannot leave the house, the NHS free Fitness Studio exercise videos may help.
How can I stay motivated
Make it a Habit
The easiest way to walk more is to make walking a habit.
Think of ways to include walking in your daily routine such as:
walking part of your journey to work
walking to the shops
using the stairs instead of the lift
leaving the car behind for short journeys
walking the kids to school
doing a regular walk with a friend
going for a stroll with family or friends after dinner
Listen to music
Walking while listening to music or a podcast can take your mind off the effort. It can also get you into a rhythm and help you walk faster. You'll be surprised at how fast the time goes when you're walking to your favourite tunes.
Mix it up
Add variety to your walks. You do not have to travel to the countryside to find a rewarding walk.
Towns and cities offer interesting walks, including parks, heritage trails, canal towpaths, riverside paths, commons, woodlands, heaths and nature reserves.
Join a walking group
Walking in a group is a great way to start walking, make new friends and stay motivated.
Ramblers organises group walks for health, leisure and as a means of getting around for people of all ages, backgrounds and levels of fitness.
Cheadle Walks
The one to Kingsley Village - ST10 1JT
Walk down from the Froghall Road end of Highfield Avenue until it emerges into an open field. Take the gate that leads into this field and follow the well trodden path through many fields as far as you want to go or until it emerges at Kingsley Village.
The one with a pub - Park Lane - ST10 1PD
Follow the path at the cul-de-sac end which opens out into fields. Keeping Cheadle in sight, (on your left) this route reads out towards Dilhorne and at the crossroads is the popular Huntsman Pub.
The one with play equipment - Donkey Lane - ST10 2ED
Just past the Persimmons Pottery Gardens Estate is a footpath on the right. Go past the play equipment (open for all to use), and out into countryside which can lead back into Cheadle emerging at Tay Close.
Cecilly Brook Nature Reserve Walk - ST10 1HJ
Parking is available at the near by Leisure Centre where toilets are also available during opening hours. Head towards Ashbourne Road which is crossed to gain access to Cecilly Brook which follows the stream to the Churchill Road Recreation Ground. A return trip back to the car via the same route takes about 20 mins
The one around the fishing pool, Hales Hall Pool - ST10 4QR
From the High Street turn right then left at the mini roundabout, this will take you onto the Oakamoor Road then turn left just before the turning for Hales Hall Campsite. There is a small car park here and this walk is short but lovely, its a circular walk around the pool with ducks and wildlife. This is a fishing pool so please treat this one as a quiet space.
Wonderful Winter Walks - a new www? - created 3.1.26
