Winter Walking: Top Tips

Winter Walking: Top Tips
(courtesy of June & Aubrey Zaft http://www.country-walks.com)

Well, winter is now with us following a really wonderful autumn that has lasted so long that the leaves are still clinging to the trees. And winter is the theme of this newsletter in which we've included a number of tips which we hope will help to keep you well and safe.

Being in Nature

Many of us believe that being in nature is good for the soul. Now recent studies show that if you spend just 20 minutes a day outside you'll benefit from increased vitality and well-being. Being outdoors makes us feel more alive.

In our fast-paced world it can take a determined approach to ensure that nature and the outdoors still has a place in our lives. We are constantly accessible - by mobile phone, tablet, laptop; we rush around by car, train, plane and taxi. Sometimes we may barely make it outdoors at all. Let Nature help restore your energy levels. Research shows that those with a high level of vitality are less prone to illnesses. They feel happier and healthier. Next time you feel an energy dip, or feel down, get yourself outdoors.

It's particularly important to walk regularly in winter to help boost your immune system and keep all those nasty bugs at bay! So don't be tempted to hibernate: wrap up warm and get out and enjoy the fresh air, however cold it is outside.

Emily Bronte Communing with Nature

We would love to share with you this poem in which Emily Bronte is ushering in another winter with blissful anticipation.

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.
I shall smile -when wreaths of snow
Blossom where the rose should grow;
I shall sing when night's decay
Ushers in a drearier day.

Thought for the Day

"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it."     Kierkegaard, 1847
 

Walking Tip

We'll admit - it's always a bit of a pain removing mud from your boots after a winter walk. Try using the handle of an old teaspoon. It is small and firm enough to prise out mud without any danger of damaging the sole that can happen when a knife is used. We have tried small sticks in the past but they snap so now we keep an old teaspoon in our rucksac for this purpose. Finally bang the boots together to loosen any remaining dirt so that when you get home all you have to do is rinse the boots under the tap. Do let us know if you have any tips we can pass on to other walkers.

Stay Safe this Winter

We may tread carefully in icy conditions but it isn't always enough. Accidents are common and we personally know several people who have suffered long-term consequences of falls on ice. Protect yourself this winter with some Yaktrax or similar devices. We highly recommend pulling on a pair of these simple, light-weight ice grips over your regular walking shoes or winter boots when walking on packed snow and ice. With every step you take, hundreds of biting edges make contact with the ice. And they're very easy to pull off when entering a building. Here's the link (opens in a new window). At around £12 they're a very worth-while investment to keep you safe.