World Health Day: 7th April Country walks are route to good health

Health talk is hot news, with the Government’s latest initiative to give the over 40s a health ‘MOT’, and World Health Day upon us again.

But RIAS has a solution for anyone concerned about fitness: get out and get walking!

“We all have a responsibility to take appropriate steps to improve our personal health,” says RIAS Managing Director Janet Connor, “and it’s well known that one of the best ways to get and stay fit is by taking a brisk walk everyday. There’s no need to spend money joining the local gym for this type of exercise - the RIAS sponsored National Trust walks programme provides a free and accessible ‘green gym’ to walkers of all abilities.”

Walking reduces the risk of heart disease, increases circulation, aids weight loss and generally improves all round fitness levels. Medical advice from several sources, including the Government’s own Department of Health, is that just a 30 minute daily walk is enough to make a significant improvement in health. The RIAS sponsored National Trust walks provide a number of different healthy walking options for people of all ages. There are over 70 available, with more to come, in some of the most spectacular locations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

They range from coastal pathways to footpaths across formal parkland, and from woodland trails to open landscapes, and it’s the variety which makes walking to get fit a much more stimulating and rewarding pursuit than several hours on the treadmill can deliver. They also vary in length from a couple of miles to more substantial treks that take half a day or more to complete. Each is graded for difficulty, so anyone new to walking can start gently and become more adventurous as fitness levels improve over time.

The RIAS sponsored National Trust walks are free, and downloadable from the website at nationaltrust.org/walks.