Getting outdoors is known to be good for your health and happiness, according to mental health charity Mind. We have plenty of ideas for you to get outside with friends and family, including accessible and inclusive country walks. Plus we feature some aids that can help you get outside with confidence if mobility or incontinence are an issue.
The weather is looking to get better at last, the landscape is getting greener and the Spring flowers are beginning to bloom. As the month of May is National Walking Month, why not get out and enjoy some fresh air and the bounty of nature, as well as enjoying your local community events this Spring.
Stiles, steps, slopes and other obstacles can be difficult or impossible to negotiate. But the countryside has become far more accessible in recent years, with many walks without stiles and wheelchair-friendly walks now available.
The Miles without Stiles project – set up to promote easy access, off-road mobility scooter and wheelchair-friendly walks – has removed many of the barriers people can face in accessing the countryside. Up and down the country, paths and their associated infrastructure have been provided or improved to enable inclusive access, so everyone can enjoy the delights of our beautiful rural areas. Miles without Stiles routes are easier to navigate for those with limited mobility, who use wheelchairs, are blind and/or have young children in pushchairs or elderly dogs.
All our National Parks have created Miles without Stiles walks. For details, read our National Parks Guide, and find your nearest National Park here.
3 ideas for finding a local easy access walk:3 ideas for finding a local easy access walk:
While you're out on a walk, move in a mindful way and focus on your breathing and the movement of your body.
As you're walking, observe the swaying of grasses in the breeze, smell the blossom and listen to the birds and the insects around you. Being outdoors boosts your mental wellbeing as well as giving you the physical benefits associated with movement: more strength, agility and stamina.
If going on a long walk or getting out of the city just isn't possible, you could simply try to be a little more active. One idea is to join the #Try20 initiative from Living Streets. Simply fit in 20 minutes walking each day. With the #Try20 campaign you'll receive 20 tips as well as handy guides to add more walking into your day. Are you ready to #WalkThisMay?
If you are less mobile, do try to get out of the house as often as you are able. You'll feel so much better breathing fresher air, seeing, smelling and hearing nature up close, whether it's in your local park, your back garden or even a window box or plant pot by the front door.
If you're not able to leave your home, there's no need for you to miss out. Take yourself on a visual trip to one of the best national parks around the world, where you can lose yourself in a 360 degree virtual tour.
If you're more active, here are some other fun ideas for you to do:
Some spirit-lifting things you can do outside without much effort:
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