"Walking is a man's best medicine" - HippocratesÂ
My Evolving Relationship With Walking
If there’s one medicine I’ll gladly take every day, it’s walking. No prescriptions, no side effects - just fresh air, movement, and a clearer mind.
My dad, if he were alive today, would probably be spluttering into his coffee on reading this, for little Katie did NOT share his love of walking. Most of my childhood memories of walking involve me dragging behind, sulking about the injustice of being made to go for a walk. (Sorry mum and dad!) It’s fair to say that walking was not one of my preferred activities. I would walk to places but I could see no good reason to walk just for the sake of going for a walk!
Fast forward to today, and it’s hard to imagine my life without walking. It has become more than just a way to get from one place to another. Walking is my way to reset, recharge, and reconnect with myself. Like any good journey, my relationship with walking has evolved over time, shaped by a four-legged companion, a global pandemic, and a growing appreciation for the simple joy of putting one foot in front of the other.
As I grew out of my teens I found that I actually quite enjoyed walking with my parents or with friends. I sometimes joined my dad for his evening constitutional as he called it. During my university years, walking was a great way to explore new parts of the city. With my favourite songs in my ears and my portable CD player in my hand, pounding the streets and parks of Edinburgh was the perfect antidote to university stress.
When Toby, our Labrador, arrived nine years ago, daily walks became a non-negotiable integral part of everyday life. He’s out at least twice a day, every day, come rain, hail, or shine. And believe me, in Scotland, we get all three! Fellow dog owners will understand: walking with your dog adds a whole new dimension to any walk - they introduce you to a new way of seeing the world as well as to other dogs and owners. I adore watching Toby’s sheer enthusiasm for his walks! Maybe it’s rubbed off on me.
I suppose the next evolution in my relationship with walking could be attributed to the COVID lockdown of 2020. This was when walking became not just a means of exercise or something we did for Toby. The restrictions we lived under during this time meant that if we wanted to see people, it had to be done outside. So walking became a way of socialising. As the restrictions gradually began to ease, home visits, dinner or coffee dates were still off the table but we were able to replace these things with getting together for walks in the fresh air. I quickly realised that there were real benefits to this; not only was it physically better for us, there was no one reminding us to vacate a table after two hours so we could walk and chat for hours uninterrupted. The other bonus was that it was free!
Five years on, while I do still enjoy meeting for dinner or coffee for a treat, I have kept up the habit of walking with friends. As I write this I realise that some of the most fun I’ve had with my friends in the last few years has been related to walking such as the time my friend and I realised we were lost on the Rob Roy Way and couldn’t move for laughing! We had been far too busy yapping, missed a turn within the first mile and walked several miles before we even realised we were not where we should have been. We then took a five mile detour rather than climb the hill we had wrongly walked down - I love walking but not so much uphill!
But the real shift has been that I now also love walking on my own (or with Toby). There are not many things that make me feel physically or mentally better than a long, brisk walk in the fresh air. These days the opportunity to have a whole day to just walk is such a treat. Who’d have thought?!
The Mental and Physical Health Benefits of Walking
I can vouch for so many of the claims about the benefits of walking for mental and physical health. Walking is one of the most effective tools to keep my anxiety under control which is why I prioritise it. My walks are a time to clear my head, work through my thoughts and learn from my podcasts. It’s when I have the best conversations with myself. There’s also something to be said for the effects of being out in nature and taking in the sights, sounds and smells.. I try to start some of my walks with nothing in my ears so that I can listen to the birds, especially the woodpecker who lives in our local woods.
What Happens When I Don’t Walk
There have been times when the option of walking has been removed for me. That’s when I’ve truly learned the importance of it on my mental (and physical) health.Â
My first bout of COVID in March 2020 was my most severe. Having a shower drained me of energy and walking up the stairs left me breathless. So no walkies for me for over three weeks. I was so excited to get out for my first walk on our wedding anniversary. The daffodils were blooming and I was able to take in the strangely empty roads of lockdown. Physically, it took me several weeks to build back up to my usual pace and distance. The lockdown baking probably didn’t help, but I also noticed weight gain during those weeks without my usual walks.Â
Mentally, I recognised that my anxiety increased although some of this could be attributed to the surreal time we were all living through. Last year, however, I had an enforced break from walking which affected only me, as opposed to the whole nation. After an accident which left me with a broken shoulder, I spent most of the summer stuck in a chair. It was grim. I missed my walks so badly. Once again, my weight crept up and my mood plummeted. There were days where I was really quite miserable and I think this was when I realised just how much I need to walk. It’s only in the last few months that I’ve felt I’m back to my usual pace and distance when walking and I’m so grateful to be able to get out there again and blow off the cobwebs.
My Favourite Walking Spots
I consider myself fortunate to live where I do - in central Scotland with an abundance of scenic walking routes. I have access to stunning coastlines as well as forests, lochs and pretty towns and cities to explore. It’s hard to pick a favourite.
My London Strolls
At this very moment, if you were to ask me where my favourite place to walk is, my answer would be London, my Happy Place. That’s probably because I recently returned from one of my trips and am missing my city strolling. Walking is my favourite way to explore this city and I regularly spend whole days pounding its streets. There’s always such a vibrant variety of colours, landscapes, buildings and people to feast my eyes on, I don’t seem to get tired when I’m walking in London. The joy of being there seems to power my legs to let me walk and walk!
The Healing Power of the Beach
A few weeks ago, however, after a particularly busy and stressful spell, it was a long, bracing beach walk I craved. Really craved - I was desperate to just be on a beach and walk until I ran out of beach. On the day that this was finally possible, I took myself to one of my favourite beaches in St Andrews. Just as it does when I step off the plane in London, my chest loosened the second I glimpsed the sea. I didn’t even listen to anything that day other than the waves crashing, children playing and dogs barking with delight. It was bliss. I felt renewed after that walk, ready to face whatever life had to throw at me next.
The Significance of National Walking Day
Wednesday 2nd April is National Walking Day 2025, a day planned to raise awareness of the many health benefits of walking. With obesity rates and mental health difficulties rising and impacting on quality of life for so many people, it seems like an important day to get involved with.Â
National Walking Day aims to encourage people of all ages and abilities to get out for a walk, whether it’s an ultra hike, climbing a mountain, pavement pounding around your city or a gentle stroll round the block.Â
Steps Anyone?...
Whether you're a seasoned walker or just starting out, why not take a few extra steps on April 2nd? You never know where your next walk might lead you. It might just be the start of a love affair with an activity that’s easy, free and so good for you.
Remember what Hippocrates said - think of it as taking your medicine.
So, what’s your favourite walk? Share it in the comments, your recommendation might just inspire someone else to get their shoes on and step outside!