A Breath of Fresh Air: The Benefits of Being Outdoors

Article | Brady Braddock, BSA Today Editor

The sun shimmered off the surface of the water as the ducks frolicked in the crystal-clear river, about 40 yards wide of the mountain. Wow, what a beautiful view!

No, this isn’t an introduction from the legendary David Attenborough, nor a yoghurt commercial - Dovedale is a valley in the Peak District in England.

A majestic beauty spot lying between the villages of Thorpe and Ilam on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border. This was my first visit to Dovedale and, as you can probably tell, it made quite an impression on me. Thankfully, with summer now here, we can all enjoy the sensation of being outdoors.

Dovedale, Derbyshire

From picturesque natural springs to glorious sanddune beaches, the UK is awash with stunning beauty spots. I, like many of you, had seen the endless stream of social media posts from friends, family and colleagues as they embraced the fresh air and began walking recreationally.

“Rather them than me,” I said out loud as they braved the elements in search of accomplishment or, more likely, to break the monotony of the last 12 months of lockdown. As I scrolled through these pictures on social media, though, one thing became apparent: regardless of their rosy cheeks, windswept hair or mud-caked clothing, they were smiling and seemed genuinely happy. I remember thinking, “I should give this a whirl”.

Depending on how you look at things, life can be stressful at the best of times as we juggle our work and family responsibilities.

Finding some time to unwind by taking in some fresh air is a no-brainer for your wellbeing. I’m no expert on the outdoors, but thanks to my trip to Dovedale, I’m now a keen rambler.

So, I thought I’d share just a few of the many benefits of getting outside and breathing in some good air.

• Walking can reduce stress and anxiety and improve your mental and physical wellbeing.

• Walking is a great form of exercise if you want to maintain your fitness and weight-loss goals.

• Walking every day increases your cardiovascular fitness, strengthens your bones, and boosts your endurance.

• Your body burns fat and sugar more efficiently while you’re walking.

• Walking tones your leg and abdominal muscles – increasing your range of motion and shifting the pressure from your joints to your muscles.

• Walking slows the development of arthritis and can reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

• Walking can reduce symptoms of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

• Research finds that people who exercise regularly in their 50s and 60s are 35% less likely to die over the next eight years than their non-walking counterparts.

• When walking, your breathing rate increases, causing oxygen to travel faster through your bloodstream, which helps to eliminate waste products, increase your energy level and improve your ability to heal.

• Walking for 20 minutes a day can reduce your susceptibility to dementia by 40%.