A stroll is good for body and soul but a canter along the coast is a true tonic
Why is there nothing quite like a stroll along the sea? Walking anywhere outdoors is good for you; a chance to get your heart pumping, fill your lungs with fresh air and clear your head a little. But there’s definitely something a bit special about a coastal walk, especially at this time of year.
Perhaps, as we straddle two seasons, the idea of walking in hinterlands, along ‘the edge of something’, strolling between one world and the next, is appealing: one foot firmly on land, the other lapped by waves. Autumn’s a bit like that isn’t it?
Or maybe it’s that a day spent in the sunshine is something of a last hurrah right now. As Autumn Proper beckons and evenings get darker, managing a day out by the sea feels like an easy win against the elements, as well as a chance to bank some fresh air and sunlight before we all become just a little more home-based.
Some 2015 research by the National Trust showed that a coastal walk also gave us 47 minutes’ more rest on average the following night. And who couldn’t do with some extra sleep as summer draws to a close? The NT has put together a list of some of the best coastal walks around the UK. Why not get out there and make the most of an Indian summer this weekend? You’ve nothing to lose and 47 minutes’ of sleep to gain (plus the possibility of squeezing in some last-minute sand-between-your-toes, pebbles-in-your-pocket end-of-summer fun).
In our September ‘Begin’ issue, Clare Gogerty visits East Neuk for our Weekend Away feature, and walks some of the Fife coastal path. Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe
