Tuesday 4th November 2025
Explore the Benefits of an Autumn Walk
Lace up your walking boots and get out and about!
Whether you're wandering around your local park, strolling through the city, or exploring our circular walk along the Yeo Valley Way Trail atop the Mendips, be sure to take in all the sights and sounds this season offers—from falling golden leaves to dramatic mists. These moments can lift your mood and enhance your overall wellbeing.
Walking Mindfully
Walking lets you connect with nature; you can breathe in the crisp air and notice the falling leaves; it gives you a chance to reset. This is even more important now, as we race towards the end of the year, with earlier nights, the days get shorter, and our lives may be getting busier with the festive season approaching. Science agrees with a 2019 study that revealed that just 20 minutes in nature can lower your stress and boost serotine levels.1 While you enjoy the scenery, you’re also doing yourself a world of good.
Physical Benefits
As well as all the mental benefits of going on an adventure and walking more, there are, of course, physical benefits as well. It can help with memory and help your brain work better as walking increases blood flow, oxygen, and nutrients to the brain, and it can also stimulate the growth of new brain cells and connections.2 Walking also keeps your bones strong as you age and can reduce the risk of problems like osteoporosis.3
Sleep Soundly
After all that walking and being in the fresh air, you’ll also get better sleep. Taking a walk first thing in the morning, when it's finally light, helps to maintain your body’s natural body clock, which is important at this time of year as the days get darker. It has also been found that those who do moderate exercise, like walking, sleep better and for longer.4
Our in-house nutritionist, Dr Alice, says.
“As a nutritionist, I am often talking about how diet is just one piece of the puzzle and that other lifestyle measures, such as exercise, are also important when it comes to overall health and well-being. When talking about exercise, people often think they need to hit the gym hard, but simply increasing movement by walking is fantastic and is so beneficial to health.”
On top of all that, it is a chance to connect not only with nature and discover new things on your walks, but also to connect with friends and your community. Plus, the very best bit of an autumnal walk is warming up in the pub, such as our pub, The New Inn in Blagdon. If you would like some walking inspiration, check out our Yeover Mendip Walks Book available at our HQ and The New Inn.
