Why Hiking in the Lake District is the best Fitness New Years’ Resolution

With all that’s gone on this year, you may want to start the New Year by getting out and about a bit more. If your resolution is to become fitter and maybe lose a few of those extra Christmas pounds you put on during the festive period, hiking in the Lake District is a good place to start.

Starting a New Years resolution in a charming Lake District cottage, spending your days exploring the fells and then relaxing by the fire in the evening will give your resolution the best start and you will want to come back to this beautiful place throughout the year!

Fresh Air is Good for You

Crisp fresh air is good for the soul. Rather than running on a treadmill in a stuffy gym, it’s a lot healthier to get out in the open. Fresh air not only affects our physical health but can boost our mental health as well.

Winter might not seem the best time to get up into the fells but the views are spectacular and, as long as you have the right equipment, it’s the perfect way to set yourself up for the day.

Walking is Better Than the Gym

Walking is an all-round exercise that is excellent for every part of the body. It’s brilliant for weight loss and can also be pretty social if you go with other people. The other thing that makes a difference is that you can choose a walk to suit your current level of fitness and build up over time.

There is some evidence that a good, brisk walk burns more calories than spending time in the gym. If you’re tackling a challenging trail and heading uphill, you’ll burn even more energy.

For example, a treadmill is a flat and pretty uninspiring surface. With rough terrain that you often find in the Lake District, you’re constantly having to use different muscles as you navigate your way along. That means you’re not just using your leg muscles but your shoulders, back, arms and that all-important core.

Walking can also be quite addictive. One of the reasons why gym memberships often expire just a few weeks or months after January is that they’re quite boring places to get fit. That’s all you do there. With a walk in the country, there are brilliant views to take in and nothing is ever the same.

Lake District Fells

In the Lake District, you can hike up difficult fells, traverse lakes or find long-hidden trails through the woods. You can explore the local wildlife, feel a sense of achievement when you get to a summit and engage with other people along the way.

Walking in the Lake District is a wonderful way to get fit and, if you want things to be more social, you can join a local group that organises regular outings.

Hiking in the Lake District is Free!

Of course, the other brilliant thing is that walking in the Lake District is completely free. Yes, you have to invest in some good walking boots and safety gear, but after that, all you need to do is get yourself to a specific location.

If you don’t want to waste your money on gym memberships and would prefer an activity that is far more engaging and which you’re likely to maintain over time, consider going for more hikes in the Lake District this January.