Article from Brecon Beacons National Park
Last Updated: 04 April 2008 09:47
Walking for Health at Craig-y-nos Country Park
Why not come along to our Sunday health walks around the delightful grounds of this Park within a Park and begin a journey of discovery. These walks will help you to improve your health and rediscover a sense of wellbeing whilst learning about the natural world around you. Everyone is welcome to join in. Please see the listings below and put the dates in your diary!
All the walks listed below start at the Country Park (car park charges apply) at 10am for one hour and cover an approximate distance of 2 miles (3.2 km). For more details call Country Park Warden, Ageliki Politis on 01639 730395.
The National Park Authority has been working closely with the Healthy Living Centre in Ystradgynlais to establish these walks which support the Healthy Living Centre’s own programme of health walks, taking place every Wednesday and Friday from 10 – 11.30am which you are also very welcome to join. Please phone Martin Bevan on 07977 102913 to check the details of the Ystradgynlais Health Walks before setting off.
10 Reasons to Walk
• Makes you feel good
• Reduces stress, helping you relax and sleep better
• Improves your physical health
• Gives you a chance to meet other people
• Can be done by almost anyone and needs no special kit
• Is cheap and can be done anywhere at anytime
• Helps you see more of your surroundings
• Doesn’t hurt
• Saves you money
• Helps the environment
A health walk is: "a purposeful, brisk walk undertaken on a regular basis"
The following dates are all SUNDAYS:
20 APRIL: Around the Grounds of the Country Park
4 MAY: Watery Places
15 JUNE: Flowers
29 JUNE: Food
13 JULY: Trees
10 AUGUST: Around the Grounds of the Country Park
24 AUGUST: Food
7 SEPTEMBER: Around the Grounds of the Country Park
21 SEPTEMBER: Autumn Trees
5 OCTOBER: Food
19 OCTOBER: Adelina Patti
16 NOVEMBER: Navigating
30 NOVEMBER: Geology
14 DECEMBER: Winter Trees
28 DECEMBER: Around the Grounds of the Country Park
11 JANUARY 2009: Navigating
25 JANUARY 2009: Geology
8 FEBRUARY 2009: Identifying Birds
22 FEBRUARY 2009: Around the Grounds of the Country Park
The short definition of a health walk is: "a purposeful, brisk walk undertaken on a regular basis" and it can include any walk which is specifically designed and carried out for the purpose of improving a person’s health.
For cardiovascular health, the walk needs to be purposeful and 'brisk' (in other words more than just a stroll). Moreover it is a structured or semi-structured activity which is carried out on a regular basis as part of someone’s exercise regime.
Walking (without the 'health' bit) is a healthy activity as the physical exertion involved has health benefits, regardless of intensity. Organised walks (brisk or not) can also have a positive health impact on people by providing opportunities to socialise (good social networks enhance health) and a distraction from everyday stresses (stress contributes to poor health).
It is the relevant intensity of the walk and the regularity of participation that can really have an impact on our health.
