‘Hiking makes me feel positive and strong’
When Alison Goodwin, 54, felt frazzled living in the city, hill walking became the solution – and it was even a life-saver during a health crisis
I feel uplifted, strengthened and rejuvenated
As a child growing up in Worcestershire, I was surrounded by beautiful countryside, but I dreaded being dragged out for family walks. It didn’t seem any fun at all. I moved to London at the age of 17 to work for a travel agency and, a decade later, went to study environmental management at Manchester Metropolitan University.
In my late 20s, I began to tire of living in the city. Fast-paced life and constant stimulation frazzled my brain, so I began to seek solace in green spaces. Once a month, my friends and I would get on the train and head to the Peak or Lake District and spend the entire day hiking. It was the best medicine for clearing my mind and, although I was exhausted by the end of it, I also felt vibrant and energised.
After my degree, I carried on travelling to the hills every week with friends, hiking between eight and 15 kilometres. I bought all the kit – hiking boots, thermals, rucksack and waterproof trousers – so I could go out in all weathers. The tingly feeling that would run through my body after a challenging walk was incredible.
Then, in 2017, I got a job as a project officer at the North York Moors National Park and moved to Brandsby in North Yorkshire, surrounded by miles of fields and moorlands, with the most fantastic hiking routes right on my doorstep.
LIFE-SAVER
Every day I walk up to three miles and find that if I don’t, I feel like a caged animal. If I am not working – at weekends – I will plan a route and walk anything up to 18 miles. There’s so much more to hiking than just the physical exercise – it’s about noticing your surroundings and reconnecting with nature, which helps me feel grounded and alive.
Walking even helped save my life when I became very ill in my 40s. I was diagnosed with a yeast infection in my gut, which eventually spread to my blood stream. My body crashed and I suffered from chronic fatigue. As a result, going for even just the shortest of walks became important and gave me a positive boost that helped me keep things in perspective.
Finally, two years ago, I set up Adventures For The Soul, through which I take groups on walks off the beaten track around the North York Moors and help them reconnect with the world. We do all sorts of walks: mindful walking, as well as walking at night, in the forest and along the coast. People always say it’s the ideal antidote to stressful, busy lives and that it helps their minds escape constant chatter.
Hiking still does this for me, too. It brings me back to the present, away from any worries, so I can let them go. I feel uplifted, strengthened and rejuvenated. Not to mention that my body loves the activity and feeling fit. It makes me feel part of something much bigger and gives me a connection to everything around me. Find more at adventuresforthesoul.co.uk