Now let’s go wild in 2015!

Stride to a new, healthier you in 2015 with our superb five-page fitness special. To kick you off? BBC star Alex Jones on her love of hiking...and why the great outdoors is THE place to get into shape

THE setting is dramatic: I’m on a rocky path and hundreds of feet below, the Irish Sea is buffeting the ragged coastline. The thermometer may be hovering around zero, but the howling wind means it feels a lot colder. It’s just after lunchtime, but already the sun is beginning to dip towards the horizon, casting a light that wouldn’t look out of place in a Renaissance painting.

The view is breathtaking but I stand well back from the cliff edge, wary of the gusts that threaten to knock me off my feet.

‘Stunning!’ is all I can say – or rather, yell, above the gale – to my boyfriend Charlie, who has come with me for a six-mile winter hike around the Pembrokeshire Peninsula in Wales.

I know for that for many reading this, tucked up in bed with a hot cup of tea and the central heating turned up, the mere thought of popping to the shops induces shivers. But there is nowhere I’d rather be than here. And I’m not alone. We bump into families, couples and solo hikers, all enjoying the blustery trail. According to Britain’s hiking organisation, Ramblers, almost a quarter of the population walks recreationally once a month, and for at least two miles at a time – that’s twice the number who swim or go to the gym, and three times the number who cycle.

In recent years there has been a boom in visitors to our national parks. Created in the 1950s, they are reporting more visitors each year. The Peak District alone attracts 22million people a year – and half of them go to hike. Britain as a whole is littered with these fantastic, beautiful places – and so much of it is undiscovered unless you’re prepared to hike there.

Since my sister Jennie and I were children, we’ve always been quite active. We’re not fitness fanatics – not the type you see in gyms – but we’d always make the most of the fresh air and go for a walk. I grew up in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, so my life in London, where I film The One Show, feels quite sheltered. Therefore, I like to get outdoors as much as I can – even in the city, I walk everywhere, and I run regularly.

In March, I took on a 1,200ft rock-face climbing challenge in Utah for Sport Relief and spent two nights sleeping on a hammock suspended from the sheer cliff face. While hiking is never going to be quite so risky, it still has to be taken seriously. Every year, people die when they stray into the great outdoors, often in circumstances that are avoidable with proper preparation.

For our Pembroke jaunt, we were lucky enough to have guide John Graham, founder of hiking, camping and climbing specialists Go Outdoors, with us. John, a lifelong climber and mountaineer, offered to take us on a slightly more challenging trail and helped us plan for it properly.

After a little research on hiking websites, including nationaltrail. co.uk and nationaltrust.org.uk, John picked the Marloes Peninsula coastal walk, which starts in the village of Marloes and covers a large loop, taking in the west Wales coast. It’s mainly flat yet ‘rugged’ terrain, and has numerous points along the way that enable it to be finished in a smaller loop without retracing steps. This meant my parents could come along too but were able to beat an early retreat.

Of course, you don’t need a guide, but if you’re a newcomer to hiking, go to a decent outdoor equipment shop and tell the assistant what you’re planning, as they’ll usually be an enthusiast too. They’ll be able to tell you what you need – the right trousers, hats and gloves, a head-torch, and a well-fitting backpack. It’s an investment, but once you’ve purchased these, there is very little else to pay for.

A mistake I’ve made in the past is thinking: ‘I can do this in jeans.’ If it rains, your jeans don’t dry as the fabric absorbs moisture and stays wet. Aside from the discomfort this brings (have you ever tried walking in wet jeans?), it also puts you at serious risk of hypothermia. Instead, choose synthet- ics which dry quickly, and never wear cotton next to the skin.

John, who has been walking seriously for more than 40 years, has some other warnings. ‘Obviously, going out with someone else is preferable to a solo adventure, as if something happens to one of you, the other will be able to help or call for it,’ he advises.

‘It’s best to start early in the winter. Don’t have a lie-in or long breakfast if you’re planning a long hike – the sun starts to set at about 4pm, which reduces the margin for errors. Be aware, the weather can change quickly, so take layers of clothes. And even for a short walk, make sure you know how to use a compass and read a map.’

We were lucky with the weather. It was dry and cold but windy – very windy, to the point where I had to be held down by Charlie for a moment in case I blew away. The route, which was well marked and mostly flat, had a well-worn path but we used an Ordnance Survey map to keep track of our location.

The coastline is known for its puffins but although we didn’t see any, there were plenty of seals and hawks. As I said, the whole experience was stunning – and we were home in time for tea (double helpings of scones – I’d earned them!).

The stresses of life in the city seemed so far away, and I felt thoroughly peaceful. That night, I slept soundly. I truly believe that in an age where we are bombarded by phone calls, emails and social media, unplugging for a day can be all you need to mentally reset – and studies have found hiking can even help reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

So, as you’re pondering that expensive gym membership, just remember: one of the best and most pleasurable kinds of exercise you can do is just outside your front door. All you need to do is go and find it.