Walking Towards Wellbeing

Step outside, find your pace and discover a different way to move. Ian Potter, Hand Picked Hotels Head of Health Clubs, outlines the benefits. Being away from home often means leaving the usual routine behind. Different surroundings, different timings and a different start to the day can easily disrupt the habits we normally rely on. But keeping active while travelling does not have to mean following exactly the same programme you would at home. Sometimes, it can be as simple as stepping outside. A morning walk before breakfast, a run through the grounds, a few lengths in the pool or a visit to the gym, can all become part of the rhythm of a hotel stay. The important thing is not necessarily how far you go or how hard you train, but that you continue to move in a way that feels right for you.

Walking remains one of the simplest and most accessible forms of exercise. It supports heart and circulatory health, helps maintain muscle and bone strength and keeps our joints moving, while also contributing to energy levels, sleep and general wellbeing. Its benefits are not only physical. Modern life can be remarkably sedentary. We move between screens, meetings, cars and phones, often without giving ourselves much opportunity to properly switch off. Even twenty minutes outside can provide a welcome change of pace. For some, that might mean a gentle walk through the gardens. For others, increasing the pace turns the same route into a purposeful power walk. The beauty of it is that there is no single right way to do it.

Try a different environment

If running is already part of your routine, there is no reason for it to stop simply because you are away. Woodland paths, parkland and changing terrain can provide a completely different environment from the routes you follow at home. You might run the flatter sections, walk the hills or simply head out without worrying about a particular distance or pace.

Early morning can be one of the loveliest times to head outside, when the grounds are quieter and the day is only just beginning. An evening walk or run can be equally rewarding, providing an opportunity to unwind after dinner, a meeting or a day spent travelling. The same route can feel completely different depending on the time of day and what you need from it.

Of course, staying active does not have to mean choosing between the gym and the outdoors. A hotel stay can provide an opportunity to vary your normal routine. You might begin with a walk or run outside before moving into the gym for some strength work. Perhaps you prefer a swim followed by a gentle walk through the grounds, or a shorter workout before breakfast when time is limited. Changing your surroundings can sometimes be exactly what is needed to refresh a familiar fitness routine.

Rather than thinking of exercise as something that has to happen at a set time, in a set place and in a particular way, think instead about movement across the day. Twenty minutes’ walking counts. A morning swim counts. A run around the estate counts. So does a gym session. It all contributes.

Fitness watches and apps can be useful companions when we are away from home, allowing us to keep an eye on distance, steps, heart rate or simply how much we have moved during the day. But they do not need to dominate the experience. Track your run if that motivates you. Count your steps if you enjoy it. Then remember to look up. Notice the landscape. Listen to the birds. Feel the change in temperature. Enjoy being somewhere different.

Exercising outside offers something a gym cannot completely replicate. Natural light, fresh air, green space and the changing seasons create their own sense of wellbeing, whether you are running several miles or simply taking a leisurely walk after breakfast. Perhaps one of the nicest things about spending time away is discovering a different way of doing something familiar.

You may find that you enjoy running first thing in the morning. Perhaps a walk after dinner helps you sleep better. You might discover that combining the gym with some time outside feels more enjoyable than completing your usual workout. There is no need for the routine to be perfect. The aim is simply to keep moving. Walk when you want to walk. Run when you want to run. Swim, train or slow things down when that feels right.

Whether you are staying with us for a conference, a short break or a family holiday, a change of scenery does not have to mean putting wellbeing on hold. Sometimes it gives us the space to rediscover it. And perhaps that is one of the simplest luxuries of all: having a little time to step outside, breathe, move and enjoy where you are.