One of the simplest, most effective ways to boost mental and physical wellbeing is to get active in nature – and there’s a growing body of evidence to prove it
When you last went on a walk in nature, what did you notice? Sunlight streaming through new leaves, perhaps, or the sound of birdsong. Maybe you felt water from an icy stream stinging your fingertips, or breathed in the scent of a conifer tree as you brushed past.
If you experienced any of these things, you may also have felt a sense of calmness begin to settle over your mind and body. There’s growing evidence that connecting with nature can boost wellbeing and health. A wealth of research shows that it can do everything from reducing levels of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, to lowering blood pressure and relieving anxiety and depression. Studies into ‘green exercise’ even show that carrying out physical activity in natural surroundings has greater wellbeing benefits than doing so in town.
So why does nature have this effect on us? “Because we evolved with nature,” explains Kate Whyatt, who qualified as an eco-therapist in 2023, after more than a decade working in adult social care. That means, “it gives us a sense of stillness, of belonging and of being at home”. Through her practice in Nottinghamshire, UK, Whyatt supports people to rediscover a sense of wholeness within the natural environment. “Nature allows us that space to expand and connect,” she says.
You get up, have a nice breakfast, pack your day pack, and off you go. The most difficult decision to make is what you want in your sandwich for that day
Being in nature, Whyatt believes, is also restorative because it enables us to get off the treadmill of cognitive thought. “It gives you an opportunity to put your overworked brain on pause. What nature does then is to … bring health back into your system, so that when you go back [into your day-to-day world], the way that you approach something will be slightly different,” she says, adding that it can have the very practical benefit of improving productivity.
With holidays a prime opportunity to recharge and reset, it’s unsurprising that more people are looking to incorporate elements of a ‘nature cure’ on their breaks. Inntravel has been running award-winning, sustainable walking holidays in Europe for more than 40 years, and the company is keen to respond to that demand.
Rebecca Bruce is its France, Switzerland and Portugal specialist, and believes that walking holidays offer the perfect chance to – quite literally – slow down. “You’re immersed in nature and your surroundings,” she says. “You walk at a leisurely pace, and that rhythmic motion of putting one foot in front of the other naturally calms you down.”
'Nature allows us that space to expand and connect... it gives us a sense of stillness, of belonging and of being at home,' says eco-therapist Kate Whyatt. Image: Didier Provost
Because Inntravel provides all the route information for its self-guided walks, travellers are freed up to appreciate the awe-inspiring beauty of their surroundings. “I’ve done a few of our trips as my own personal holidays. And you really don’t have to think about anything,” says Bruce. “We’ve curated the walking routes, with highlights and hidden gems to discover, so you get the best experience. It’s kind of a cliche, but you can leave all your troubles and thoughts behind. You get up, have a nice breakfast, pack your day pack, and off you go. The most difficult decision to make is what you want in your sandwich for that day.”
As well as boosting wellbeing, research shows that people who spend time outdoors are more likely to care about protecting the environment, too. Sustainability has been at the core of Inntravel’s business since its founding, with a focus on encouraging the use of public transport, and supporting local communities in remote areas.
This year, eco-conscious travellers can explore southern Germany’s lakes and castles as part of the seven-night Bavarian Wander, while based at the Biohotel Eggensberger. The hotel pioneered sustainable tourism, becoming organic in 2003 and climate neutral in 2010. For those wanting to go further off the beaten path, Slovenia’s Enchanted Logar Valley trip offers the chance to discover lush glacial valleys and Alpine peaks by foot. Guests stay for seven nights at Hotel Plesnik, which has won multiple awards for its sustainability efforts. Both hotels have spas and offer yoga and other relaxing activities to help guests unwind.
Sally and Dave McEwen are looking forward to their first Inntravel experience in Norway this summer. The retired couple, who live in south Oxfordshire, have been on several walking holidays and appreciate the benefits they bring.
“Keeping the joints moving, keeping the muscles strong, breathing in fresh air – all that has to be good physically,” says Sally, who also runs a weekly Nordic walking group. “And then, of course, there’s the mental aspect. Here in the Chilterns we have hills, woodland, fields … it’s wonderful and uplifting to be out in it.”
Dave agrees. “There’s always something new to notice: the tree that’s suddenly come out in bud, or the sound of a different bird. There’s also getting away from social media, the news, even getting outside of the house and the jobs that need doing. That can’t be underestimated: the pressures of modern life and getting away from it to the great outdoors. There is a calming quality about being outside. It may sound corny, but it’s about feeling a bit more at one with the natural world.”
Main image: the view from Potocna Zijavka cave in Slovenia’s Logar Valley, where Inntravel runs a walking trip. Credit: Davor Lovincic
