Winter Walks in Huddersfield

Winter Walks: The Most Underrated Exercise

“Winter forms our character and brings out our best.” Tom Allen.

 

Hey friends, my name is Nathan, and I am a final year student from Manchester studying Psychology at the University of Huddersfield. I am also a student Social Media Representative, so in my spare time I get to write and make vlogs about my experience here at University. Some of the things I love to read, write, and make videos on are topics related to happiness, meditation and mental clarity.

 

I find during wintertime when the days become shorter, it becomes very easy for all of us to stay cooped up inside to avoid the cold and the dark. However, Huddersfield has so many beautiful and scenic routes to enjoy a stroll; in solitude or with your social bubble/flat mates. Today I want to talk about some of the physical and mental benefits of walking more often and some of the best places to go in Huddersfield for a walk during the winter.

What I love about walking in Huddersfield

 

When I first came to the University, I noticed quickly that Huddersfield was a smaller town and less hectic than the big city centre I was used to. This really appealed to the introvert in me as I enjoy more rural and natural settings where there isn’t too much going on; so, I made it a mission to try and find some new places I could explore. I was surprised to discover an abundance of scenic parks and routes that I could venture into by myself and also with my flat mates. One of my favourite places to walk is Greenhead Park.

 

1. Greenhead Park

 

Being only half a mile away from Huddersfield town centre, Greenhead Park is a really accessible and close park to take a stroll in, especially if you don’t have much time to venture a bit further. It’s also relatively big!

 

I was initially taken back by how big the park was the first time I visited, so it was no surprise to find out that it is actually one of the largest parks in Huddersfield.

 

Greenhead Park is great to visit all year round, but I really enjoy going in the morning during the wintertime. It feels great to start the day by getting some fresh air and really helps me get in the right frame of mind for the rest of the day to continue with my university work.

 

One thing that I like to do if I go for a morning walk on this route is turning my phone on to ‘do not disturb’ or even turning it off. It can make a huge difference to the start of your day by taking a walk outside with no distractions and just simply being present, taking in your surroundings. We spend so much of our time looking down at our phone screens, that sometimes we forget to look up at the world around us! Walking in this sense, can actually be quite meditative.

4. Ravensknowle Park

 

This is another huge park with a war memorial and museum with lots of history behind it. It’s also walking distance from the University so makes for a nice afternoon trip on the weekend.

 

During winter, we may feel reluctant to go outside as often because of the cold or how it gets dark so quickly. However, one thing I find is that whenever I am actually there, I really end up enjoying getting out and come back feeling refreshed and more alert. It can really help to break the barrier of resistance by just setting some time aside in the day to go for a 30-minute walk.

 

Why walking is such an underrated exercise

 

On a practical level, many of us might feel that we simply don’t have the time to go on a walk for enjoyment purposes; but in a world that is increasingly dominated by the excessive use of social media and the constant noise and endless streams of information coming our way, it becomes only more important that we carve some time out of our day to do one of the most low-energy and simple tasks: walking.

 

I know that speaking for myself, when I go out for a walk and feel the crisp winter air brush against my skin, it helps me to feel more awake and refreshed. I also enjoy getting out of the house sometimes and being away from the constant distractions that come our way through our phones and those around us. It is so important to unwind and take some quiet time for yourself during the day.

 

This is further emphasised through recent psychological studies, which indicate that walking has the ability to improve our cognitive performance; enhancing our working memory and our ability to learn, as well as positively impacting our creativity and problem-solving strategies.

 

It is amazing to think that such a simple task can have a myriad of positive effects on our physical and mental wellbeing that not only help us lead happier and healthier lives, but also directly translate into our university work!