Hello Toggers!

12 minute walks and a coast to coast challenge
12 minutes is all it takes
Just like that, in the blink of an eye another summer is pretty much over and the kids are back at school. It’s time to get back into a routine again. With many other things needing your attention, getting outside each day for a walk can be a challenge. But it doesn’t have to be.
 
A study from Massachusetts General Hospital suggests that all you need is a 12 minute brisk walk to significantly improve your health, reducing your risk of heart disease, diabetes and liver disease. What’s more – a few short brisk walks have been shown to be more effective for lowering blood pressure, especially for women. What does a brisk walk actually look like? The aim should be for at least 100 steps a minute. If that feels a struggle – you can build up to it or do 30 second blasts of faster walking in between your normal walking pace. 
 
Anyone can find 12 minutes in there day – whether it’s a quick lap around the block at lunchtime, a brisk walk to or from the school run or instead of sitting down for a coffee break.

Wainwright’s Coast to Coast

12 minute walks and a coast to coast challenge
This week our walk isn’t one you’d do over a weekend, or even a week – but one you might want to start planning now as a challenge to yourself for 2026 or beyond – it’s the Coast to Coast, formed by Alfred Wainwright. The full walk, from St Bees on the west coast through to Robin Hood Bay on the east is around 185 miles in total and includes 3 National Parks! Some people do it across a couple of weeks, others spread it out across a year or more. 
 
If you are planning to do the Coast to Coast in the coming weeks – please be aware that due to forest fires, Langdale Forest has been closed to the public. Please avoid the area where you can. A huge thank you to all those who are working hard to extinguish this and other wild fires across the country.

The Pride of The Outdoor Guide Foundation

The Pride of The Outdoor Guide Foundation
When we first met Aiden at the NEC in Birmingham back in the spring of 2022 we knew we’d met someone special. Aged 6 at the time, Aiden was inspired by our Waterproof & Wellies campaign – he wanted other children his age to enjoy the great outdoors as he did. He set about raising money for our campaign and, so far, has raised enough money to supply 100 sets of waterproof trousers, jackets and wellington boots across 10 primary schools in Somerset. He became our first Junior Ambassador and his endeavours haven’t gone unnoticed further afield. Earlier this year Aiden was nominated for, and won, a Pride of Somerset Youth Award. Congratulations Aiden – we are so grateful of all you have achieved!
 
We’re grateful to everyone who has raised funds and donated to the campaign. As the autumn and wetter weather approaches, we have a waiting list of over 200 state primary schools who have requested kits to enable their pupils to play outdoors no matter the weather.
SUPPORT OUR WATERPROOFS & WELLIES CAMPAIGN

Four Things For You

12 minute walks and a coast to coast challenge
12 minute walks and a coast to coast challenge
12 minute walks and a coast to coast challenge
12 minute walks and a coast to coast challenge
12 minute walks and a coast to coast challenge

Beach Access Project
Making the outdoors accessible to all is something that we feel very strongly about here at The Outdoor Guide. We were recently contacted by Will from the Beach Access Project. Having a spinal injury that has left him wheelchair bound for the past 37 years, Will is on a mission to help make beaches accessible for all. If you have a medical or mental health condition or disability that makes going to beach a challenge or you know someone in that situation – Will wants to hear from you. Please follow the link below to complete his survey (before 30th September) and help shape guidance for beach access for all.

COMPLETE THE SURVEY

If you haven’t already today – go outside for your 12 minutes break.

It’s a great way to hack yourself healthy!

Julia Bradbury