Many years ago, a French housemate was packing up to leave London and go back home to Paris. He asked if I wanted any of his maps. So I took a pile of them and unfolded one. It was the OS Landranger map of Dorking and the North Downs. As I looked at it more closely, I noticed he had traced a route in pencil from Epsom racecourse to the foot of Box Hill. I was intrigued.

Of course I was aware that some intrepid folk went walking in the countryside at weekends, clad in rainproof gear and carrying sandwiches in their rucksacks. But I’d never really known where to go myself. This was in pre-internet days and you couldn’t simply Google walks. So out of curiousity, I decided to try the route pencilled in on the map I had inherited. And very soon I was hooked.  

Mental and physical benefits

Walking has obvious health benefits. As the NHS website explains: “Walking is simple, free, and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier.”

But it’s not just a physical boost you get – it’s a mental one too. Walking is good for the soul. Out in the sun under blue skies, surrounded by natural beauty, you get a huge dose of the feelgood factor. Just feel those urban stresses fade away.

And there’s also a big sense of achievement. After 10 or 15 miles over hill and dale, buffeted by the wind or lashed by the rain, you’ve really deserved that end-of-walk beer.

Getting out of London

As a Londoner born and bred, I love my city – but I also need a break from it. The noise, the crowds, the litter… Luckily I live not too far from Clapham Junction, where trains will take you to Surrey and Sussex in no time at all. So on a sunny day, that’s where I head.

Less than an hour later I can be strolling past Denbies Vineyard or plunging into mysterious Abinger Forest. I can be following the path of a romantic old railway line or cooling my feet in the clear waters of the River Mole. I can be picnicking on a sunlit meadow or climbing Leith Hill for spectacular views. There are so many options.

In winter of course, you’ll encounter a few challenges along the way. Well-trodden footpaths turn into swamps of mud, and down in the valleys the sun slips out of sight by three in the afternoon. As the evening chill sets in, my sense of adventure sharpens. I take out my torch and prepare for the onset of darkness…

Ordnance Survey – the walker’s friend

So how do you know where to go? Well, in the world of maps there’s been one great innovation in recent years – the fantastic Ordnance Survey app. This has transformed my walking experience. Gone are the days of having to buy paper maps, unfolding them in the wind and rain and then having to patch them back together again with Sellotape afterwards.

Instead, for a modest annual fee, you get the beautiful OS mapping for all of England, Scotland and Wales across all your devices – mobile, tablet and laptop. So you can plan your trip, follow the route in the palm of your hand, and record it for posterity too. There’s absolutely no need to get lost ever again.

Walk the national trails

Once you’ve downloaded the OS app, off you go. You could start by doing a section of one of our well-marked national trails such as the North Downs Way or the England Coast Path. Take sandwiches and a flask of tea and enjoy a picnic with a glorious view.

Or you can devise your own route using other footpaths. The 1: 25,000 OS Explorer Map shows them all in green.

If you want some inspiration, check out the Ramblers website which has all sorts of useful resources for walkers. And take a look at this video of mine for an idea of some of the great scenery just an hour or two from London. Happy walking!