The Healing Power of Fresh air - A trip to Northumberland

It's so easy to forget, and neglect the simple joys in life in our now fast paced and technology driven lives. Sitting at a computer screen for 8 hours a day does not agree with me, and Neil, bless him, does long 12 hour shifts! This is why we love our outdoor time, fresh air and freedom and enjoy those simple joys that nature has to offer. Whether it be a crisp breeze early in the morning, the rustle of leaves underfoot, a sunrise or sunset, the smell of rain on warm tarmac, I can go on....... Fresh air has an undeniable impact on our mental wellbeing.

On a lovely and sunny January morning, (I had booked a last minute day off work as the weather had been so amazing) we set the alarms, and get up early. OK we set the alarms, turned them off, slept a little more, then got up early-ish, packed our bags and off we went up into Northumberland. We chose to do a circular walk from College Valley, up to Ring Chester's. On route, a toilet stop was needed! We divert through Wooler, to use their public loo, which were very nice and clean. I did happen to spy a bakery and coffee shop on our way to the car park where the toilet was situated, obviously we ended up in there for a coffee and maybe a treat or two! Highly recommend Cheviot Farm Bakery, and Grinders (not Grinder!) coffee shop. Had the most amazing chocolate jaffa cake from here, which was vegan and everything!

We again head off deeper into Northumberland. Almost on the Scottish Borders in fact! We have parked where we started our adventure a couple of times before, you drive along a couple of beautiful one road hamlets, with gorgeous cottages strewn with ivy and have pastel coloured doors, we always state that we want to live there. From the middle of nowhere car park, we head along one of these roads with beautiful cottages along it's edges, and follow a track that takes us up a grassy hill, the start of many climbs! This particular day it was bright sun, barely a cloud in the sky, but strong winds along the tops. We follow the instructions from Neil's walking guide, I just follow Neil and hope he knows where he's going, as usual! A few good climbs and the views keep on getting better, we can see wild goats in the distance too. We skirt along a wood and head to Ring Chester's, an impressive Iron Age hillfort, it was a little too breezy up there for Neil the drone pilot to get any aerial shots. We carry on along our trail, and down to a brook and farm, stopping to splash about in the brook of course! Another hill climb is ahead us, we pass through a "stream", which is now a river after the melted snow, and up Great Hetha hill we go. We follow our trail once more, and down a steep and muddy hill back to the road which leads us to the car park, I slipped, something I tend to do when almost back at the car! I left a two foot skid mark in the grass, pulled a thigh muscle, but laughed about it!

Back at the car park we find ourselves on a bench in the winter sun, with our peanut butter and jam sandwiches and our matching flasks, windswept, happily tired and with full hearts. It's funny how something as simple as a few hours out in the fresh air can make you feel so good and put the stresses of life out of your mind.

There is scientific research that shows that spending as little as twenty minutes in nature can reduce cortisol levels, lower blood pressure and create a sense of calm. Being outside in nature, and getting that important natural light that we all need, increases serotonin levels in the brain, this feel good chemical can help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Sunlight triggers the production of Vitamin D, which is linked to better mental health and emotional regulation. I truly believe that fresh air and walks should be prescribed, it never fails to make us happy.