A Walk Around Slaithwaite (aka Slawit) and Why Walking is Worth it!

15May
by Cherryl

Let’s go for for a walk around Slaithwaite, a little village in West Yorkshire, and talk about some of the reasons why walking is good for you, including a few claims you might not have considered; and just in case you didn’t know, May is National Walking Month 🤔#NationalWalkingMonth

Let’s walk and talk

Apparently walking can help you get over your sweet tooth, and chocolate cravings!

Walking can also reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s and reduce bad breath as well as helping relieve anxiety and make you more creative.

Walking restores your soul, great for clearing the mind and tuning you back into nature. I really believe this is necessary for us and medicinal, in so many ways.

Walking brings relatively little risk of injury, and it can be a great way to grab time to yourself or spend quality time with others, while keeping your blood sugar levels in check.

Free your mind, relieve some tension and breath in that clean fresh air.

 

Not sure what happened to this wall, but be careful if you’re walking in high winds as that could bring down loose stone unexpectedly, even in the big cities. I’ve seen brick walls in London come down during storms like #StormEunice

A good walk does wonders for your heart, it’s a great form of cardiovascular exercise and helps you sleep better. It helps prevent varicose veins and makes your digestive system more efficient.

More specifically, walking in nature improves your brain’s cognitive ability and inspires feelings of gratitude and mindfulness.

It really helps you let go of day to day trivialities and just appreciate simple joys.

“Walking shifts our outlook on life. We no longer see the glass as half empty. We see a world of infinite possibilities where the sky is not the limit” source

Public footpath: squeeze yourself in

 

Plenty of uphill climbs

You’re helping to keep carbon emissions down by walking more and having fewer vehicles around creates a quieter environment (arguably).

Going out for a walk boosts vitamin D levels, strengthens your bones, fosters happy vibes and better mental health.

I think this car was trying to hide! A modern day Herbie.

Walking doesn’t need to cost anything and you can squeeze it into your normal day. For example, if you need to use public transport, try getting on and off a stop sooner and walk, or park your car somewhere that forces you to include a decent walk.

That said, walking also gives us a really good excuse to find new places to go walking and explore.

Apparently, “not swinging your arms when you walk increases the effort of walking by 12%, the equivalent of walking 20% faster or carrying a 10 kg backpack” source

Sit and soak up the view

As well as improving memory, you get to stretch the legs, get some fresh air and a dose of nature, why wouldn’t you want to?

Just a 10 min walk can help reduce your risk of stroke, especially if you’re in a job where you’re sat down for most of the day.

“Walking on a rough but level outdoor surface requires 50 percent more energy than walking on a paved road” source

Up here there were no other sounds than the sound of the birds, sheep and horses neighing in a nearby stable

Spotted 

The Happy Bench

Rhubarb

Any historical connection to Lewisham in London, I wonder?

Antiques shop

Thirsty work

Ending on a slightly wacky note

It would seem there may be people who walk and run backwards and there are alleged benefits to it. This is the first I’m hearing about it. 🤨

Slaithwaite

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little walk around Slaithwaite, it’s a hilly and scenic Yorkshire village, with plenty of nooks, crannies and scenic surrounding areas to keep you walking all day if ever you’re in the region.

A lot of locals call it Slawit (pronounced more like sloughit).

Take care, and enjoy the simple things today!

https://cherrylsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Slaithwaite-clip.mp4?_=1

 

41 thoughts on “A Walk Around Slaithwaite (aka Slawit) and Why Walking is Worth it!”

  1. Pingback: Winter Walks in Scarborough, North Yorkshire - Cherryl's Blog

  2. jillslawit – My corner of Pennine Yorkshire may be no more than a crumb crumbled from the piecrust holding this fragile world together, but it's where I come from. I am part of the earth and moorland of my surroundings, which are deep-rooted in what I think, what I write about and what I am. I live in a small cottage amongst my pens and pencils, my photos, vintage bits and bobs, and my books. Best of all I get to share my life with small visiting granddaughters, family and some very special friends. I work full time in the charity sector. I enjoy reading, writing, taking pictures and looking after my little garden when I've time.

    Jill Morris

    Ah my lovely home village. Lots of familiar places here 😀. Totally agree with the wellbeing aspect of walking.

    Reply
  4. kagould17 – Not much to tell. After working for 3 companies over 43+ years (38 years 7 months with my last company), I finally got that promotion I had waited my entire career for……retirement. I have been exploring this new career for the past 7+ years and while it is not always exciting, the chance to do what I want for myself and my family instead of what my company wants has been very fulfilling. Early on, there was a long list of projects in my “to-do” hopper and I attacked these projects with a vengeance for the first 9 months of retirement. Eventually, my brain told me that this was not what retirement was about, so it took me another 5 months before my industriousness again took over and I attacked another line of projects, this time somewhat shorter and less complicated, as well as many new projects related to the family weddings in 2016. After going hard for 6 weeks and 3 weddings, my body was telling me to relax, then the flu bug hit and as soon as that was done with me, my sciatic acted up. No rest for the wicked. In 2020 and 2021, the Covid 19 pandemic changed the whole retirement gig. I was lucky to not be still working, for sure. I enjoy photography, gardening, working with my hands, walking, cycling, skiing, travelling, reading and creating special photo and video productions obtained in my first pastime. I may never become wealthy in any of these pursuits, but I already feel I am rich in life experiences far beyond any expectation.

    kagould17

    Great post Cherryl and so much to see. Walking is a guilty pleasure and we do it as much as possible. Our forest walks are the best. The Japanese call it Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing. Allan

    Reply
  5. Marsha – Hi, I'm Marsha Ingrao, a retired educator, avid blogger, and author of four books: Images of America Woodlake, Story Chat I & II - anthologies featuring bloggers around the world, and Embracing the Power to Live - a poetic memoir. My husband, although retired, still lives, breathes, and dreams remodeling and landscaping homes. We live in Visalia, California with our two pets, Moji and Goldie.

    Marsha

    Cherryl, this is such a beautiful post. The colt is adorable. As a life-time walker, I can say that there are risks. I’ve spent a lot of energy picking myself off the uneven surfaces and have messed up my face pretty badly several times, but it’s still my go to exercise and faces do heal. 🙂 Thanks for visiting my blog. Hope you’ll be back. I enjoyed your post. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Cherryl – UK – This and that, an all rounder!! If it amuses, entertains, inspires or proves useful to just one person then it's doing its job! God bless x 💛🔆🌴🎨🌼✈️

      Cherryl

      Thank you 😊 glad you enjoyed the post. I’m sorry to hear you have had a few accidents while walking. I guess that’s always a possibility on uneven ground, we can try to be careful ✨🙏 I hope you’re all healed up 🤕 and have plenty of happy and safe walks in the future 🔆💫

      Your blog posts are a wonderful collection also, beautiful captures Marsha 🤗

      Reply
  6. Jacqueline Lambert @WorldWideWalkies – On tour! – AD (After Dogs) - We retired early to tour Europe in a caravan with four dogs. "To boldly go where no van has gone before". Since 2021, we've been at large in a 24.5-tonne self-converted ex-army truck called The Beast. BC (Before Canines) - we had adventures on every continent other than Antarctica!

    WorldWideWalkies

    I love your recounting of the benefits of walking as you took us around beautiful Slawit. My fellow Blackburnian, Alfred Wainwright (am I allowed to mention a Lancastrian in Yorkshire?!) would definitely have approved!
    We missed Slaithwaite on our Yorkshire leg last year, but we’re going to have to put it on our bucketlist!

    Reply
  7. debscarey – Billingshurst, West Sussex UK – Writer, Reader, Photographer and Random Scribbler. The random scribbling happens at Debs Despatches, I'm a writer for hire at Debs Carey, and I co-host Fiction Can Be Fun, where my fiction and #IWSG reflections can be found. All links below.

    debscarey

    Thanks for sharing your wonderful area for walking. Lots of stuff there that I didn’t know about the benefits of walking (I may steal them 😉 ) I’m not sporty and have never been keen on physical activity, but walking is my bag. A colleague of mine once commented that if I didn’t have my regular lunchtime walks that I became bonkers! She was right, I always found it a great way to work stuff out as I pounded along the pavements. I like pretty mindless walks too 🙂

    Reply
    1. Cherryl – UK – This and that, an all rounder!! If it amuses, entertains, inspires or proves useful to just one person then it's doing its job! God bless x 💛🔆🌴🎨🌼✈️

      Cherryl

      Thanks for taking this virtual stroll🌳 Please do steal them lol, I’ve linked the websites I ‘stole’ some of the walking info from 🤗 Ha, maybe many are bonkers and don’t realise it – because they don’t walk enough!! Al the more reason to walk more, as a precaution🚶🏽‍♀️Mindless walks with no particular place to go, just relaxed and carefree – perfect 😉🔆

      Reply
  8. Awakening Wonders – Everyday life is filled with wondrous things and embraceable moments, but only if we allow ourselves to be fully awakened. I invite you to join me as I share passionate life adventures and ramblings that awaken my spirit. I look forward to awakening your senses to the simple, joyous wonders that are all around us. I feel that we are destined to become soulful adventurers!

    Awakening Wonders

    Thanks for a great ‘walk about’ through the countryside! Love the bench idea!

    Reply
      1. Awakening Wonders – Everyday life is filled with wondrous things and embraceable moments, but only if we allow ourselves to be fully awakened. I invite you to join me as I share passionate life adventures and ramblings that awaken my spirit. I look forward to awakening your senses to the simple, joyous wonders that are all around us. I feel that we are destined to become soulful adventurers!

        Awakening Wonders

        Indeed!

        Reply
  11. adguru101 – USA – Formerly a creative director and writer at NY and NJ ad agencies, I'm now retired and living in Oregon, USA, with my husband and countless dust balls. With this blog, I specifically hope to reach "mid-century moderns" -- women born in the '50's -- with content and observations about the issues we deal with every day. But I welcome all readers of any age, sex, orientation, etc… you youngsters will eventually be my age too, and I love reading everyone’s comments!

    adguru101

    What a lovely place for a stroll; thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  16. WanderingCanadians – We’re a couple of Canadians who enjoy hiking, camping, diving, and spending as much time outdoors as we can. We hope our stories can help as you plan for your adventures. https://wanderingcanadians.com

    WanderingCanadians

    I completely agree about how there are so many benefits to being outdoors and going for a walk. I’m not sure how I’d feel about trying to walk backwards though!!

    Reply
  18. tidalscribe.com – Dorset, England – Novelist, short story writer, blogger and explorer of the internet.

    tidalscribe.com

    Thanks for a great walk. When people say I don’t like walking I wonder what they DO. I don’t drive and getting where I need to go is exercise for free. When you go on holiday or out for the day what else would you do but have walk around; probably followed by coffee or pub lunch … and another walk…I like walking pretty much anywhere.

    Reply
  19. Sheree – Cote d'Azur – I'm a sports mad Englishwoman, now living (thank goodness) in France, who developed a passion for cycling rather late on in life. I started the blog to keep my friends and family up-to-date with my adventures on two wheels, my recipes, my travels and my wonderful life in France. The title of my blog refers to when I first started cycling with my local club. I was always at the back of the bunch, until I slid off it on the first incline! On short climbs I could always catch back up on the ascent but on long climbs......I just used to bid them farewell and continue at my own speed. My cycling’s now much improved but I still get dropped!

    Sheree

    Beautiful countryside

    Reply
  20. Sheila Landry Designs – Meteghan River, Nova Scotia, Canada – I am an artist and designer of decorative painting patterns, woodworking patterns, needlework and embroidery kits and patterns, and original artwork. My Painting and Wood Surfaces for Decorative Painting is at my "Tole Painting Designs" Website My partner Keith Fenton and I sell our scroll saw patterns at our Scroll Saw Pattern website: "Sheila Landry Designs" My needlework patterns and supplies are available at my Etsy shop: "The Stitching Kitty"

    Sheila Landry Designs

    I am new to your blog and loved taking a stroll with you through your beautiful countryside. I live in beautiful Nova Scotia after growing up in Chicago and love walking. My partner and I go several times a week and one thing about growing up in an urban area – you never get over the awe of a rural countryside. Thank you so much for the beautiful photos. Are they all taken by you? They are stunning!

    Reply
    1. Cherryl – UK – This and that, an all rounder!! If it amuses, entertains, inspires or proves useful to just one person then it's doing its job! God bless x 💛🔆🌴🎨🌼✈️

      Cherryl

      Hi Sheila, thanks for dropping by, and I’m glad you enjoyed the stroll and the pics 🙏😊 Yes all the photos are mine …. spending many years away from the countryside in a big city definitely gives you a new appreciation of more rural surroundings.🌳🦋

      Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply