Cornwall


<p>Kickstart your fitness and boost your mental health by raising your heart rate outdoors. No need to run the the wifi gamut during streamed classes and you get to enjoy some much-needed &#8216;me time&#8217; too.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wild swimming</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/01/wild-swimming.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-21508" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/01/wild-swimming.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/01/wild-swimming-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/01/wild-swimming-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/01/wild-swimming-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/01/wild-swimming-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Fancy jumping on the outdoor swimming bandwagon? Yes, even in winter. Trust me, the benefits are huge (yes that is me in the pic above, in Jan, so I&#8217;m clearly a fan!). Not only does it provide a shot of mood-boosting natural endorphins, it improves brain power, helps manage anxiety and depression and rewards you with clear skin and glossy hair. Priorities, people. Plus in colder months, you only have to do it for a few minutes to reap the rewards. </p>



<p>In Cornwall we of course have loads of coastline as well as lakes and quarries &#8211; but not everywhere is safe and you&#8217;ll need to check tides &#8211; see our piece on <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Wild Swimming (opens in a new tab)" href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/wellbeing/wild-swimming-cornwall/" target="_blank">Wild Swimming</a> from last summer. Remember, only swim if it is safe, do not swim alone (use your government-approved plus one), know your limits, wear a swim hat or two to preserve heat, acclimatise to the water temperature and steadily warm up when you get out. </p>



<p>Remember that the sea is (slightly) warmer than sea and tidal pools at the moment, and that inland waters are probably only around 5C, so make sure you&#8217;re within your limits. </p>



<p>Get inspired by bookmarking this film when it&#8217;s released later this year.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Body of Water Trailer" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OiXcjkCJXns?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trail Running</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2017/02/conrish5kruns-1-720x450.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5699" /></figure>



<p>I&#8217;m not going to sugar coat it, trail running bears an uncanny resemblance to school cross country without the indignity of wearing gym knickers. But it could be a welcome distraction if you&#8217;re sick of pounding the pavement when restarting the Couch to 5K (again). It&#8217;s off-roading, you will get dirty and the ground is fiendishly uneven, so you might want to go slow to prevent tripping, falling and injury. The benefits? It&#8217;s totally acceptable to hike up the steep bits, max out on the mindfulness boost bring outdoors and surrounded by nature and it&#8217;ll improve your strength and stamina. Think of it as a running holiday. Jogging the same route is boring, mix in something different and you&#8217;re less likely to fall off the fitness wagon. You&#8217;ll find some <a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/wellbeing/five-scenic-cornish-5k-runs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="starter scenic Cornish 5k runs here. (opens in a new tab)">starter scenic Cornish 5k runs here.</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hiking</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/09/lands-end-copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-20067" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/09/lands-end-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/09/lands-end-copy-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/09/lands-end-copy-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/09/lands-end-copy-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>While rambling is considered an activity for the old and nerdy, say that you hike and you&#8217;re immediately a fully paid up member of the cool crowd. Long before lockdown entered our vocabulary, going into the great outdoors had seen a marked uptick among those in their 20s and 30s. It&#8217;s got an army of celeb fans too – Rebel Wilson, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Garner, Meghan Markle, Reece Witherspoon, Gigi Hadid and many more – who love the full body workout and mental health benefits The beauty of a hiking is that you don&#8217;t really need any special kit other than something to keep you warm and dry, but a pair of hiking boots might come in handy. Where to hike? Fortunately, Cornwall is quite literally surrounded by the South-West coast path (watch Episode 1 of <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Julia Bradbury's Devon &amp; Cornwall Walks on ITV (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week1/cornwall-and-devon-walks-julia-bradbury" target="_blank">Julia Bradbury&#8217;s Devon &amp; Cornwall Walks on ITV</a> to see this one above in all it&#8217;s all it&#8217;s beauty on the screen) plus there is moorland, lowland, woods and flat trails galore inland. Here are <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="10 coastal walks to get you started (opens in a new tab)" href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/walks-near-me/10-coastal-walks-to-blow-away-the-cobwebs/" target="_blank">10 coastal walks to get you started</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cycling</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/01/81633019_505173656779177_3192300443514437632_n-e1578580579174.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17738" /></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;re longing to get back to your spin class, hop onto your bike and hit the road instead. What is lacks in loud music, darkness and a crazed instructor barking orders at you, it gains in fresh air, variety and the opportunity to use your daily exercise to cycle to and from a café to get our takeaway latté and cinnamon bun fix. Go one you deserve it. Obviously you&#8217;ll need a bike, a helmet, and hi vis is always a good idea to ensure you&#8217;re seen. Go as far as you feel or comfortable, but if you need a bit of inspo, you&#8217;ll find some great road routes <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.komoot.com/guide/18485/road-cycling-routes-in-cornwall" target="_blank">here</a> and also on <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.letsride.co.uk/breeze" target="_blank">letsride.co.uk</a>. </p>



<p>Post lockdown, look out for Breeze Rides, an initiative set up by British Cycling to get more women cycling around the UK. All the rides are led by female volunteers called Breeze Champions and range from easy rides along the trail to rides 50+ miles (above, taken pre-lock down).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Forest bathing</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/11/cardinham-woods-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-20996" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/11/cardinham-woods-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/11/cardinham-woods-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/11/cardinham-woods-1-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/11/cardinham-woods-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/11/cardinham-woods-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>You&#8217;ll not work up a sweat, or burn that many calories, but head into the woods and breathe it all in. Forest bathing is a Japanese art of relaxation known as&nbsp;<em>shinrin yoku</em>. Anyone can do it,  all you need is some peace and quiet and to be surrounded by trees. Once you&#8217;re in the zone, mentally and physically, take deep breaths, observe nature and super-charge your health and wellbeing. It&#8217;ll help both adults and children de-stress, switch off from screens. Places to search out in Cornwall include Cardinham (above), Lanhydrock and Tehidy plus you can also seek out ancient woodland like <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Devichoys Wood (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/devichoys-wood" target="_blank">Devichoys Wood</a> or combine walking, forest bathing and wild swimming all in one at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="St Nectan's Glen (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.st-nectansglen.co.uk/" target="_blank">St Nectan&#8217;s Glen</a> (below).</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/01/st-nectans-glen.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-21510" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/01/st-nectans-glen.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/01/st-nectans-glen-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/01/st-nectans-glen-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/01/st-nectans-glen-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/01/st-nectans-glen-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>


Outdoor fitness! Brrrrr-ing it on

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