The scenery in this picture is absolutely beautiful isn’t it? A clear blue sky readying itself for sunset, sunlight bouncing off the contours of grass and the many shades of green, and the glimpse of hills in the distance. When you stand on the top of a hill and look to the furthest point on the horizon, the feeling is simply breathtaking. Its almost like a reward at the end of a hike- a view to take your mind away from the stress and strain of reality.

Rural England is often taken for granted- most likely because of the wet country-wide weather, but England’s natural sights are especially forgotten to those of us who live our day-to-day lives in an urban daze. However, every so often it is good to hit pause on our city lives and escape to the country-side. It will benefit you both physically and mentally. Your blood pumps around your body because your muscles are moving and respiring- not because you are uncontrollably anxious and agitated about a deadline that is closing in, or how you scored on test you did five minutes ago.  Also, the air you breathe is not polluted by the woes of urban demands- whether that be from vehicle fumes, factories or whatever else citified areas deem necessary.

Now you do not have to do anything complicated or carry half of your house on your back (or a rucksack one reserves purely for the purpose of heaving it around on their Duke of Edinburgh expedition), a mere bottle of water and a mind seeking release and adventure will do. A statistic from The National Student states that eighty-two percent of students suffer from stress and anxiety. A hike may not make all of your problems (whether they may be school/ work related or otherwise), but a walk in a new light and air can most definitely give us a different take on life, and gift us with a better mindset when we return to the woes of reality. If you can’t take my word for it, Ellie Larsson-Brown (GCSE student) said this after spending three days in the Peak District: “it was nice to get away from the stress of exams and revision and just spend a few days with my friends- for a second you would forget about all of your problems when you are walking down a path in the middle of a field.” After all, no sweeter words are spoken when you hear "it's all downhill from here."