New research reveals what most of us will be doing on Christmas day

Family traditions at Christmas are personal to us all. But a new survey has revealed there is one thing we all will be doing on Christmas Day, and it turns out it’s great for both our physical and mental health.

High-street outdoor clothing retailer TOG24, wanted to find out when people would be going walking over the Christmas holidays. 1,733 people were asked if they’d be going on a walk this Christmas, and 82% said yes, leaving 18% opting to stay in the warm. For those that will venture out, the majority (32%) said they would walk on Christmas Day, closely followed by Boxing Day (23%) and then Christmas Eve (13%).

Residents in Manchester and Sheffield are the only ones bucking the trend, as the majority say they will go on a walk on Boxing Day. Those living in Liverpool are most likely to have the family dog join them on a walk, whilst those in Glasgow are least likely.

Parks, woodland or just a stroll round the streets is on the cards for most Brits as 23% said they will go to woodland or open countryside (21%), but just as many people will opt for local streets. Only 1% say they will be bravely tackling hillwalking this Christmas!

A Christmas walk is most popular with couples, with 40% saying it would just be them and their partner. 33% say the whole family will join them and only 5% say they will go on a walk with friends.

In true British fashion, eating and drinking is one of the main reasons you’ll find Brits out walking, as 32% of us say it’s to make us feel better after indulging. But the most popular reason is to enjoy the fresh air and exercise, with 67% stating this as their motivation. A heartwarming 31% of us say it’s for quality family time but there’s still 3% who say they go on a walk to hopefully tire the kids out.

Mark Ward from TOG24 comments: “TOG24 stands for “Truth Over Glory Everyday” which means celebrating the true outdoors that everyone can get involved in. There’s no need to climb mountains or try and beat personal bests to enjoy the benefits of fresh air and exercise this Christmas. The UK offers us so many different views and terrains to choose for a walk, as well as historic towns and cities that will be twinkling with lights at this time of year. And if your walk ends up at a pub, it still counts!”

Why you should walk this Christmas

There are loads of benefits of going walking, even if a walk at Christmas. Just getting out and breathing fresh air can work wonders for our mental and physical health. It’s also an activity that doesn’t cost anything and the whole family can enjoy.

If you want to get your heart rate going, walk a little quicker. You’ll know you’re going fast enough if you can still hold a conversation, but might struggle if someone asked you to sing a Christmas Carol. 

Ditch the coffee and go for a walk instead. Walking will give you an energy boost, not to mention increasing Oxygen and Cortisol and lots of other lovely hormones that help bring up energy levels.  Studies have also shown that people find it easier to think creatively when they are walking, perfect if you want to get your brain in gear for the annual family Monopoly marathon.

Read more about the survey results and health benefits of walking on the TOG24 website here

Inspiration for Christmas walks across the UK

Best beach walk – Speeton Sands, Yorkshire

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The seaside in winter? Nope we’ve not gone mad, it is in fact a brilliant choice for a winter walk. After all, the strong sea breeze will blow the cobwebs away, and probably exfoliate your cheeks nicely too. One of our favourite beach walks is Speeton Sands in our home county of Yorkshire. It’s super flat and features the chalk white Bempton Cliffs, which are some of the highest on the East Coast. Don’t forget to plan your walk around low tides.

Best hill walk – Conic Hill, Scotland

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It’s hard to beat Scotland when it comes to iconic hill walks, but Conic hill is up there with the best. Perfect all year round – just make sure you’re dressed for the weather of course, it’s a 6.5 mile walk that will reward you with views across the stunning Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

Best woodland walk – Knole Park, Kent

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A haven of wildlife and tranquility in Sevenoaks, Knole park is made up of 1000 acres of woodland, parkland and valleys. Keep an eye out for the resident herd of Deer, who have roamed there since the 1400’s! The park is owned by the National Trust but it’s free to visit through any of the pedestrian gates. There’s also an onsite cafe and shops, making it a great choice if you’re bringing the whole family.

Best city walk – Birmingham

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We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to great cities we can take a walk around, but we love Birmingham for its historic and contemporary architecture. The city really goes to town with Christmas lights, if you fancy venturing in to the city centre. if you need to get out of the cold, pop in to the stunning contemporary library and curl up with a good book. 

The results of our survey show that whilst we all have a lot in common when it comes to our Christmas traditions, it’s important to do things that make us happy this Christmas. Whether that’s a stroll round your town with the whole family, or a solo hill hike. Now pass us another AfterEight…