Book excerpt: This book will show you how the simple, often under-rated activity of walking can transform your life.I stumbled into walking when I was at University in Scotland, encouraged by a best friend whose family had always walked. I loved the feeling of freedom that it gave me and the chance to explore all the wonderful countryside around me, but I never thought that it would ever play such an important part in my life. It has, in fact, saved my life on a few occasions. In 1999 I was training to do a walk along the Great Wall of China for a charity where I was Head of Education. I was also being bullied and it was my regular walk training escapes to the Lake District that put things into perspective and helped me see what was really important. Then in 2005, we had to abandon a family holiday in Spain due to an acute back problem I sustained turning on a sun-lounger. I felt there was a message in this disaster regarding me not looking after myself, so once home I started walking. Not only did the back issue sort itself but I discovered many of the great benefits that walking brings and lost weight, toned up, was constantly in a much better mood, more positive and glowing ...... and others noticed. However, the greatest impact came in 2014 when the power of walking and the nature in which I love to walk, played a major role in my recovery from burnout and adrenal fatigue. Still today it is walking that keeps me on track, connected and putting me first. It doesn't matter whether you walk short or long distances. Whether you walk alone or with others. It doesn't matter where you walk, be it urban, rural or in wild mysterious places. What matters is that at any level most of us can do this and we can reap the many benefits both physically and mentally.