If you hike, you'll know how much better it makes you feel both physically and mentally. Many people love the chance to re-charge their batteries when walking in the hills and have some time to think and de-stress. But do you know that there is also a host of evidence to show that walking is one of the best activities for improved health and well-being?

Five great reasons to hike

1) Hiking hones oyur physique. The average person will lose 14lbs over a year if they walk for 20 minutes each day, five times a week. If you walk longer at weekends, and take in a few big hills, the weight loss will be even greater. And even if you don't want to lose weight, hiking is ideal for helping you to stay in shape and keeping your muscles toned.

2) Hiking means you'll live longer. A number of studies, including one from the American Journals of Public health, found that a group of middle-aged men who regularly exercised outdoors several times a week lost just 13% of their aerobic power over the course of two decades. The non-exercising group lost 41% of their aerobic power in the same period.

3) Walking keeps the doctor away. A study found that walking three to nine miles each week reduces the likelihood of a person needing mediation for diabetes by almost 25%, compared to those who walked less than three miles a week. Walking also reduces the need for cholesterol medication by a third and blood pressure mediation by 28%.

4) Walking for a stronger heart. Half an hour of walking each day will boost your cardiovascular fitness and, according to an American study, will mean you are 40% less likely to develop heart disease.

5) Walking for better skin. You'll notice that after a walk in the countryside that your skin looks radiant and glowing. Well, in fact, expert dermatologists have found that regular exercise improves the skin's durability and also adds muscles beneath the skin, which in turn keep wrinkles at bay.

If you do not walk or hike regularly already we bet you'll be taking more steps to do so in future. It's clear that walking keeps you looking and feeling fitter and younger. And it's such a simple activity to do.