The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, which is home to Granny Mouse Country House and Spa, is undeniably one of the most beautiful parts of our spectacular country.

It’s blessed with a little bit of everything – rolling hills, majestic mountains, burbling brooks, surging rivers, tons of history, game reserves and haunting battlefields. That’s not bad for only a section of one of our provinces.

The Midlands backs up against the spectacular Drakensberg-Ukahlamba Mountains in the west, stretches along the coastal belt in the east and is hemmed in by the mighty Tugela River in the north. It is a fertile area that is dominated by agriculture and wide open spaces and is known for everything from trout fishing and dairy farming to healthy veggies and great pork.

For many, the Midlands has become synonymous with the small area surrounding Nottingham Road. However, while this is indeed a cornerstone of the region, the Midlands encompasses a far greater and more diverse area altogether.

While the Midlands Meander is well-known for shopping and lazy lunches, these days it is also known for its mountain biking, trail-running and hiking.

The small town of Howick is home to an extensive network of single tracks that link to the Karkloof forests. Closer to the lower Berg, you’ll find exceptional cross-country farm trails.  Moving from Kamberg towards Lotheni and into Dargle and Balgowan, you’ll discover fantastic mountain biking, trail running and hiking terrain.

There’s a truckload of research out there telling us that hiking is good for us. There’s nothing like a brisk climb to get your heart rate up. Physically, the benefits are numerous. Getting outside for even a short hike regularly can reduce your risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure and cholesterol and help to prevent type II diabetes.

Hiking makes you strong. And it doesn’t just work your legs. Clambering over uneven surfaces and navigating your way around or over rocks, fallen trees, across streams and over tree roots engages your core and works your upper body for a true, holistic work out.

But the physical benefits are almost incidental to the way that hiking can contribute towards your overall mental health and wellbeing.

1. Hiking clears the mind and reduces stress

Our lives are busier than ever. Nine to five jobs, full social calendars and everyday life is enough to ensure that each of us has to deal with a constant level of stress reverberating just below the surface. Going for a hike reduces your blood pressure and cortisol levels producing the sort of calming effect that only nature can provide – and that’s over and above the benefits of exercise.

2. Hiking makes us happier

Getting out into nature decreases what psychologists call ‘rumination’ – those negative thought patterns that play over and over in our heads. Examples include dwelling on embarrassing or disappointing moments or thinking about everything we think is wrong with our lives. Never underestimate the ‘happiness effect’ of being outdoors. It’s very difficult to stay miserable and preoccupied when you’re surrounded by beautiful forests and chirping birds.

3. Hiking improves sleep quality

Walking or climbing over uneven terrain uses 28% more energy than walking over flat ground. You are also removing all the new age stimuli that we often expose ourselves to throughout the day and right before bedtime (phones, computers, TV’s and the like). The end result is better sleep!

4. Hiking improves your memory

Studies have shown that people who regularly spend time in natural settings, whether hiking, mountain biking or picnicking, have improved memory and recollection.

5. Hiking reduces anxiety and depression

Associated with the benefits of lowering stress levels, hiking has been proven to reduce anxiety by quietening the mind and allowing you to zone in on your breathing and move into a partly meditative state. For natural stress relief and an instant mood boost, head outdoors.

6. Hiking helps with problem solving

Researchers believe that all the extra mental stimulus and information with which we are bombarded every day often overwhelms our brains, resulting in a reduction in our cognitive resources, limiting our creativity and problem solving abilities. Getting out into nature and escaping all these stimuli restores our depleted attention circuits, freeing up more brain power for creativity (so leave the gadgets at home!). Ever wondered why so many artists and creatives have made the Midlands their home?

7. Hiking allows you to reconnect and take time for yourself

When you find yourself caught up in the rat race, going for a hike is a chance to reflect, recharge and reconnect with yourself when you’ve been too busy to take notice of the things that really count. Sometimes, just taking some time out in the peace and quiet of nature will not only help you to realise that you’re too stressed or feeling a little under the weather, but also help you to prioritise and eliminate unnecessary clutter from your thoughts.

8. Hiking helps you to learn to live in the moment

When was the last time you really concentrated on being truly present and in the moment? The beautiful simplicity of getting out into nature removes that barrier between you and the natural environment. Everything is up close and real. No filters, just nature. Walking through nature and focusing on the sounds and smells is a great way to reconnect with the present, while taking time out to rest along the way is an ideal opportunity to just close your eyes and focus all of your other senses on your surrounds.

https://www.natureandnosh.co.nz/blog/post/23737/10-reasons-hiking-is-good-for-your-souland-why-you-should-start-hiking-today/