‘I never exercised then lockdown turned me into a naked rambler’

For Estelle, lockdown offered a sense of freedom – in many ways (Picture: Supplied)

Estelle Keeber never used to exercise. ‘I was the type of person who’d drive to the shop around the corner,’ she admits.

But then, five years ago, everything changed. Not just for Estelle, but for hundreds of thousands of people across the UK who discovered the joy – and literal escape – of walking as the world became engulfed by the deadly covid-19 pandemic.

In the months after lockdown started, exercise app Go Jauntly reported an 80% surge in membership, while government figures from the fateful summer of 2020 discovered 39% of people said they were walking more than before the pandemic struck. 

And while banana bread and Houseparty may have had their moment, the nation’s walking obsession is still going strong, with the hashtag #walking used on over 30.5 million posts on Instagram and more than 830 million Google search results for local walking groups. Research from the walking organisation Ramblers UK, suggests it has experienced a larger boom in the last five years than 80 other sports when it comes to UK participation.

For Estelle, it offered a sense of freedom – in many ways.

‘When we went into lockdown and the opportunity to get out in nature was limited, I suddenly started to crave it,’ she tells Metro. ‘I started doing Couch to 5k but got injured and the impact of running wasn’t an option – so I started walking.’

However, Estelle soon discovered that soaking up nature on a basic level wasn’t enough. As she progressed from local walks to long hikes on her own, she used it as an opportunity to embrace the naturist lifestyle. 

In a bid to learn more about the naturist community, Estelle booked herself into a nudist spa (Picture: Supplied)

‘I had never even considered it before, but I’ve always been comfortable in my own skin,’ explains Estelle, who runs social media company Immortal Monkey. ‘When I was walking I felt hugely connected with nature and it occurred to me that the connection could feel more complete if I was able to feel nature against my skin more.

‘We’re so used to feeling the breeze on our faces or hands but there’s a deeper connection when it’s on all of your skin.’

To learn more about the naturist community, Estelle booked herself into a nudist spa – and has never looked back. 

‘I’m now working with British Naturism and am organising a naked ramble with them,’ she adds. ‘I’m a naturist and there’s a difference between that and nudism. 

‘I would never have believed I’d become a naturist and a hiker,’ says Estelle (Picture Supplied)

‘Nudists like being naked and naturists enjoy the connection with nature without being clothed. There’s a park in Nottingham which is a naturist park where people can walk unclothed. 

‘The signs say clothing is optional so it’s a great way for naturists to interact with clothed people. It’s not illegal to be nude in this country but it is to cause distress if you’re naked so there’s a fine line which is why parks like the one in Nottingham are so important.’

For Estelle, her discovery of walking has been truly life-changing. ‘I would never have believed I’d become a naturist and a hiker when we went into lockdown but I get so much from both aspects of my life.’

27-year-old Joel Moore isn’t surprised people stayed in love with walking even when lockdown ended. He founded the walking group Common Ground during the pandemic, which is still going strong.

‘Walking is a fantastic way to move through the landscape,’ the civil engineer tells Metro. ‘I’ve always hiked and started the group with a couple of other walkers I met online in lockdown. Since then we’ve got thousands of people walking and joining our treks and groups online. We get people coming on our walks then branching off and starting their own groups with people they met through us. 

‘We’ve got some lovely groups of mates who found one another at a Common Ground walk who have since gone on walking holidays together. It’s brilliant and exactly what we set the group up for.’

Joel founded the walking group Common Ground during the pandemic and it’s still going strong (Picture: Instagram/@go.outside.moore)

‘Walking is about getting out into the fresh air and slowing down,’ says Joel (Picture: Instagram/@go.outside.moore)

Hannah Da Silva also started her hiking group at the height of the pandemic and says she had no idea it would be so big. ‘It was about finding like-minded girls to hike with as a lot of people took it up during the pandemic as a way to stay mindful,’ the Londoner tells Metro.

‘I noticed a large lack of female representation within the outdoors and tech space online. 

‘GorpGirls was born as an Instagram page but has branched out, so women have been able to make new friends via hiking, feel more socially confident and have a new sense of freedom in a space historically dominated by males.’

Meanwhile, influencer Amina saw her following explode during lockdown and now has more than 200,000 people following her Instagram account @adventureswithamina. 

Having moved to Scotland in 2019, Somali-born Amina tackled the West Highland Way, a 96-mile hike from Milngavie to Fort William, during lockdown. ‘I come from a strong nomadic culture so you can say wandering it quite literally in my blood,’ the 27-year-old tells Metro. 

‘My love for hiking began when I moved to Scotland and since then I promised myself that no matter what I would do a long-distance walk in the UK every year. 

‘I feel super grateful for the life I get to live. Being outdoors makes me feel alive. It’s where I feel most connected, most at peace and the most reassured. 

‘It’s hard to feel anxious or uncertain when you see how everything from the birds in the sky to the fish in the sea are tenderly cared for,’ adds Amina. 

Almost three-quarters of the UK population now say they walk at least once a week (Picture: Ultra Challenge)

Several studies back up her statement, with walking continually promoted as a way to improve mental health by experts. Research from the Mental Health Foundation says a short burst of 10 minutes of brisk walking increases our mental alertness, energy and positive mood, while a link has also been discovered in terms of better sleep, memory and cognitive function. It’s even believed to reduce the risk of several conditions including Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

But it’s not just adults that have been part of the walking boom. Since 2020, the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme – a youth achievement programme which has an expedition section ranging in distance from 19 to 57 miles – has seen an increase in participants. 545,910 young people are actively doing their DofE award currently, numbers went up 10% in the pandemic and have continued to climb with a 30% participation since.

With almost three-quarters of the UK population now saying they walk at least once a week, Joel says if you’re considering it, don’t overthink it.

‘We learn to walk as babies and it’s that simple,’ he says. 

‘Don’t plan epic routes to begin with or focus on distances, just put on whatever footwear feels comfortable and walk to the coffee shop, get a coffee and walk back. Or take a circular route around somewhere you know. 

‘Walking is about getting out into the fresh air and slowing down. Work and life is busy for a lot of people. I use walking in part as a mindfulness to just slow down and focus on the weather, the sky, and bird song. It can be really relaxing.’

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