Take A Walk On The Wild Side With These Top Nature Spots For Mental Health

Sometimes, even our best efforts aren’t enough to block out negative thoughts and dark mood clouds that see us slipping down a fast spiral into self-doubt or worse. It’s something that happens to us all and is especially likely when we get stuck in the same old patterns without remembering to come up for air.

Before you know it, you may find yourself in a negative mental spiral, the best way out of which is often to break those patterns and step outside of the every day for a little new perspective. Studies have especially found that time spent in nature is beneficial for this, with plus points on offer like the opportunity to rejuvenate and tap into a different, hopefully more positive mindset. Not to mention that time spent outside can quite literally help your body to feel healthier, more energised, and better able to boost you up when you need it.

That’s all great news, but which wild settings could you most benefit from factoring into your journey towards better self-care?

# 1 – We do love to be beside the seaside

PIN FOR LATER

With its gently lapping waves and ability to make us realise just how small most of our problems are, the beach is famed for a range of mental health benefits including lower stress levels and generally increased self-esteem. Even better, we have some of the best, quiet and most beautiful beaches for that purpose here in the UK, with top options including striking destinations like Lulworth Cove and Camber Sands. Equally, we’re blessed with locations like Cornwall, which are so surrounded by water that booking a visit here or investing in a permanent stop-off like these holiday homes in Cornwall could see you forever just a short drive away from top beach spots like Kynance Cove and Harlyn Bay. Wherever you head, though, you can bet that the sea air and the beautiful scenery will soon get your thoughts moving in a more positive direction, or at least working through whatever knots have been holding you back. 

# 2 – Further into the forest

From sand to greenery, the forest can also do great things for our minds, with researchers across Europe especially highlighting benefits including improved attention spans and reduced cortisol levels. There’s certainly something magical about the crackle of dried twigs and leaves underfoot, and the rushing sway of trees far above you. Not to mention that there are so many sights to see as you stumble through the trees that your mind is sure to be transported elsewhere, which is sometimes exactly where it needs to be. Luckily for us here in the UK, we’re also blessed with some pretty astounding forest locations. In fact, half of the population lives within 6 miles of spots like these. Top options worth considering if you’re nearby or willing to make the journey especially include the New Forest (of course), Epping Forest, and Sherwood Forest to name just a few. 

PIN FOR LATER

# 3 – The mountain range

While we’re not exactly famed for our mountains in the UK, the ability to get up high and enjoy amazing views and some true self-perspective is also well worth your time if you live in a location where that’s possible. People near top climbing spots like Snowdonia can especially enjoy two-fold benefits here in both hiking and reaching high destinations to enjoy. The fact that mountain hikes are a little more gruelling than, say, a pleasant stroll on the beach, can especially see this becoming a great way to work through your most gritty problems, providing you with both the self-assurance of a hard job tackled well, and the opportunity to really think about what’s bothering you once you take a seat at the top. As well as Snowdonia, sites across the UK that can be great for a little mountain hiking mental health retreat include Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis, and Slieve Donard to name a few. Heading to sites like the Lake district could even see you enjoying both the benefits of water and the plus points of hikes across some of the most picturesque mountain scenes you could hope to find. 

# 4 – The living world

PIN FOR LATER

Any pet owner already knows the benefits of spending time with animals well, but this is the case even when you head out into the world, with those who make the most of well-inhabited natural areas able to enjoy heightened senses and a generally improved feeling of well-being. This is the case whether you’re watching a badger set from a distance or simply walking in an area with plenty of beautiful birdsong, and is especially great for helping you to appreciate the world around you, and your position within it. Even better, we’re blessed here in the UK with areas like the New Forest as mentioned, where any walk you take is likely to see you coming across not just natural wildlife in the area, but also a famous population of wild ponies, and even roaming pigs if you visit during pannage. We’re also blessed with plenty of nature reserves that provide the ideal setting for all manner of birds and other natural visitors, with top options in this sense including England’s biggest nature reserve, The Wash, which covers almost 8.800 hectares and is home to up to 450,000 waders and wildfowl alone during peak season.

A final word

When life hands you lemons, it’s vital to realise that nature provides all of the tools that you need to make lemonade. All you have to do is muster the mental strength to see these locations as the solutions that they can be, as well as putting a plan in place to make sure that you can enjoy them. Note, too, that as well as heading to top natural locations like those mentioned here, a little exploration in your local area could well see you uncovering hidden natural gems that can become a regular go-to whenever your weeks get on top of you.