Kate Humble on walking – and how to improve it: ‘The rhythm is really good for your brain’

The TV presenter thinks our newfound love of walking will persist after lockdown. She talks about hiking around Britain’s coast, the joy of newborn lambs and the true meaning of liberation

Country diary: hammering hail and a rare sight of crystalline beauty

Comins Coch, Ceredigion: A single speck, no larger than an apple pip, settled on my sleeve – showing against the dark fabric as a tiny, perfect hexagon

10 tranquil places for lockdown calm in the UK: readers’ tips

Gardens and graveyards, coasts and country parks all offer welcome respite from fear and sorrow, but our tipsters also found peace in our biggest cities

The joy of steps: 20 ways to give purpose to your daily walk

Has the novelty of a prescribed stroll long since worn off? From tracking animals to uncovering hidden history, here’s how to discover a new world in your neighbourhood

Climb a tree, and wiggle those hips: exercises to boost your mood

From getting the most out of your daily stroll to scaling a tree in your local park, here are three ways to get moving and feel better

The lesson I learned at my local dump? There are beautiful times up ahead

What was once a toxic wasteland now explodes with flora and fauna. A walk there always gives me renewed faith in imagination, determination and humanity, says Emma Beddington

Walk this way: army of hikers will road-test new map of footpaths

A new website is calling for 10,000 volunteers to help walk and verify thousands of routes that were mapped during the spring lockdown

‘Cook, bake, puzzles’: readers’ tips for coping with Covid Christmas blues

With many festive plans axed, Guardian readers share how they stay positive during trying times

Drawing, running or a podcast in the bath: our readers’ tips for switching off after work

How best to resist the temptation to send one more email? Try these healthy hacks to put the home back into WFH

Johnson urged to extend public’s right to roam over English countryside

Letter signed by 100 people including Stephen Fry and Ali Smith points out freedom to roam only extends to 8% of country