Five minutes more exercise and 30 minutes less sitting could help millions live longer

Research finds minor changes in physical activity could hugely reduce number of premature deaths

‘Emerge from misty woods above a sea of clouds’: readers’ favourite UK winter walks

Readers revel in winter light, wildlife spectacles and cosy pubs from Norfolk to Northumberland

She left her desk job and walked 3,541 miles from Mexico to Canada: ‘Give yourself permission’

Jessica Guo hiked 30 miles a day, becoming the first woman to continuously hike two historic trails in a single season

‘You Britons go to the pub, we go to the swimming pool!’: the European health habits worth adopting

Daily swims, power naps and five meals a day – not tips from the latest hit wellbeing podcast, but longstanding traditions that have kept generations healthy in Iceland, Ukraine, France and more …

Country diary: Panic, stress, glory – my day scaling the Inaccessible Pinnacle

Black Cuillin, Skye: The rough rock tears the skin and is slippery when wet. But the only way is up

Country diary: Deep purple and fallen leaves at this mighty mountain

Cadair Idris, Gwynedd: The heather is dominant on the slopes today, as I embark on a steep climb in the heavy heat

These exercise apps reward steps with freebies – but which ones are worth the effort?

The walk to work could earn you rewards such as cheaper coffee or Amazon discounts. We put the apps through their paces

Japanese interval walking: the viral exercise trend that could put a spring in your step

Alternating between fast and slow walking is particularly suited to people who do not do much regular exercise

Volunteers map 10,000 routes in Great Britain to help make walking accessible

Campaign group Slow Ways developing app for disabled people, parents with children, older people and others

7,000 steps a day could be enough to improve health, say researchers

Target easier to achieve than 10,000 steps and linked to 37% reduction in cancer deaths