Walking upright is one of the things that makes us human. No other animal walks upright on two feet like we do. And it’s something we all ought to do more of, for a very wide range of reasons.

* It’s good exercise. If you have a pair of feet that work, you can walk (and a decent pair of walking or cross-training shoes) you can walk for exercise. It’s easier on your joints than running, but still gives you a good cardiovascular workout (especially if you have to tackle hills or walk against the wind). I don’t need to explain why exercise is good for you – do I?

* It’s a cheap form of exercise. You don’t have to pay gym memberships or club subscriptions. Nor do you need masses of fancy equipment. The bare minimum you need is a pair of shoes, although you could add in reflective gear, leg weights, heart rate monitors, pedometers, water bottles and rain jackets as you fancy.

* It’s a very efficient form of transport for shorter journeys. What you define as walking distance will depend on how far and fast you’re capable of – this writer considers any destination that can be reached within 20 minutes’ walk to be worth it. And unlike other forms of motor transport, you don’t have to find parks, and you can sometimes shorten the distance by walking through parks rather than having to drive around them. While you can’t quite carry a week’s worth of groceries for a family if you’re walking, you can carry smaller loads. For longer trips or ones you need to do quickly, take a bike.

* It builds community. If you go for a walk during sunlit hours, you often bump into neighbours in gardens or also going for walks. A quick hello as you pass helps build community spirit and turns strangers into acquaintances – which could be a lifesaver in an emergency.

* It’s good for beating stress. Any exercise is good for de-stressing, but walking is particularly good, as your mind gets a chance to process stuff. And if your walk takes you past something beautiful – a park, a fanatical gardener’s property, the beach – you also get something that can lift your spirits and get your mind out of a negative thought pattern. Walking can also be a natural anti-depressant.

* It’s good for relationships. If you’re walking at the right pace, you should be able to talk at the same time. Walking with family gives you the chance to talk about things easily. It’s especially good for couples – a walk together facing the same direction is less confrontational and intimidating than sitting down facing each other over coffee. Hold hands.

* It makes you more aware of your posture and your back. These days, doctors are recommending that people with back problems go for short walks instead of lying down.

* It makes you more aware of your immediate environment. If your neighbourhood has a problem with litter, you become aware of this (and you can take a plastic bag and rubber gloves with you and pick it up as you go). If your walk takes you past huge trees in a park, you’ll appreciate these more and be more likely to hit the campaign trail if some wretched developer or planner decides to bowl them over. You can’t “think globally and act locally” if you don’t know what’s going on in your local environment. Walking will get you out there. At the very least, you’ll be more in touch with the weather and the seasons.