Winter Walking in Older Age

Research partnership with County Durham Sport

Regular physical activity plays an important role in healthy ageing. However, many older adults do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity required for health benefits to be realised. This scenario is particularly significant given the increasing numbers of older adults.

Research examining what helps and hinders older adult’s participation in physical activity has identified a range of individual, social and environmental factors. With regards to the latter, “weather” is often cited as a common barrier. Of course, this is not the case for all and many people remain “weather connected”, continuing to engage in outdoor activities whatever the weather throughout the seasons (dog walkers and active commuters being just two examples!).

Backs of two people walking down a snowy path under the cover of snow-covered trees

For this 12-month research project, we worked collaboratively with County Durham Sport to understand the role of winter-weather for older adults walking practices in County Durham. We wanted to understand how the varied and combined elements that comprise winter weather (precipitation, ice, wind, sunlight, snow, temperature, fog) shape older adults use and experience of outdoor spaces and vice versa.

To do this, lead researcher Miles Lowson spent time with local walking groups during the winter months. He interviewed older participants while they were ‘on the move’ walking along their chosen routes, or alternatively after the walk (often while warming over a hot drink!). Supported by IMH’s creative facilitator Mary Robson, a creative workshop also took place where participants were invited to work collectively, sketching maps - annotating with memorable features and weather encounters as they talked.

Photograph of workshop attendees sitting around a wooden table discussing the project

This participatory approach allowed us to understand winter weather as more than simply a meteorological event that deterred older adults from venturing outside. Instead, we gained insight into winter weather as a cultural phenomenon, which through movement connected participants to place; contributed to their sense of identity (“hardy northerners!”), evoked varied emotions (exhilaration, malaise, awe, fear); performed social functions via “polite chit-chat” whereby strangers connected through shared experiences (“Lovely weather today!”); and provided a means through which participants felt our changing climate.

By collaborating with County Durham Sport from the outset, the project facilitated valuable lessons in partnership working, combining academic rigour with real world impact. The findings from this research have been used to inform an information booklet aimed at walk leaders and other stakeholders involved in implementing Healthy Ageing and Physical Activity strategies.