WALKING is an excellent way to keep fit and healthy while enjoying some beautiful scenery at the same time.

Staffordshire and Cheshire has an abundance of walking trails to suit all levels of fitness, and its rambling population is growing rapidly.

Hundreds of people take to the hills and valleys each week to enjoy treks through the countryside.

Peter Matthews, publicity officer for the Ramblers Association in Staffordshire, has been walking regularly for at least 45 years, and is well aware of its benefits.

He says: "People get involved for a number of reasons. There's the social side, because usually it's a group of people who will go walking together. And it's also a great way to exercise.

Some participants use it as a way to carry out other hobbies, such as bird watching or archaeology as they can do these things while on the walks.

"In this area there are many popular places to visit. We've got the South Cheshire Way from Grindley Brook to Mow Cop, and there is also Dovedale, the Churnet Valley, and the Roaches.

"I'd say 90 per cent of ramblers are extremely environmentally conscious. Quite a few of our members now use a bus route rather than their cars. And they're very considerate about the environment while on walks.

"As well as being environmentally friendly, rambling is an extremely cheap pastime to have because you don't need a lot of equipment. It's only £25 a year to be a member of the Ramblers Association."

Peter says being environmentally aware is an important part of rambling.

He adds: "If you weren't conscious of the environment before, after a few walks you certainly would be. Rambling makes you that way, because you realise what a wonderful countryside we have."

Eddie Dawson, a member of the Biddulph branch of the Ramblers Association, has been an avid walker for the past 20 years.

He says: "It's good to have an appreciation of the countryside. "There's some wonderful scenery around Biddulph."