When you think of walking documentaries, there is one woman who has dominated our screens, and that, of course, is Julia Bradbury. Having presented BBC’s Countryfile alongside Matt Baker for five years, Julia’s reputation as the face of the outdoors was cemented when she filmed the series Wainwright Walks, The Great British Countryside and Best Walks with a View. Following the success of these programmes, Julia set up The Outdoor Guide with her sister Gina. We caught up with the mother-of-three to discover how Julia’s love of walking first began and who her surprising dream walking partner would be!

My love of outdoor adventures began when I was a little girl…

“My dad Michael would take me out walking across the Peak District when I was a nipper (I went to school in Sheffield, so the Peaks were on our doorstep). We trekked across the moors, off on adventures in what seemed to me to be an enormous world – my dad is so tall, he felt like a giant and I still remember the feeling of my tiny hands in his. They were special father-daughter bonding times that I will always treasure and led me to where I am today.”

There’s no simple reason why walking is so important to me…

“It’s a combination of mood elevation, embracing the elements, time to think and the physical elation of achieving a distance or a mountain. Walking and hiking are pursuits you can do at any level, solo or sharing precious time with family and friends. Plus, of course, the scenery! I think you see places differently when you explore on foot – it’s a joy. It was lovely to walk some old pathways on the Greek islands for my latest TV series [ITV’s The Greek Islands with Julia Bradbury]. Walking allows me to make real connections with the landscape, the past and of course, with people.”

Through my own experience, I’ve learned how important being outdoors in nature can be in lifting your spirits…

“I find it also helps to ease emotional pain. Research has shown that spending just 120 minutes a week outdoors (parks are as important as big open landscapes) can elevate your mood, decrease anxiety and improve your overall health. In a study by the University of Exeter, 20,000 people said they were happier after spending those two hours outside a week and it doesn’t have to be consecutive time – it can be spread out. Through the mental health charity MQ and the Mountains for the Mind initiative, I’ve discovered a great deal about the positive impacts of nature on our mental and emotional states. I’ve learned that anxiety and depression are the most diagnosed mental health problems, but research has found that spending time outdoors can reduce the risk of depression by 30 percent.”

My favourite walk changes on a monthly basis…

“It depends who I’m walking with, but I’ll always have a soft spot for the Peak District because of my childhood. This means Dovedale, Stanage Edge, the Monsal trail, and of course, there’s the Lake District where I have followed in the footsteps of Alfred Wainwright for my TV series Wainwright Walks [BBC4]. I love Pillar (starting from the magical Black Sail Youth Hostel), Castle Crag and the Grizedale Forest (I adore the sculptures scattered among the trees).”

There are no hard and fast rules as to whether I like to walk alone or with someone else…

“I enjoy chatting in good company as the miles unfold and relish being on my own to consider all aspects of my life. Sometimes, it’s about my mood and at other times, it’s about opportunity. Those opportunities aren’t limited to wide open spaces. Most of us spend much of our lives in towns and cities, so it’s vital that we use green spaces to get outdoors, walking with others as well as alone to seek some peace and quiet. If I could invite anyone on a walk today it would be Jane Fonda. I interviewed her years ago when I was living in Los Angeles as the Hollywood correspondent for Good Morning Britain. She’s got balls, I admire her activism and she’s led an interesting life personally, and professionally.”

Our mission statement for The Outdoor Guide sums up how I feel about accessibility and inclusion…

“For the record, it’s ‘The Outdoor Guide believes passionately in the value of enjoying a healthy life outdoors and aims to support those without the ability or opportunity to access and share the benefit of our great outdoors’. Bodies like the National Trust now have all-terrain wheelchairs for hire at many sites, so it’s slowly becoming possible for families and friends to all enjoy being outdoors together.”

The response to my walking programmes on TV was overwhelming…

“So many people wanted to find out more about where to go, how to get around, where to stay and where to enjoy a meal and a beer. I hatched a plan with my sister Gina to create what has become a unique online resource for all manner of things outdoors. It brings together information for walks around the UK and Europe and promotes healthy living outdoors for all the family. The main focus is still on the walks and I’m delighted that the Ordnance Survey has partnered with us for mapping and route info. The framework of the website structures information around walking routes to create curated, relevant knowledge regarding the area. For example, accommodation, the nearest train station, a place to park, eat and family-friendly venues to relax. We also promote outdoor clothing, gear, gadgets plus goods, facilities and services relevant to people who embrace life outdoors.”

Walks are a great opportunity to talk…

“Not always about big things, but also the small conversations that bind families together. Hearing about their friends and how they’re feeling is lovely. Listening and sharing are the keywords, whatever the weather, although my little boy Zeph did complain that his legs were going to fall off a couple of weeks ago – we’d only done a couple of miles on a flat path!”

Setting an example is the best way forward when it comes to encouraging your children to exercise…

“Nobody wants to hear, “Don’t do as I do, do as I tell you”! There’s no need to set up a spreadsheet with targets and become fixated about it. Instead, introduce activities that are fun and can become a habit. I’m passionate about litter. It really infuriates me and I’m so pleased that young people care so deeply about the environment. With my Litter Heroes rubbish collecting bag in my hand, every walk has a practical purpose and it should be easy to turn your family walks into missions to make a difference. Don’t demand that you all do 10,000 steps for the sake of the steps. Turn those steps into a scavenger hunt. At any time of the year, there will be natural material lying on the ground – leaves and twigs, for instance – so you can all make nature sculptures, montages or whatever. Let your imaginations run riot!”

Be sensible about the distance you hope to cover and if you have any health concerns, get professional advice…

“If you’re taking children, don’t turn them off walking forever by tiring them out, letting them get cold or becoming bored. As fitness builds, realistic goals can evolve and it’s lovely to tick off longer walks. You can order a personalised map from Ordnance Survey that’s centred on your house. Marking walks completed from your front door is a great way to measure your progress.”

When I’m not walking…

...I eat

“Bran flakes with chia seeds, fruit and live yoghurt for breakfast. Lunch will be a mixed salad with nuts and chicken, or something like avocado, black beans or rice, or a hot soup. For dinner, I’ll have pasta, grilled fish or chicken, a rainbow of vegetables or an egg noodle veggie stir-fry. Dessert will be a chocolate biscuit or some ice cream – I love a pudding and I love dunking!”

...I use

“Several Google calendars, precision, an understanding and loving family, dynamic and empathetic work colleagues to juggle family time and work.”

...I de-stress with

“Yoga and a good box set.”

...I’m always on the go

“Every day is hectic and never routine! I’m involved in so many projects and causes that I’m always on the go. That suits me as I’m no couch potato and wouldn’t last long working at a desk. Wherever I am, there’s always a point where getting some fresh air every day is essential. Fortunately, filming walks in Britain and Europe means there’s often lots of fresh air.”

Julia is the co-founder of The Outdoor Guide (theoutdoorguide.co.uk)