Lettie Goes Travelling

I’m a walker. Always have been — and I sincerely hope I always will be.

Growing up with dogs probably hard-wired the habit into me. Walking wasn’t exercise, it was just… life.

And even now, dogless, I still walk.

My morning walks really took root during Covid. I’d already been working from home for about four years at that point, so when the rest of the world suddenly joined me, I became the accidental expert. Work was chaotic — I was supporting the NHS at the time — and I never knew when I’d get another chance to step away during the day. So I claimed the early morning as protected time. Mine. Non-negotiable.

Even as a regular walker, I noticed the difference. The air felt cleaner. The light felt softer. Some mornings the sunrise was so breathtaking it stopped me mid-step. I’d pass other walkers and their dogs, exchange nods, small smiles, a quick “morning” — tiny human connections that felt quietly reassuring when everything else felt uncertain.

That’s when I started posting a photo from my walks on Instagram Stories. Originally it was just a subtle signal to family: I’m okay. But friends began to look out for them too. And somehow, years later, I’m still sharing them.

Because the truth is — I feel the difference on the days I walk.

I’m lucky, I know. I live somewhere rural, with countryside right on my doorstep. But even when I travel, I keep the habit. Different country, different climate, different view — same ritual. I’m completely location-agnostic when it comes to my morning miles.

Walking grounds me. It clears my head. It humbles me. Some of my best ideas — and yes, some of my worst — have arrived while I’m out putting one foot in front of the other. It’s where thinking turns into understanding.

It’s physical and mental maintenance in one simple habit. Win-win.

And as I continue sharing travel stories here, documenting adventures on @lettiesgoestravelling, and building a support framework on @lettiegetsrewired, that anchor matters. It keeps me steady while everything else grows and evolves.

So if you occasionally see a sunrise over a hedgerow pop up on your feed, you’ll know exactly what I’m doing.

Out walking.
Smiling.
Getting ready for whatever the day decides to bring.