“Walking at a moderate pace allows your body to dissipate heat more effectively compared to more intense cardio exercises,” explains Davies.

“It can even help us to cope with the heat. Walking regularly in hot weather can help our bodies adapt to the heat in a relatively gentle way and improve endurance over time. As your body becomes more efficient at regulating its temperature, you’ll be able to handle hot weather better.”

Walking is great for our mental health

“Any exercise has a really positive impact on your mental health but this is never more true than exercise in the great outdoors,” advises Penny Weston, personal trainer and founder of Made on Demand. “Sunshine naturally boosts your production of feel-good hormones such as dopamine and serotonin, and the fresh air will help you sleep better.”

And even on a shady route, you’re bound to get a good hit of vitamin D at this time of year (just make sure you’re wearing sunscreen).

You can keep walking all day, if time allows

If you’re training for an event and you’re concerned about losing endurance by not working out in the heat, walking could be the perfect solution. “Walking lends itself to longer durations, especially if you have the time and prefer a steady, continuous activity,” says Davies. “It also helps to improve cardiovascular health, and build endurance.”

Walking is sociable

There are two types of runners in the world: those who can maintain a steady flow of conversation while running effortlessly uphill, and then there’s the rest of us. Walking can be far more sociable than running, so you can kill two birds with one stone and have a good catch-up with a friend while working out.

Walking is the perfect hot weather workout – here are 5 ways to make the most of it