Strapping on the outdoor footwear and going for a hike is an effective form of exercise for older people, it has been claimed.

Emma Soames, editor-at-large for Saga Magazine said walking is popular among older people because it carries less risk than other pursuits.

"The most popular form of exercise is walking because you don't risk hurting yourself in any way," she said.

"If you walk briskly, you can get your heart rate up."

And it's not just for those aged over 60 – Ms Soames said there is anecdotal evidence that walking is good for everybody. 

"A lot of people now say walking is the best sort of exercise for any generation," she explained.

"Other exercises which the over-60s are doing include swimming and cycling, but the big winner is walking," Ms Soames concluded. 

A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that the elderly should take up the Chinese martial art of t'ai chi to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.