How family walking helps shake off the stresses of modern life and lets you catch up with people you don't see often enough

The post-roast walk was a regular fixture of my childhood. Every Sunday lunchtime, we'd stuff our faces with potatoes and gravy and apple pie, before heaving ourselves from the dining table, lacing up our boots, and heading out into the drizzle with our over-excited dogs.

I never wanted to go, of course. Who wants to tramp through mud bickering with their parents when they could be cozied up on the sofa with a cup of tea and more apple pie? Inevitably, I'd whinge for the first mile before hitting my stride; thrashing out pent-up teenage angst by stomping angrily through puddles. I always finished the walk bright-eyed, ruddy-cheeked, and cheerful.

So I felt a pang of nostalgia when Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury came under fire on Twitter this weekend after saying parents who don't take their children on country walks are “irresponsible”.

In an interview with You magazine, Bradbury said: “I think parents have a duty to make sure their children get regular exercise and are exposed to the outdoors.” Bradbury even suggested countryside walks should be put on the national curriculum.

The TV presenter, who is currently fronting new ITV series Best Walks with a View, was quickly accused of being “another middle class celeb” living in an “ignorant bubble”.

Wholesome family walks have, after all, typically been the preserve of privileged Middle England. In 2009, there was even a government-backed campaign to encourage more people from ethnic minorities to visit the Lake District. At the time, it was estimated that only one in 10 visitors to the Lakes were from non-white backgrounds and “champions” were sought from ethnic minority groups to inspire others to enjoy the great outdoors.

Bradbury has since clarified her stance on Twitter, saying she was misinterpreted and actually meant that outdoor walking of any kind is beneficial, not just walking in the countryside. And, despite my teenage tantrums, I have to agree with her.

Whether you walk through squelchy fields or over slippery city cobbles, there's something salutary about spending long, active hours outside in the company of friends or family. Perhaps it's the fresh air, perhaps it's the opportunity to spend time thinking only of putting one foot in front of the other, but walking clears a messy head. Especially in this very digital age.

Psychotherapist Jonathan Hoban believes walking therapy is essential for shaking off the stresses of modern life and suggests people leave their mobile phones at home when going out for a walk.

“Burn out and work stress is the highest it has ever been,” he says. “Going for walks, getting out, connecting with family – when people do that, it allows them to process what's happening in their day.”

Hoban runs walking therapy sessions in locations across London which he says help reduce anxiety, work stress, anger, blood pressure, and depression – even just an hour's walk in your lunch break is enough to make a difference. Hoban also agrees with Bradbury, claiming that family walks should be “drilled in” when children are young.

“I think parents need to lead by example,” he says. “So children grow up learning that when we go out for a walk, that's our time. Work is down, phones are off, that is our time to reconnect.”

Of course, the beauty of rambling, as Bradbury pointed out, is that it's completely free; all you need is a route. For me, family walking is an opportunity to catch up with people I don't see often enough. I'm visiting my parents this weekend, actually, and fully intend to trudge through the park with them, putting the world to rights, and clearing the cobwebs. (And, now that I'm an adult, I no longer do it begrudgingly.)

So, perhaps parents should heed Bradbury's advice and drag their children off the sofa and into the fresh air. They might whinge for the first mile but they'll soon find their feet.