In praise of the walking stick

Matt Limb OBE reflects on a timeless and favourite companion in the countryside.

There’s something deeply satisfying about a good brisk walk in the countryside and the benefits to our physical health and mental wellbeing are well-documented – from aiding weight control to improving sleep and providing an outlet for stress-relief.

Yet, beyond such science, there’s a more profound pleasure in treading our favourite path or discovering a new one. For many, such excursions become treasured moments, a chance to take in fresh air, walk off a hearty Sunday lunch, or simply escape into the quiet company of nature, when it feels good to be lost and out exploring.

It is no secret that walking has long been celebrated as a low-impact, easily accessible form of exercise suitable for almost everyone. Best of all it requires no expensive gym memberships or specialised training equipment, just a good pair of shoes, or in my case boots, and an open road, or preferably the countryside.

Modern day studies have highlighted the numerous benefits of a good brisk walk, but the one advantage that I can associate with is a boost to creativity and thinking – simply getting out walking can stimulate your brain and help with problem-solving.

The change of scenery helps clear the mind and inspire fresh ideas and thoughts, but above all walking is a very easy exercise that can aid social connectivity and the growth of any friendship.

Rambling with friends
Many like the company of a small and social group as they ramble out on a Sunday afternoon. I prefer to walk on my own, but I will inevitably have the company of at least one of the dogs. I will also have with me an old and faithful friend: a good, sturdy walking stick – a steady companion for every step.

When I say walking stick here, I mean a proper stick; one that aids your stride, one that will help when navigating uneven terrain or climbing hills. A walking stick that can provide an extra point of contact with rough ground, in turn reducing the likelihood of slips and falls.

In recent years I have witnessed the growth of the modern Nordic Trekking Poles that satisfy such a requirement, but I have never been tempted.

I remember a couple of summers ago watching a couple with such poles, striding out at a pace that would qualify for the Olympics, arms and legs waving about, almost a blur, in a near clockwork motion.

That was the moment I decided, not for me. It looked far too much like Nordic or cross-country skiing, which I remember from my youth as being great fun but hard physical work, so not my idea of a stroll in the countryside with the dogs.

Art and science
So, I have always remained devoted to a traditional walking stick, but what makes the ideal walking stick? Is it as simple as cutting a suitable branch from a local hedge or picking up a ready-prepared stick from a local country store? Or is there more to it? Is it an art, or a science? I would suggest it is a bit of all the above. A well selected and made walking stick can be seen as a work of art, but to get the right fit for a walking stick a bit of science is needed. But if we get this right, you will have a friend for all your future rambles in our countryside.

For me a walking stick should always be wooden. Hazel is a popular choice as it can grow “as straight as a gun barrel”, to quote a phrase I have heard many times – an alternative and one of my favourites is blackthorn.

Yes, there are the metal versions and no doubt plastic as well, though I can’t help but think if you want something that is tactile to hold and is good to look at, then go for a wooden walking stick. Like a good pair of boots, or a sensible coat, a walking stick can say much about you and your character.

While we have referred to our stick as an aid to walking, I often also see it as an aid for exploring the countryside. I have lost count of how many times it has acted as a wading pole, to see how deep a stream is before crossing, to then help as an anchor to pull myself up the steep opposite bank, or simply hacking the overgrown brambles that block my path.

To this I can add the innumerable times it has pulled down branches, allowing fruit such as sloes to be collected, or simply acted as a leaning post, as you take a minute, catch your breath and admire the view.
But to make a walking stick work for you it must be the correct length; too short and it will encourage you to bend forward resulting in discomfort and poor posture, too long and you will instinctively find yourself leaning back, resulting in much the same.

The ideal way to measure a walking stick, or to be more exact the length of the shaft, is to stand feet apart, ideally in your walking boots, your arms relaxed by your side. Then holding the stick vertically, with the end of the stick on the ground, the top, or handle, should sit comfortably under your armpit – or be about five to eight inches higher than your elbow.

Never underestimate the question of how tall, or long, your walking stick should be. If you get the length right, the stick will sit and swing naturally with no effort as you stride out and it will be a comfortable fit, like an extension of yourself.

Handle design
So, with our walking stick’s shaft now the right length, we need to look at the style and decide what you would like for the handle. One possibility is the ever-popular shepherd’s crook. Still used by today’s farmers and shepherds, it is a functioning tool to catch sheep, the crook simply holding the sheep around its neck, the length of the stick acting as an extension to the shepherd’s arm.

We also have the leg crook, similar in shape but much narrower; this crook is designed to catch a sheep by the back leg. But as much as the traditional shepherd’s crook can be a functional tool used daily across the country, it can also be a work of art, with the crook carved to make it unique and individual.

Or for more style, try a ram’s horn crook, where the horn is worked and attached to the shaft. I can remember over the years lengthy conversations between shepherds and stick dressers discussing the finer points of carving and attaching the ram’s horn to the shaft, in the hope of having a stick that is functional but still a work of art.

I feel somewhat honoured to have both carved wooden walking sticks and ram’s horn sticks around the house, they are certainly something that can be admired, but I have fallen into the habit of not using them on a regular basis, for fear of damaging them.

I remember having a discussion about this some years ago and being told I was daft; a good stick is made to be used, came the response. Inevitably this resulted in having sticks for everyday use, then like a good set of clothes some are saved for Sunday best. I guess this puts me in the small and niche group of people that collect walking sticks, but I can appreciate their unique designs, historical significance and craftsmanship, which turn them into cherished possessions.

But whatever my interest and curiosity in the waking sticks, I will confess that my favourite for day-to-day use is a well-worn thumb stick, still with a wood shank, but a stag horn or deer antler as the handle. It is a near-perfect fit, sitting under my arm and making a most comfortable rest.

Past and present
The walking stick has changed little over the years, though it may have fallen from fashion if we compare things with the Victoria era, when every gentleman around town would be seen with his stick or cane.

During this time it was not unusual for a stick to conceal a sword or even a firearm. We need only look to the iconic writing of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his depiction of Sherlock Homes to see that the walking stick was a popular accessory for many a gentleman.

But turning back to recent years, I have seen a walking stick used by a deer stalker to steady his telescope as he spies and searches for that elusive red stag on the opposite hill in the Scottish Glens. Equally by a falconer, to take the weight as his hawk sits on his wrist for hour after hour, or a Gun walking back after a successful day’s shoot and holding his much-prized brace.

A walking stick is more than just a practical tool, it is a companion and a symbol of our connection to nature plus tradition. Whether serving as a steadying aid on a steep hill or as a conversation starter when admired, a good stick becomes a trusted ally in exploring the countryside. Its form, carefully chosen or crafted, so often reflects the personality of its owner, rooted in its function and looks. In this way, a walking stick serves not only as an aid to walking and exploring the countryside, but also as a connection to stories, past memories and a shared appreciation of simpler, slower moments we enjoy in our lives.

So, when you next step out into the countryside, with boots laced and a well-loved stick in hand, take a moment to appreciate the journey ahead and the tradition you hold in your grasp.

Whether it’s a thumb stick, a shepherd’s crook, or a carved masterpiece, the humble walking stick stands as a reminder of the timeless joy to be found in walking – not for speed or massive distances, but for the pure pleasure of moving through our countryside, one step and one story at a time.

Photographs: Matt Limb OBE

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