Step into love: 1 in 4 Brits would go for a walk as a first date but phone-checkers, fast walkers and flatulence rank as top ‘icks’
### Strictly Embargoed Until 00:01 on 04/02/2022 ### *** FREE FOR EDITORIAL USE *** Shelly and Oliver Ward try the foods available in the new ‘Mood Food’ aisle at Iceland, which has been launched ahead of Valentine’s Day and features the top ten foods that have been voted by Brits most likely to get them in the mood for love, which include ice cream, pizza and roast dinner. The aisle has been created following research by Iceland, which revealed that 6 in 10 people find traditional aphrodisiacs such as oysters are in fact a turn off for them, with 8 in 10 saying that comfort foods are more likely to affect their romantic feelings.
One in four (24%) Brits would go on a walking date as a first date, new research1 from Nationwide reveals. And while most people wouldn’t brave going for a romantic stroll on their first date, an additional 14 per cent would do so further down the line.
But the poll of 2,000 people also reveals the biggest turnoffs (icks) on a walking date – from people checking their phones, walking ahead of their potential match, bad dress sense and even wind (not the weather!).
Walking dates are hotly debated as a ‘marmite’ way to spend a date (www.tiktok.com/tag/walkingdates). Despite this, 13 per cent of those who have been wooed on a walk say it was their best date ever.
Nationwide commissioned the research into walking dates to mark The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity’s annual Walk 50k challenge throughout September, with people striding out and raising funds. As of 4pm Friday, 2,565 people had participated in the charity effort, raising £119,494 and walking a total of 19,140 kilometres.
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity is one of four charities that partner with Nationwide’s Fairer Futures. The UK’s largest building society is working to support those who have been dealt an unfair hand by tackling some of societies biggest issues.
Part of the attraction of a walking date is undoubtedly the price. While the average date comes in at £56.76, according to the research, a walking date is just £12 on average1 – around a fifth of the cost. In fact, one in five (22%) say they like walking dates specifically because they are cheaper.
The top reasons why someone would go on a walking date are: it’s relaxed and low-pressure (55%), it’s healthier (38%) – (walking burns off around 200-300 calories per hour), a way of seeing how your date interacts with the world (34%), environmentally friendly nature (28%) and It’s a chance to hold hands and be tactile (27%).
The BIG ‘ick’: The survey reveals the top ten walking date turnoffs are:
Checks phone constantly (41%)
Flatulence (25%)
Walks three steps ahead (21%) – a bigger ick for women at 26% vs men at 16%
Sweats excessively (21%)
Talks too loud (20%)
Walks too fast or too slow (16%)
Bad dress sense (12%)
Doesn’t plan anything (11%)
Tries to hold hands too soon (10%)
Weird walking style / bad shoes (8%)
Meanwhile, the top green flags include good manners (30%), walking at your pace (25%), a good laugh (24%), smelling amazing (18%) and undivided attention (also 18%).
Walking and falling head over heels: among 25–34-year-olds, walking dates are proving surprisingly romantic: 83 per cent say they’ve caught feelings mid-stroll, with 28 per cent falling for someone instantly.
It’s all about the footwear: trainers top the list (62%) of preferred footwear on a walking date, while 25 per cent opt for walking boots. While 10 per cent would opt for Crocs as the choice of footwear, this rises to nearly a fifth (19%) for those aged 25–34. Seven per cent would wear high heels and wellies.
Top walking dates: Tom Hardy (12%), Ed Sheeran (11%) and Adele (11%) top the list of walking dates. For, those aged 16-24, it was Tom Holland (actor – Spiderman) (18%). When looking at men versus women, Tom Hardy was the firm favourite (17%) and for men it was Emma Watson (15%).
Top three walking date locations: when it comes to where to walk a beach promenade (34%) was the preferred option followed closely by a local park or nature trail (34%) and then along a river or canal (32%). According to Ordnance Survey, the top 20 romantic walks in the UK include Arthur’s Seat Walk in Edinburgh, Snowdon Summit Walk in Wales and Chesil beach in Dorset (see full list in Notes to Editor2).
