The 19th-century Danish philosopher and father of existentialism Soren Kierkegaard may not have been the happiest of souls but he could always cheer himself up by taking a walk.

"Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness," he once said."I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it."

It may be that Kierkegaard's example is not often talked about in the offices of the government or Scottish Natural Heritage. Speaking at the launch of the National Walking and Cycling project plan which is looking to extend Scotland's network of routes by 500 miles over the next five years, Cabinet Secretary for Planning Alex Neil talked of the benefits that would accrue in terms of tourism and boosting the economy.

There were also mentions of environmental and health benefits too, to be fair, but there is always a danger that we see our landscape in terms of economic value first and foremost.

Walking changes the way we view the landscape. Travelling on foot or by bicycle is a reminder that life is not simply a journey from A to B. It is all about the journey itself. That is why these new routes should be welcomed. Because sometimes it is worth stopping and taking a look around. And that is more difficult to do when you're roaring down the motorway.