The unlikely appeal of barefoot hiking: It makes you feel quite primal'

"There's something about that direct contact of the sole of your foot in the clay. It almost feels like mud, she says. But then you realise, Oh yeah, it's oozing up between my toes!' It's sort of enlivening, like getting a massage."

"In Seoul alone, more than 150 parks feature designated barefoot walking areas. The trails were often right in the busy part of town where people were out exercising after work."

"It makes you feel quite primal, he says, being in nature and slowing everything down. His early barefoot hikes lasted little more than half an hour. These days, he can go for up to seven hours."

Gen Blades experienced barefoot hiking on South Korea's Namsan Dulle-gil trail, enjoying the sensation of clay underfoot. South Korea has over 150 parks with barefoot walking areas. Dale Noppers from Australia has been barefoot hiking for seven years, finding it connects him to nature. He has progressed from short hikes to longer ones, despite challenging terrains. The practice is less common in Australia, where enthusiasts often create their own paths.

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