Walking daily for one to two hours could significantly reduce the risk of sustaining a stroke, according to a new study at University College London.
The researchers examined 3,435 healthy men aged between 60 and 80 and questioned them on how much walking they did each week.
It was found that those who walked for eight to 14 hours were a third less likely to have a stroke than people who only walked for up to three hours a week.
When the men walked for more than 22 hours, the risk was cut by two-thirds. However, the effect seemed only to apply to strolls - power-walking did not appear to cut stroke risk.
Lead researcher Dr Barbara Jefferis said in the journal Stroke: 'Regular walking each week could be an important part of stroke prevention strategies in older people.'
Last month, Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support said 37,000 lives could be saved each year if people walked more to cut their risk of heart attack, stroke, type-2 diabetes, Alzheimer's and several types of cancer.