The beauty of walking is that it is free, almost anyone can do it and it’s easy to get started. You don’t need to spend lots of money on joining the gym or expensive equipment; all you need to do to get started is pull on your trainers and step outside.

You don’t need to travel far to get walking. In fact, walking is a great way to explore your local area and there are plenty of attractive places to walk in towns and cities as well as in the countryside. Check out our advice for finding great places to get walking.

Another great thing about walking is that it is a social exercise, you can walk in a group, with your friends or family.

So, start your new year’s resolution today and get walking!

Get Walking Keep Walking Swindon is an online resource which provides walking routes across the town which have been developed by 13 local Ramblers volunteers. There are already plenty of routes available for you to download for free. As well as routes there will be information about walking in Swindon and details of upcoming walks and events in the area.

The new website is a partnership initiative between Swindon Borough Council’s Leisure Services and the Ramblers and is part of the NHS-funded Walk Swindon project.

Cllr Brian Mattock, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “I am delighted the council has teamed up with the Ramblers and NHS Swindon to develop this website as I think it will be of great benefit to many residents in the borough.

“Not only does walking keep you healthy in body and mind, but the routes will give many people the chance to explore their local area.”

Fiona Dickens, Public Health Physical Activity Lead for NHS Swindon, said: “The Get Walking in Swindon website is an excellent resource to support people in Swindon to be more active, more often.

“Regular activity, including walking, can reduce your risk of developing a number of conditions such as diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke. It is also helps reduce stress and low levels of depression.

“We recommend people to aim to be active for at least 30 minutes at least five days a week. The activity should be at a level where you feel your heart beating a bit faster and you feel a bit sweaty.”

There are currently over 700 led walks taking part throughout England, Scotland and Wales between 24 December and the 2nd January. To find a walk near you visit the Ramblers group walks finder.

Christmas and New Year are the perfect time to step outside and enjoy the wintry scenery near you. Ramblers led walks are sociable and fun and are a great way to explore new areas and meet new people.

The Festival of Winter Walks led walks vary in distance and difficulty so whatever type of walk you’re looking for there should be something perfect for your ability.

You don’t need to be a member of the Ramblers to try some of the walks out over Christmas and New Year and all the walks are free.

For more information on the Festival of Winter Walks, visit the Ramblers website.

To date we have encouraged thousands of people to get walking to improve their health, fitness and wellbeing.  Physical activity is recognised by the Chief Medical Officers in the UK as being pivotal from infancy to old age in helping to reduce and manage many diseases.

Get Walking Keep Walking, the facts:

•  In 4 years 12,000 people have benefited from Get Walking Keep Walking face to face programmes
• Half these people are from black, minority ethnic backgrounds
• A year after taking part, 6 out of 10 people who were previously inactive had increased their activity
• Every £1 invested has created a £3.61 return of social, economic and environmental benefit (Centre for Local Economic Studies

Get Walking Keep Walking has been recognised the World Health Authority as a leading example of physical activity promotion to socially disadvantaged groups. It has been funded through support by the Big Lottery and other partners in England.  Similar projects are now being developed by the Ramblers in Scotland and Wales to extend these  programmes to a wider range of communities.

If you prefer to walk in a group check out walks in your local area with Get Walking Keep Walking or the Ramblers. There are plenty of opportunities to get walking near you. Alternatively you can just step outside and explore your local area on your own or with friends and family. You’ll be surprised at how much there is to explore just on your doorstep!

We will meet at 11am on Sunday 25th September 2011 at Wythenshawe Hall in Wythenshawe Park, South Manchester.

Stigma and discrimination ruin lives. They deny people with mental health problems the opportunity to live their lives to the full. They deny people relationships, work, education, hope and the chance to live an ordinary life that others take for granted.

This massive campaign includes local community projects and activities, a high-profile anti-stigma campaign, legal challenges, training for student doctors and teachers, and a network of grassroots activists combating discrimination.

Time to Change is shown to be having a positive impact on public attitudes and behaviour towards people with mental health problems.  Since the campaign launched, there has been a 4% reduction in reported discrimination and a 2.2% improvement in public attitudes.

We will also be highlighting the link between Mental Health and exercise particularly walking and hosting a short led walk around the local area.

Come along on the day and join us to the sign the ‘Time to Change’ pledge and help us end Mental Health Discrimination.

Free step counters and refreshments will be provided.

The project will last for three years and will encourage people in Leicester to walk to work, particularly for journeys less than 3km. It will aim to improve people’s health and fitness as well as promoting a more sustainable form of transport in the city.

GWKW Leicester will follow Get Walking Keep Walking’s other successful Big Lottery funded projects in Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield and London and also GWKW Durham which is funded by CPAL.

For more information about Get Walking Keep Walking Leicester visit the Ramblers website.

This summer the Ramblers are running hundreds of evening walks across Great Britain. Many of the walks are short, between 3 and 6 miles long and accessible by public transport – perfect if you have just finished the Get Walking Keep Walking 12 week walking programme or are just looking to walk more.

Most of the walks start after the working day, which is great if you want to unwind after a long day at work and get away from the office. There are walks taking place in cities, towns and countryside so where ever you like to walk there is something for you.

Walking is a great way to improve your fitness, it can help you lose weight and is great for your physical health. Regular exercise can also improve your mood, wellbeing and help to alleviate stress and anxiety.

You don’t need to be a Ramblers member to try out one of these summer evening walks, visit the led walks finder to search for summer evening led walks near you.

The research was carried out at the University of California and assessed the health of 1455 men who had been diagnosed with localised prostate cancer. Over 31 months researchers assessed the men and found that the men who walked briskly for 3 hours a week or more were less likely to suffer events such as disease recurrence, bone tumours and deaths caused specifically by prostate cancer.

Research shows that gentle walking does not have the same effect as brisk walking or power walking. Lead researcher Erin Richman comments “The benefit from walking truly depended on how quickly you walked. Walking at an easy pace did not seem to have any benefit…Walking is something everyone can and should do to improve their health.”

To see the full report visit the BBC Website.