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!

Tuesday 1st November at 10am
 
Easy 4.5mile walk along the River Wear from Elvet Bridge along the riverside to Shincliffe, walking along the other side of the river back to Elvet Bridge.  Visit old Durham Gardens and take in the views of the Castle and Cathedral. 
 
Meet near the Oxfam Shop on Elvet Bridge, Durham City.  Walk leader – Karren Whalen.  
 
Saturday 12th November at 11am
 
Leisurely 3.5 mile walk along the old railways lines of Willington and through North Dene, an ancient beechwood.  See the old mining brickworks at Rough Lea and walk along the Old Roman Road.  
 
Meet outside Willington Resource Centre, High Street, Willington, DL15 0PF.  Walk leader – Graham Sewell
 
Sunday 13th November at 10am
 
Easy 3.5 mile walk around Barnard Castle taking in Green Lane, Mt Eff Road and Bowes Museum. 
 
Meet at Barnard Castle Health Centre, Victoria Road, DL12 8HT.  Walk leader – Jo Bird
 
Saturday 3rd December at 10.30am
 
Pleasant 4 mile walk through Bellburn Wood and back by the Bishop’s Park.

Meet at the layby on A688 Spennymoor to Bishop Auckland road at the turn off to Westerton village.  Walk leader – Roger Carpenter. 

Friday 16th December at 10.30am
 
Enjoyable 3 mile walk along the River Derwent and through the grounds of the Derwent Manor Hotel with an optional pub lunch afterwards.
 
Meet at the car park by South of Allensford Bridge just off A68.  Walk leader – Rob Green 
   
Tuesday 27th December at 10.30am
 
Leisurely 3 1/2 mile walk taking in Flatts Wood, County Bridge, the riverside to Desmesnes and returning in and out of the Barnard Castle yards.   There will be opportunities to drop out earlier for a shorter walk.
 
Meet outside Barnard Castle Post Office, near the Methodist Church.  Walk Leader – Jo Bird

If you’d like a copy of the programme or any more information ring Marianne on 07557119497 or e-mail marianne.patterson@ramblers.org.uk

There were speeches by Helen Judge, Coordinator of Get Walking Keep Walking in Sheffield and Jeremy Wight, Director of Public Health NHS Sheffield who both spoke about the health benefits of walking. Local Councillor Alan Law spoke about the Journeys to Hidden Places arts project – a great collaborative effort. To finish off the speeches veteran Ramblers member John Bunting, who was involved in campaigning for access to the countryside since the 1930s, encouraged everyone to get out and make the most of the Peak District on our doorstep.

We started off with a lively Zumba dance warm up, which got everyone moving. The walk took in some of the art works which were part of Journey to Hidden Places including Giant Hands and the soon to be completed Ripples in the Pond wetlands area. We were welcomed back from the walk by African Drummers and then everyone took part in various activities – more Zumba, children’s wildlife activities organised by Sheffield Wildlife Trust and Sheffield City Council Rangers and 36 people continued onto a 5 mile walk up to Wincobank Hill and Woolley Woods – exploring more of the Journeys to Hidden Places art works.

Click here to see the Calendar News report on the event!
And also here for an interview with Get Walking Keep Walking volunteer Maureen Hancock and Project coordinator Helen Judge

Photos of the event are also on our Facebook page

A huge thank you from the Ramblers to everyone who attended and supported the event including Dave Rice, Errol, Darren and Peter at the First Start centre who were enormously helpful, Friends of Firth Park, Jeremy Wight, Councillor Alan Law, John Bunting, Dawn Lockley, Chris Fox of Fox Audio, Christine Ventour – Zumba Instructor, the African Drummers, Mark Hible of Sheffield Wildlife Trust and Tom Broadhead (Sheffield Rangers), Penny Rea (Friends of Wincobank Chapel) and not least all our wonderful Get Walking Keep Walking volunteers who helped out on the day and also beforehand stuffing all those bags with goodies.

Get Walking, Keep Walking!

Joining a walking group or walking with an experienced walk leader can be great if you’re new to walking, uncertain about finding your way or don’t feel confident about going out on your own. It’s also a great way to meet new people and make friends.

If there’s a Get Walking Keep Walking project nearby, you can follow our 12-week plan and find information about local led walks and activities and detailedinformation. See information in your area for more details.

Your local Ramblers Group may offer shorter, easier walks that are ideal for people new to walking. There are 500 Groups across Great Britain. Read more about walking with the Ramblers.

There are also hundreds of health walks schemes in Britain offering regular very short walks (30 minutes to an hour) led by trained leaders, including plenty of walks in urban areas and local parks. The walks are designed to be easy for everyone even if you’re very unfit.

Ask at libraries or doctors’ surgeries or contact:

• Walking for Health (England), tel 0300 060 2287, wfh.naturalengland.org.uk
• Dewch i Gerdded/Let’s Walk Cymru (Wales), tel 029 2033 8357, www.lets-walk-cymru.org.uk
• Paths for All (Scotland), tel 01259 218888, www.pathsforall.org.uk

Many other organisations offer led walks, including council parks and countryside departments, civic societies and nature and conservation organisations. Often these are short and easy and many are family friendly. Some may make a small charge. Ask at your local library or visitor information centre.

Each walk takes approximately 3 hours.

For further details contact: Carol on 07789 180680 (text any time, but calls after 5pm only please)
Full details are on the Sheffield 40s group website

Family walks Diary, all starting 10.30 am

Saturday 20th August – Totley Moors. Meet at Fox house pub on A625 Castleton Road 272 Castleton bus from Sheffield

Saturday 17th September – Moss Valley. Meet Bridge Inn pub, Ford (Main Road, Ridgeway) 252 bus from Sheffield

Saturday 15th October – Grenoside woods. Meet outside Old Red Lion pub crossroads in village with A61 Sheffield 66 bus from Sheffield

Saturday 12th November – Rivelin Wander. Meet bus stop on Manchester Road where it meets Rivelin Valley Road 51a, 242 buses from Sheffield

Saturday 10th December – Upper Don Valley. Meet outside Hillsborough Primary school, Catch Bar Lane, buses from Sheffield to Hillsborough

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 Heart Help Support Group is a cardiac support group formed by the members of a cardiac rehabilitation programme at Withington Hospital. The primary focus of the group on the social aspect of rehabilitation. The group found that walking fitted perfectly with its  aim, as walking is both good for the health and a social activity.

The group really enjoyed the initial 4 weeks of the walking plan and wanted to keep going on led walks so Get Walking Keep Walking Manchester got in touch with Beth at PARS (Physical Activity Referral Service) who came to see the group and how they might progress further.

18 months on and the group is still walking together regularly and has organised for walk leaders from City in the Community and Beth to lead and support the group.

The group now vary where they meet up giving them opportunity to discover new areas of Manchester. Recently, Jen Green, GWKW coordinator joined the group for a walk and asked them what they felt was the best bits of the walking group, they said:

“We enjoy the company and visiting local places. The walking group really gives us an opportunity to discover places that you wouldn’t go on your own!”

“Not only are you getting exercise but fresh air as well, improving your physical AND mental health”

Walk leader Beth says “The group had enjoyed the led walks with Get Walking and there was a lot of interest in making the group a weekly walk…It’s great getting out in the fresh air each day and exploring Manchester! I also love getting to walk with a huge variety of people”.

Tuesday 12th July – 10am – Leverton and Halls Deli and Coffee House – 218 Mary Vale Road, Birmingham, West Midlands B30 1PJ, 0121 451 1246

Saturday 16th July – 11am – British Oak Pub – 1364 Pershore Road, Stirchley, Birmingham, West Midlands B30 2XS, 0121 458 1758

Saturday 6th August – 11am – Winterbourne House – 58 Edgbaston Park Rd, Birmingham, West Midlands B15 2RT. 0121 414 3003.