02/02/2016 - Permalink

Love walking, love yourself! Free walks in Shropshire this month

Related topics: Health / Leisure, culture and heritage

People looking to make new friends, enjoy some fresh air and get some free gentle exercise are being invited to join one of many free walks led by experienced volunteers across Shropshire.

Provided under Shropshire Council’s Walking for Health scheme, there are a variety of graded walks to choose from, running regularly from local towns and villages across the county.

Our ‘Walking for Health’ walks are 10 to 90 mins duration and led at a pace to suit you, so there is something to suit all abilities and needs. They’re ideal for anyone who would like some gentle exercise, to explore their local area, is recovering from illness or injury, or maybe just wants to get out more and enjoy some company.

For something a little more challenging we have a number of ‘Next Steps’ progression walks, these walks go over hills and stiles and are up to two hours in duration.

For details of all the walks please go to www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk.

Walking for Health in Shropshire is funded by Public Health and facilitated by Shropshire Council through three Walking Coordinators. They support and develop the walks across the county, and train and support the volunteers who lead the walks in their local communities. Last year these 51 health walks enabled over 1,600 people across Shropshire to enjoy the physical, mental and social benefits of walking.

The beauty of the walks is they are free, and you don’t need to book, just come along!

The walks are led by trained volunteers who make sure it is at a pace to suit you and no one is left behind.

Walking for Health has been running for over 13 years in Church Stretton. It’s based at the Mayfair Community Centre and a variety of graded health walks go out from the centre every week.

The centre recently carried out a survey of the walkers and here are some of their thoughts to inspire you about what coming on these walks means to them:

  • ‘Helps you feel good’
  • ‘Friendly welcoming people’
  • ‘Caters for all abilities, cost free, regular and well organised. Friendly, good way to make new friends’
  • ‘Good way to make a lot of friends in the area and keep fit at the same time’
  • ‘Regular exercise has improved my joint movement and flexibility’
  • ‘Walking for Health offers a non – walker the opportunity of an easy way to join a walk where they will find encouragement and friendship’
  • ‘Easier to walk with company’
  • ‘Open to all varying ability and health’
  • ‘You can turn up when you wish.’
  • ‘Healthy and friendly. A nice form of exercise’.

Over 97% of walkers who participated in the survey cited as a benefit of the walks that they have made new friends, and over 91% said they have fun, over 50 % said they feel healthier and 100% said they would recommend it to a friend.

Sounds good? Then why not take a look at our website www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk and check out where your local walks are and come along. We would love to see you.

And, if you would like to help out with the walks, then contact us, via the website or on 01743 255059 to find out about our how to volunteer, it would be great to speak to you.