Discover the wonders of walking during Get Walking Week

People in Shrewsbury are being encouraged to get out on their feet and discover the wonders of walking during the Ramblers’ biggest ever free short walks festival from 3-10 May.

During Get Walking Week, Shrewsbury Ramblers & Shrewsbury Walking for Health will be offering people in the area free short walks, making it easier for them to take their first steps into walking, which leads to a happier and healthier lifestyle.

All walks will be at a leisurely pace and be between three and five miles. The first walk will take place on Saturday 3 May starting at the Old Market Hall in the Square, Shrewsbury at 10.00am. Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury & Atcham, will be joining the walk to launch Get Walking Week 2014. Full details of all the Get Walking Week walks can be found at here.

Although walking is very straightforward, the benefits are bountiful: It’s good for your health, it lifts your mood, it’s a sociable activity you can do with family or friends and a great way to meet new people. It also counts towards the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity people should be doing each week.

Simon Barnett, director of walking development at the Ramblers, said:

“We’ve seen first-hand what a positive impact regular walking can have on people’s lives and would like even more people to benefit.

 

“We want as many people as possible to step out during Get Walking Week so that they can experience everything walking has to offer. You don’t need any special equipment to join in and all our walks during the festival are free, so why not go along to one of these walks in Shrewsbury and take those important first steps towards a healthier and happier lifestyle.”

Further information from shrewsburyramblers2@yahoo.co.uk or 01743 255059

Further information

• Walking may be straightforward, but it’s also effective. The Chief Medical Officers agree that walking counts towards those all-important 150 minutes of moderate physical activity everyone should be doing. To find out more, visit http://bit.ly/1hnxkbO to read the Walking for Health report, Walking Works.

• The Ramblers is at the heart of walking in Britain; working to promote walking and protect the places where people walk.

• It is Britain’s walking charity. It works to make it easy for everyone to walk, whether in countryside, cities, hills, coasts and on or off the beaten track.

• It has a grass roots network of over 25,000 volunteers who work tirelessly for a walking Britain. For over 75 years it has helped build and protect Britain’s 140,000 mile long path network, it runs over 45,000 walks a year, and campaigns for better walking routes and more walking opportunities.