Whether you go it alone, with family, or join an organised group in your community, walking is one of the easiest ways to get more active and
- reduce stress levels and blood pressure
- help manage weight
- improve mood, sleep and mental health
- meet new people and discover new places along the way
Not sure where to start?
We've pulled together information and tools to help you get moving below.
“...walking is a fantastically simple but effective way to improve your health and wellbeing”
KCC Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr Ellen Schwartz, said: “From trimming your waistline to ageing well by improving your balance and supercharging your memory, walking is a fantastically simple but effective way to improve your health and wellbeing. It can also help you make new friends.
“Ideally aim for 10,000 steps each day. It may sound like a lot but using practical guides like Living Streets’ Try20 checklist can set you on the path to becoming a healthier, happier you.”
Andrea Murphy, Active Kent & Medway Strategic Lead, said: “Moving more in our everyday lives can prevent a wide range of diseases. It can also help manage long term health conditions and it’s really important for our mental health.”
There’s all sorts of ways to walk and include walking into our everyday lives.
Active Kent & Medway caught up with Christine and Tracy who joined walking netball sessions offered by Age UK Kent Rivers in Faversham and Sittingbourne.
Christine said: “I suffer from a back problem which I hope to get sorted but it’s nice to come here because you don’t have any impact on your back as such. The people here are lovely, the ladies are lovely, they’re very supportive.”
Tracy said: “My father died and I retired from my job and the mental wellbeing has been great for me and the physical exercise is great. You get that camaraderie and I’ve made some great friends.”
Find out more about National Walking Month, organised by everyday walking charity Living Streets. Follow their campaign #MagicOfWalking on social media.
Check out these ways to walk in Kent:
- WALKING GROUPS – if you live in East Kent, discover our free One You Kent Walk and Talks. Live in West Kent? Wellbeing walks funded by KCC are managed by your local district or borough council. Would you like to help others improve their health and wellbeing through walking by becoming a volunteer walk leader? Contact an organised walks near you
- WALKING SPORTS – explore the world of walking netball, football and cricket and more with the help of Kent and Medway’s Everyday Active
- FAMILY WALKS – find routes for all ages and abilities on Explore Kent. Use the Kent Connected free journey planner app to get free guides and Ordnance Survey map data to show you the way: Download the app on Apple via the App Store. Download the free app on Android via Google Play. Discover how children can get walking with Explore Kent’s Junior Walking Challenge
- GREEN SPACES – get out and about and close to nature by visiting one of our beautiful country parks
- ACCESSIBLE WALKS – search for wheelchair accessible walks on Explore Kent’s website using the search filter on the activity dropdown box
