Walking for Health Bristol

Latest news

Gentle walks

The WfH team are currently developing more one heart walks across Bristol. One heart walks are gentle beginner walks. They are suitable for people who are new to walking, wanting to build up fitness to go on longer, brisker walks or recovering from illness or injury.

Download: Hillfields weekly stroll in the park (PDF, 198 Kb)
Download: Weekly Wednesday city centre stroll (PDF, 273 Kb)

Also check the local walks and walking groups below to see other one heart walks in the city.

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What is Walking for Health Bristol?

'Walking for Health Bristol' is our health walks programme which provides people with the opportunity to take part in short, safe, sociable walks within local communities. It is part of a nationwide scheme to get more people walking. The walks have been developed as part of Walking for Health (WfH) a Natural England initiative.

Walking for Health Bristol have produced a leaflet containing information about walking in Bristol. Please click on the link below to download.

Download: Walking for Health Bristol leaflet (PDF, 429 Kb)

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What are the benefits of walking?

Walking is the most common form of physical activity.

It can be incorporated into everyday life and requires no special equipment or cost.

Just thirty minutes a day of brisk walking can have many health benefits including:

helping to reduce your risk of heart disease
helping to control your body weight
strengthening your bones
reducing high blood pressure, stress and anxiety
increasing your overall confidence and wellbeing.

Find out more information about the benefits of walking and the essential evidence being used to strengthen the case for current policies and practice.

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What is a health walk?

A health walk is defined as 'a purposeful, brisk walk done on a regular basis' and needs to be for a minimum of thirty minutes to achieve a health benefit. Any walking/activity is better than nothing and for some even 10 minutes is beneficial (and a challenge).

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Local walks and walking groups

(c) Natural England / Walking for Health / Paul Glendell Organised health walks are a great way to start exercising and stay motivated. You will also meet new people and discover other places to walk in Bristol. All the walks are led by trained leaders from the local community, are free (you may have to pay bus fare and refreshments) and are designed to accommodate people of various abilities, including complete beginners.

To get you started turn up at any of the walks listed in the programmes below:

Please note Bristol City Council are not responsible for the content within the walk programmes. Information is provided by individual walking groups. If a programme is not listed, please contact the walking group directly using the contacts list below.

Download: walking group information and contacts list (PDF, 46 Kb)

Before your first walk you will be asked to complete a short health questionnaire so turn up five minutes early and introduce yourself to the walk leader. Alternatively you can print off and fill in the questionnaire below and bring it along to your first walk.

Download: outdoor health questionnaire (PDF, 111 Kb)

As part of our aim to make health walks accessible to as many people as possible, the outdoor health questionnaire is available in 13 languages. These include Tamil, Somali, Gujarati and Polish. Copies of each can be downloaded from the WfH website.

Follow this link for health walk FAQs.

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Become a volunteer

We are always looking for new volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer walk leader or would like more information please visit our 'volunteering' section.

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Walk leader training

Anyone that has an interest in walking and wishes to lead walks within the local community, then this free of charge training is just what you're looking for.

Walk leader training takes place bi-annual (March and October) - to register your interest please contact Nicola Ferris on 0117 352 1283 or 07810 506 738.

If you are already a walk leader, why not visit our 'walk leader resource area'.

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How do I set up a new walking group?

If you are interested in setting up a new walking group in your area please contact Sian Davies on 0117 352 1199 or 07810 506 736. We would be particularly pleased to hear from you if you are a community organisation or health body who would like to promote health within your community.

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Walking in Bristol

For information about walking in Bristol visit our 'walking opportunities' section.

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Walk 4 Life

Walk 4 Life – the easiest way to get up and about.

Change 4 Life is here to help us all, but especially our kids, eat well, move more and live longer. And a great way to keep active and stay healthy is walking.

Walk 4 Life is jam-packed with tips and games that make walking fun for everyone. It doesn’t matter if it’s an everyday journey or going out to see new places, walking is the easiest way to get up and about.

See below for ideas to help your family start walking.

Download: Tips to get walking everyday (PDF, 933 Kb)
Download: Fun games for everyday walking (PDF, 652 Kb)
Download: Fun walking games for parks and woodlands (PDF, 2855 Kb)

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Bulletin

Walking for Health Bristol produce a quarterly newsletter with all the latest news and information about Bristol walking groups. Download the latest walk bulletins below:

Download: Winter bulletin (PDF, 114 Kb)
Download: Autumn bulletin (PDF, 1116 Kb)

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Contact us

Walking for Health Bristol

Tel: 0117 352 1199 (Monday to Wednesday)
Tel: 0117 352 1283 (Tuesday to Thursday)
Mobile: 07810 506 736 or 07827 306 223
Email: healthwalks@bristol.gov.uk

Local health walk groups

To find your nearest walking group, download the walking group information and contacts (PDF, 46 Kb)

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Next Page >>

Walking for Health Bristol

Latest news

What is Walking for Health Bristol?

What are the benefits of walking?

What is a health walk?

Local walks and walking groups

Become a volunteer

Walk leader training

How do I set up a new walking group?

Walking in Bristol

Walk 4 Life

Bulletin

Contact us

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