Why walking?

The benefits:

Brisk walking can benefit your physical, mental and social health and wellbeing. These benefits can help to:

• Reduce and control blood pressure;
• Maintain or reduce weight;
• Improve cholesterol;
• Lower the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes;
• Increases bone mass to delay or prevent osteoporosis;
• Reduces stress and anxiety;
• Increase concentration;
• Increase self-confidence and self-esteem;
• Cope with everyday tasks;
• Give you more energy and better sleep.

If you have any medical problems and are unsure about the amount of exercise you should be doing, speak to a health professional for advice.

The outdoors:

Our country’s natural environment serves up extensive opportunities to reap the benefits walking can bring. There are more than 33,000km of public rights of way which can be explored and enjoyed, including footpaths, walking routes/trails and roads. In addition, Wales possesses copious national parks, urban parks, country parks, nature reserves, areas of outstanding natural beauty, forests, coastal paths and many many more.

Walking programmes provide us with opportunities to get to know our own environments and to explore new areas, from the communities we live in to the mountains and coastal paths that surround us. Being in the fresh air can help reduce your stress and calm your mind.

People of all ages and abilities have the opportunity to develop a life-long positive approach to health and fitness by simply stepping out on to their doorsteps and exploring the natural environment around them.