Natural England - Getting more people out walking

Getting more people out walking

Walking in a group is a great way to start some physical activity and to stay motivated.

Large walking group

Walking can:

  • make you feel good

  • give you more energy

  • reduce stress and help you sleep better

  • keep your heart healthy and reduce blood pressure

  • help to manage your weight.

Walking for Health

Walking for Health (WfH) is the largest national body promoting and setting the standards for led health walks.

Our aims

Walking for Health encourages people to take regular short health walks in their local communities, particularly sedentary people and those in relatively poor health. We support a network of local health walk schemes across England, offering support and advice, training for walk leaders, public liability insurance, an accreditation quality mark, evaluation and free materials to help promote walking.

What we have achieved so far

Launched in 2000, Walking for Health (previously known as the Walking the way to Health Initiative) has trained more than 43,000 walk leaders and now supports:

  • more than 600 led health walk schemes

  • more than 2,500 walks per week

  • more than 38,000 regular walkers every week.

Get involved

Our 600 led health walk schemes offer walks from beginner level with risk-assessed routes and trained walk leaders. They're fun, free and supportive, which is why once they've tried it our walkers tend to stick at it!
Find your nearest health walk scheme using our Walk Finder.

Find out more on the Walking for Health website.