National Walking Month 2025

Introduction

Introduction

As the days grow longer and the weather gets warmer, there's no better time to lace up your walking shoes and join the movement, quite literally, for National Walking Month 2025 in May!

Each May, this campaign inspires individuals across the nation to embrace the simple yet transformative power of walking. Whether you're exploring scenic trails, taking brisk lunchtime strolls, or rediscovering the charm of your neighbourhood, walking is more than just a mode of transportation; it's a path to better health and vibrant community connections.

What are the benefits?

Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier.

Sometimes overlooked as a form of exercise, research has shown that walking is associated with a decreased risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. Furthermore, moving more can help to reduce stress as well as improve self-esteem and sleep.

You don’t have to walk for hours. A brisk 10-minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your 150 minutes of weekly exercise, as recommended in the physical activity guidelines for adults aged 19 to 64.

Where to start...

Where to start...

It can help to try and include walking as part of your daily routine. Examples could include:

  • Using the stairs instead of the lift
  • Having ‘walking meetings’
  • Walking part of your journey to work
  • Leaving the car behind for shorter journeys where possible
  • Taking a stroll as part of your lunch break

Check out the graphic for some ideas but read on for more suggestions and links.

Being active is one of the Five Ways of Wellbeing Take a look at how the Five Ways can improve your wellbeing.

If you can combine being active with some of the other ways of wellbeing e.g. being social, getting out in nature or learning something new, then you will be charging up your resilience bank, and be in a much better position to manage any stress that comes your way.

Getting involved - before you start...

Try to make sure that any shoes or trainers you are wearing are comfortable, provide adequate support and do not cause blisters.

If you're walking to work, you could wear your usual work clothes with a comfier pair of shoes and change shoes when you get into work. Many SCC building have shower and changing facilities available, so you could choose to wear something different and bring your work clothes along with you.

Remember to take some water with you to keep hydrated!

There are lots of self-guided walking routes across the county: Self guided walks around Surrey - Surrey County Council

Walking in a group is a great way to start walking, make new friends and stay motivated. Ramblers organises group walks for health, leisure and as a means of getting around for people of all ages, backgrounds and levels of fitness.

And why not take some photos while you are out and enter them into a competition?Check out the Surrey Spring Photo Competition for example.

Staying motivated...

The Active 10 App allows you to track how much and how fast you have walked. To keep things interesting, it gives you goals to work towards and rewards your progress.

Why not start to track your steps with the aim of increasing them? Surrey Libraries and Active Surrey have created health and activity trackers that can be rented for free for a 6 week period: Health and activity trackers - Surrey County Council 

 They are available from the following libraries: 

  • Ewell
  • Camberley
  • Guildford
  • Staines
  • Walton.  

You can borrow them for a total of 12 weeks, so a 6 week initial period, plus one further session.  Find out more at Active libraries. 

Listening to music or a podcast whilst walking can help to take your mind off the effort. It can also help get you into a rhythm and walk faster - you'll be surprised at just how fast time goes when you're walking to your favourite tunes! Spotify and Apple Music have dedicated walk playlists that you can search for.

Mixing things up and adding variety to your walks can sometimes make things more interesting. If you’re used to countryside walks, why not try a city-based walk next time or vice versa? Living Streets’ ‘Try20’ walking tips checklist is a good way to add variety: #Try20 tips

At home alternatives...

  • For those in a wheelchair or who can’t stand for long, why not try wheelchair Yoga? Yoga - WheelPower
  • If you can’t get outside, then try this 40 minute online desk yoga recording - Learning at Work Week - recordings.
  • NHS Fitness Studio Fitness Studio exercise videos - NHS is also a great way to keep moving at home- the page has instructor led exercise videos, including aerobic exercises, strength and resistance training, Pilates and yoga.
  • Joe Wicks’ videos are also great to follow along to at home for free. The playlist contains activities for older adults including low impact and chair based. The Body Coach TV by Joe Wicks - YouTube.