YouAsk Kim
A woman in a seated twist on a green mat in a sunlit room, an olive tree and the sea behind her

Move · 60 min

Join a walking group

A group that walks at a set time from a set place, at a pace for everyone: the route is planned, the company is free.

60 minutesFrom the library, free to readFour steps
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Walking alone is good. Walking with a group adds a few things that are harder to give yourself: a fixed time that gets you out of the door, a route someone else has planned, and people to talk to on the way. Many places have free groups led by volunteers, often with short and gentle walks for beginners.

The steps

Four small steps,in your own time.

  1. Look for a walking group near you: libraries, community centres, health centres, parks departments and local noticeboards often list them. Look for words like 'short', 'gentle' or 'beginners'.

  2. Check the length, the ground and the pace, and whether there is a stop or a shorter option. Ask the organiser if you are unsure.

  3. Go once. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water and a layer, and tell the walk leader if it is your first time or if you have anything they should know.

  4. Afterwards, decide whether to go again next week. It often takes two or three walks before a group feels like yours.

The reason

Why it helps

Regular walking is one of the simplest ways to stay active, and a group makes the regular part much easier. A set time and place mean you do not have to talk yourself into it each time. The conversation and familiar faces are a good part of why many people keep going.

A gentle variation

If an hour is too long, look for health walks of twenty or thirty minutes, often on flat paths. If you use a wheelchair or walking aid, ask whether the group has an accessible route; many do.

Friends resting after a game, the sea behind them

WE · TRIBE

Try itwith someone.

Go with a friend, a neighbour or the person you care for the first time. If you care for someone, some groups welcome caregivers and the person they look after together.

Make it a plan in HIVELIVE, with WE

Try it today

This week, find one walking group near you, check its shortest walk, and put the date in your calendar.

Add it to your day

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