May is National Walking Month, and there’s lots of easy ways to get out for a stroll in Leeds, from digital apps to city tours, and even a local walking festival.
Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, launches its #Try20 campaign for National Walking Month this week, encouraging everyone to walk for 20 minutes a day.
Ramblers Wellbeing Walks are offered in Middleton and in various locations with Age UK, and there are lots of other walking groups across the city, including with the South Leeds Lakers.
For a glimpse into the hidden gems of Leeds – from Japanese gardens to ruined castles and world-class street art – check out the Love Exploring app. It’s free to download and features 25 trails in parks including Middleton and on the Leeds-Liverpool canal.
Love Exploring also offers augmented reality games, including the brand-new Mega Mini-beast Hunt which is available in 11+ locations across the city, including Cross Flatts and Middleton parks. The game features hyper-realistic giant bugs which creep, crawl and fly, as well as an interactive quiz. If you have primary school-aged children, link your account to their school to score points as part of the citywide Love Exploring Leeds Inter-School Challenge, which runs throughout May. All participating schools win a prize, and the top-scoring family will win an iPad.
City centre strollers can join Rachael Unsworth from Leeds City Walking Tours for 4 free guided walks, on 5th, 11th and 18th May, commissioned via Leeds City Council’s Influencing Travel Behaviour team. Sign up here or via the Commuter Newsletter, which supports cheaper, safer and healthier journeys, especially walking.
And Get Set Leeds Local is organising a walking festival in New Wortley, bringing together partners for a networking walk on 6th May at 9.30, meeting at New Wortley Community Centre. Other events include a calendar of walks, a scavenger hunt challenge and a schools BINGO walking challenge. Follow #NewWortleyWalks to find out more.
This post was written by Sally Hall
Photo: Max finds a virtual Mega Mini-beast
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