Get Set Leeds Local is enjoying all things walking this month, as May is National Walking Month.
Walking can be a great way to get up and get out to explore local outdoor spaces. You don’t have to walk for hours. A brisk 10-minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise.
We’d love to hear your tips, favourite walks or what you enjoy about walking. Tag or share with us on social media. Whether it’s getting out litter picking, walking your children to school, or doing 10 minutes during your lunch break. Walking is one of the easiest ways to improve our wellbeing and stay connected to your community.
Beeston Hill resident Clara shares:
“I love walking. Walking either alone or in group always bring the best out of me, it helps me feel energized and connected to my surroundings. My favourite places to walk in Leeds are the Liverpool canal or my local park (Cross Flatts Park). I do believe that walking is essential for our physical and mental health.
“I love the seaside, so if I was asked to recommend a walk around Yorkshire it would be The Cleveland Way National Trail. It’s an easy walk and accessible to most. I have done it in small chunks and love every little bit of it. Get started and you will love it!”
Walking with kids? Can you walk the rainbow, spotting objects the colours of the rainbow? Explore nature? Let the kids choose the destination? Play floor is lava? Create a scavenger hunt by writing a list of things to spot on your journey.
A different way to explore is to download Love Exploring which is a free App which includes Leeds walking trails and augmented reality games within local parks – hunt for Mini Beasts on your phone at Holbeck Moor or dinosaurs in Cross Flatts Park. There are games in Brickfield Park, Middleton Park as well as places such as Roundhay Park and Temple Newsam.
Active Leeds delivers free walk leader training to leaders and volunteers wanting to take a group out on led walks. As a walk leader you get to choose exactly where to walk and share your favourite routes with others.
Many of our Third sector organisations have group walks, or would welcome new walk leader volunteers to set up new ones. Walking in a group is a great way to get to know new people in an easy going way.
I used to lead some walking groups and found it to be something that connected people from all backgrounds, and could guarantee that most weeks someone would discover a new hidden gem. Weekly or monthly walking groups are currently being led by Holbeck Together, Health for All and Being You Leeds to name just a few of the local groups. Get in touch with them directly to find out days and times.
If you’d like to be a walk leader (or help facilitate any active groups) then get in touch to see if we can support.
Want to walk, jog or run? Parkrun welcomes walkers and joggers, or anyone doing a combination of the two. Parkrun (5km) happens every Saturday 9am at Cross Flatts Park and Middleton Woods. Junior parkrun (2km) happens 9am every Sunday at Cross Flatts Park. Visit www.parkrun.org.uk to register before attending your first one.
If you do want to build up to jogging a 5km, the free NHS App ‘Couch 2 5K’ guides you from beginner and builds you up to jogging over a number of weeks. Local groups such as South Leeds Lakers often have Couch 2 5K groups throughout the year for new starters wanting additional group support.
Lastly wheels instead of walking. Cycle North are beginning some new women only learn to ride sessions throughout May. These will be taking place Thursdays 12:30pm at Cross Flatts Park. Bikes and helmets are provided. Sessions are bookable via Eventbrite. Visit www.cyclenorth.co.uk/adults to find both adult and the women only learn to ride and cycle confidence sessions.
If you have other ideas for things you’d like to see within South Leeds to help you “move” then get in touch via karen.peck@leeds.gov.uk.
Photo: Shutterstock
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