Decade of the benefits of health walks
Published: Thursday 31 October 2024
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Get Walking Lanarkshire is highlighting the benefits of a health walk.
Get Walking Lanarkshire currently organises 33 free weekly health walks which last no longer than an hour and go at a gentle pace.
Local people who take part in the walks have shared their top 10 benefits:
- make friends and enjoy company
- gentle exercise improves mobility and general health
- fresh air
- short distances of the walks are accessible for most people
- getting to know the local area
- better sleep afterwards
- enjoying nature and green spaces
- having a regular date in the diary encourages participation
- mental health benefits from being out and about
- helping to manage weight
A social media campaign will tell the positive experiences of some of the hundreds of people who take part each week @GetWalking Lanarkshire
Get Walking Lanarkshire is a partnership between South and North Lanarkshire Councils, NHS Lanarkshire and Paths for All.
The partners met at Strathclyde Country Park to celebrate the 10th anniversary which has now seen nearly 76,000 walkers on more than 7000 weekly health walks across Lanarkshire assisted by 90 walk volunteer leaders.
Margaret Cooper, Provost of South Lanarkshire, said: “Over the last 10 years Get Walking Lanarkshire has shown that everyone, no matter what their fitness level, can get out and about in their local area, make friends and not only improve their physical but also their mental health.”
And North Lanarkshire’s Provost Kenneth Duffy added: “The number of health walks has grown steadily as more people have joined. We are now looking ahead to how the initiative can continue to grow and enable more people to take part in fun, healthy exercise.”
For details of all the weekly walks, go to www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/getwalking.
9 December 2024
REF to help complete path in rural area
6 December 2024
Parking on pavements to result in penalties from early next year
5 December 2024
Young people showcase business skills
4 December 2024
Options for new commercial waste service to be investigated
3 December 2024
Fund to help group upgrade local hall
2 December 2024
REF helps restoration of fountain in Stonehouse
2 December 2024
Community groups granted a boost
29 November 2024
Council clamps down on vape sales to minors
29 November 2024
Lease will enable hall to reopen
28 November 2024
ARCH success reflects community spirit