April 29, 2025

May is National Walking Month and organisers Living Streets  are asking people to #Try20 and walk for 20 minutes every day during the month.

Walking is one of the easiest ways to improve physical and mental health and stay connected to our community, helping us feel less lonely and isolated. And by swapping a short drive for a short walk, you can also help reduce air pollution, congestion and keep active in the process! 

Did you know that a regular 20-minute walk can reduce the risk of a number of preventable health conditions, including certain cancers, depression, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes?

Sometimes overlooked as a form of exercise, walking briskly can help you build stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier.

The Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines encourage all adults (including 65 and over) to accumulate 150 mins (or 22 minutes a day!) of moderate intensity activity a week, such as brisk walking.  

From walking to school, walking to work, walking to the shops or joining in one of the many regular walking groups operating across Cumbria there are so many ways to get involved with National Walking Month and something to suit all ages and abilities.

A number of ways for you to get involved this National Walking Month:

1. #TRY20 - Take a 20-minute walk every day throughout May and feel the benefits. Living Streets have prepared fun tips to keep you on your feet the whole month.  From  a scavenger hunt to trying a walking meeting there are lots of ideas to help you fit 20-minutes walking into the month.
2. ACTIVE 10 – If you can’t manage 20 minutes how about 10! A daily brisk 10-minute walk can make you feel better, more energetic and improve your mood. Over time it can also help lower the risk of serious illnesses like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Use Public Health England’s latest FREE app which shows how much brisk walking you do throughout the day, and get tips and encouragement on how to fit ten minute bursts of brisk walking into your day. Download the app   
3. LOCAL WALKS - Check out the opportunities on our Ramblers Wellbeing Walks pages
4. WALKS TO LIVE LONGER BETTER.  A series of maps featuring walks in local parks developed by The Hiking Household, in partnership with Active Cumbria.  The six maps focus around popular parks and open spaces in Carlisle, Penrith, Workington, Cleator Moor, Ulverston and Barrow-in-Furness.  View the maps   As well as providing short easy-to-follow routes, the maps include information about the benefits of being active and simple exercises which can easily be done outdoors using benches along each walk.  They also highlight how being outdoors can significantly improve mental wellbeing. The exercises can be done on any park bench so do check them out even if there isn’t a dedicated map for your local open space.
5. FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS! Don't forget to follow us on social media as we will be sharing more walking information throughout the month