Welcome to the Walking Pace newsletter! At Walking Pace we love walking and celebrate every walker and every walk – no matter how far, fast or technical. Set up by Matt Overd and Anita Kerwin-Nye Walking Pace promotes good ideas, shares knowledge and highlights experiences from across the vast walking community. In these regular updates we look back at walking related news you may have missed and highlight interesting articles, walking jobs, opportunities and upcoming dates. And, introducing this month – One Mile Walks – our new programme curating and creating walks about a mile long with a focus on accessibility.
If you have any walking news or events you would like included in the next newsletter then please contact: matt@walkingpace.uk.
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Newsletter August 2024
Since our last newsletter in early May the nation has been united. The election? No. The Euros? No. The absolutely stunning northern lights! What a treat to be outdoors filling our skies with colour.
In June the world lost Dr Michael Mosely, an admired public figure who inspired many to take simple actions to improve their health and wellbeing. We remember Michael as a keen advocate for walking and some of his walking related ‘Just One Thing’ episodes can be re-visited here; Walk Backwards; Early Morning Walk and Exercise Less, More Often.
National Walking Month saw many events taking place across the country and #NationalMapReadingWeek was in June. Summer is now well and truly underway. The rain been quite generous, whilst the sun was initially a little stingy. Not terrible conditions for walking overall, though the paths may have been a little wetter underfoot than expected in July. So, with the schools broken up, wherever you are walking, we hope you have a great time. Don’t forget to take your sunhats, sun-cream and water (and rain coats) – happy walking.
Quote of the month
“Adventure is not simply about the thrill of the unknown but also about our relationship with perceived possibilities, obstacles, and the creative potential we see in the path ahead.”
(Andy Mort / Sarah Lister)
Walking Pace articles
Articles from Walking Pace you may have missed. Including a sneak peak at our forthcoming programme – One Mile Walks. We will be creating and curating walks about one-mile long and through these supporting collaboration on access to walking, it would be great to have you involved.
Introducing One Mile Walks
We will soon be launching One Mile Walks, a new programme to provide walks about one mile long and test approaches to access. Get involved. See article
Small changes, big difference
Small changes can make a big difference. After route setting and investigating surfaces and facilities here’s a few things worth reiterating. See article
Walking is Magic
We all know that walking is magic. It provides extraordinary benefits for health, wellbeing, but is there a risk of becoming over-medicalised? See article
Long distance walking?
Thinking about long distance walking? There’s lots to choose from and lots of advice available. How about The South Pennine Triangle to test it out? See article
Round up
Access to Green Spaces: DEFRA has published initial thoughts on measuring households within walking distance to green spaces. This follows Natural England’s recommendation that everyone, no matter where they live, should have access to natural green space. The statistic has calculated the distance to green space for every household in England measured along a network of walkable streets and paths, however the definition of ‘green space’ dramatically affects the results. Feedback is requested – see more
Nearly 70% with physical disabilities struggle to access green spaces: Country Living report that of the140,000 miles of footpath in England and Wales, only a few hundred are accessible to all. A study has found that 1 in 5 people face an accessibility problem all the time when visiting green spaces – see more
New Yorkshire Dales Explorer rail service launched: The return train service, which first departed on the 8th June, runs from Rochdale to Ribblehead twice a day on Saturdays, calling at stations including Manchester Victoria, Salford Crescent, Bolton, Blackburn, Clitheroe, Hellifield and Settle – see more
Every body outdoors: Steph Wetherell urges plus-size people to re-think if they believe the outdoors is not for them – see more
Calls to re-route the King Charles III Coast Path along the coast, not a major road. Isle of Wight Ramblers held an East Cowes Coast Path Rally in May – see more
Men should heed female hillwalkers’ safety concerns: With a list of ‘horror stories’ highlights man need to respect women’s personal space and avoid patronising questions – see more. And this response – When does trying to help women not help women? – from Cat Marcol – see more
My blindness has helped me see the world: Country Living’s interview with the Ramblers president, Amar Latif – see more
Walking backwards: Walking backwards can relieve back pain, soothe arthritis and beat achy knees reports Nell Frizzell – see more
Five steps to improve our neighbourhoods, health and the economy: Sustrans’ call for the new UK Government to put walking and cycling at the heart of its plans for a fairer, healthier future – see more
Calls for new dog licences to better control unruly pets in England: Scottish-style right to roam deal should train owners and protect livestock and wildlife, say campaigners – see more
Access groups free an obstructed byway in North Yorkshire: two pairs of large, ornamental gates which were obstructing a restricted byway in Stanwick St John, near Richmond in North Yorkshire have been removed – see more
A plea from the trees: trees are vulnerable to pests and disease and are currently fighting an unprecedented attack from biosecurity threats. Participate in a the citizen science project Observatree – see more
Future proofing the South West Coast Path for next generation: campaign begins to raise money for South West Coast Path, in the face of climate change and coastal erosion – see more
Right to Roam: ‘We have been pulled from nature like roots from the ground. The very thing that sustains us, now sitting opposite barbed wire fences and keep out signs. Over time, this gap has grown and both sides have suffered because of it. It’s time mend the rift.’ – see more
Walking three times a week ‘nearly halves’ recurrence of low back pain: Australian research finds people who walked three to five times weekly stayed pain-free almost twice as long – see more
White cane users highlight challenges: People with visual impairment walked together in two of Jersey’s busiest streets to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by white cane users – see more
Cotswold volunteers contribute 51,000 hours: More than 350 voluntary wardens support the Cotswolds National Landscapes team, and have been doing so since the 1960s – see more
New bridge in London given go ahead: A new bridge over the River Lea in east London has been given the go ahead by councillors – see more
The PATH coalition has launched two new tools to support countries in committing to active mobility through their next NDCs. Active Travel NDC Template and Interactive dashboard of all 197 UNFCCC countries.
Waycheck: The Slow Ways Waycheck week happened in June, with more routes being added and verified. Many more walking links between towns to be discovered and checked if you fancy contributing to this vast and ever-growing network of paths – see more
Active Travel in the Lake District: Share your ideas by the 15th September 2024 using the interactive map and help create an even better active travel experience for everyone in the Lake District – see more
Women’s Leadership in Protected Landscapes – the second of these events saw over 100 people join the webinar on the 26th July to hear from leaders at various stages of their careers in protected landscapes, campaigning, policy and the voluntary sector.
My wellbeing walks have kept me afloat: A life coach who has faced mental heath issues has said he is hoping to find a new sponsor for the wellbeing walks he organises – see more
Guided walks: A Surrey council is organising a series of walks to help improve residents’ health and fitness – see more
Walk Together Pathway: The National Trust are working in partnership on a new project that aims to widen participation in the outdoors by supporting people from global majority ethnic communities to become qualified walk leaders – see more
New scooter at Aysgarth Falls: Aysgarth Falls has become the latest destination in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to offer free use of an all-terrain wheelchair – see more
The challenges faced when making local journeys in a wheelchair – Dennis’ story: As an LGBTQI person and a wheelchair user, Dennis explains how the environment prevents her from easily reaching Manchester’s Gay Village to spend time with her community – see more
Countryside access curbs in England ‘cost six times’ Scotland’s right to roam: Data shows implementing English countryside legislation cost £69m over five years – see more
British bothy guide: The best bothies to stay in, what to bring and the bothy code – see more
The Guernsey Ice Cream Route Map: The new map shows 20 kiosks and cafes serving ice-cream on the island – see more
What it takes to get a phone signal: Not walking, but a stranded motorist tied his phone to a drone to get rescued – see more
Coastal record attempt: Linzi Bell hopes to be the first person on record to navigate the British coastline entirely on foot – see more
A man walked from Manchester to party in Ibiza, a Scotland fan walked from Glasgow to Munich to watch the football, a 100-year old woman is walking 100 laps of a carpark, an 89 year-old woman completed a 90-mile coast walk. A man walks for a rugby clubhouse, a cardiac arrest survivor walks to raise money for a hospital, more than 750 walkers took part in a night-time event to raise money for terminally-ill patients, a Dad is walking 1,000 miles to raise money to provide free heart checks, more than 1,100 people walked to support a hospice and Three Dads Walking received MBEs for their charity work.
Worth a look
New National Trails Website
The National Trails are inspirational, designated long distance routes covering over 6000 miles of rural, urban and coastal environments across the UK. And they have a shiny new website! See more
A Sound Walk is…
…a listening exercise that helps us become aware of our immediate acoustic environment. It is also about the aesthetic pleasures of listening. Listening to sounds we might otherwise have missed. See more
Trans Pennine Trail blogs
A great collection of stories and events from the Trans Pennine Trail national office and their partners, supporters and users along the route. See more
Footways – Islington
See Islington differently with Footways. This map connects Islington with welcoming, appealing and accessible streets. Use the digital map to explore history and culture as you walk. See more
Moelfre, Anglesey
Discover a stunning section of the north-east coast of Anglesey between Moelfre and Traeth Lligwy before returning inland via the remains of Roman round houses and an impressive Neolithic burial chamber. See more
New Coast Path
First Section of New Coast Path opens on Exmoor. Improvements have been made along a quarter of the length of this 35 mile stretch, so that walkers can enjoy revived ancient paths and more scenic views. See more
The Fours
With peaks such as Catbells, Dufton Pike and Chrome Hill among them, The Fours is the list of England’s 400-500m hills. 22 years after the list’s publication Myrddyn Phillips & Aled Williams reflect of these stunning hills. See more
New Short Walks Made Easy
New Short Walks made easy launched by OS for stunning locations such as Exmoor, Isle of Skye, Fort William, Norfolk Coast and Broads and North Pennines. This comes soon after the previous release of books in April this year. See more
Coming up
- The Kiltwalk – Dundee – On Sunday 11th August 2024 – See more
- Castlerock Walkfest – On Saturday 31st August 2024 – See more
- Corwen Walking Festival – Denbighshire – On Saturday 31st August 2024 – See more
- Vale of Glamorgan Walking Festival – From Tuesday 3rd September to Sunday 8th September 2024 – See more
- Stonehouse Walking Festival – Gloucestershire – From Friday 6th September to Sunday 15th September 2024 – See more
- Sheffield Walking Festival – From Friday 6th September to Sunday 15th September 2024 – See more
- Bradford on Avon Walking Festival – Wiltshire – From Friday 6th September to Sunday 8th September 2024 – See more
- Dartmoor Walking Festival – From Saturday 7th September to Sunday 15th September 2024 – See more
- Gower Walking Festival – West Glamorgan – From Saturday 7th September to Sunday 15th September 2024 – See more
- Bathscape Walking Festival – From Saturday 7th September to Sunday 22nd September 2024 – See more
- Bedfordshire Walking Festival – From Saturday 7th September to Sunday 15th September 2024 – See more
- High Weald Walking Festival – From Saturday 7th September to Sunday 15th September 2024 – See more
- Moonwalk – Edinburgh – On Saturday 7th September 2024 – See more
- Eastbourne Walking Festival – From Saturday 7th September to Sunday 15th September 2024 – See more
- Bollington Walking Festival – Cheshire – From Saturday 7th September to Sunday 15th September 2024 – See more
- Wellington Walking Festival – Shropshire – From Monday 9th September to Sunday 15th September 2024 – See more
- Dorset WALX Festival 2024 – From Monday 9th September to Sunday 15th September 2024 – See more
- Cowal Fest – Argyll – From Thursday 12th September to Monday 16th September 2024 – See more
- Youth Hostel Association Festival of Walking – From Friday 13th September to Sunday 13th October 2024 – see more
- Barmouth Walking Festival – Gwynedd – From Saturday 14th September to Monday 23rd September 2024 – See more
- Mid-Devon Walking Festival – From 14th to 29th September 2024 – See more
- Walking East Yorkshire Festival – From Saturday 14th September to Sunday 22nd September 2024 – See more
- Ben Nevis Trek – On Saturday 14th September 2024 – See more
- The Kiltwalk – Edinburgh – On Sunday 15th September 2024 – See more
- Kington Autumn Walking Festival – From Thursday 19th September to Sunday 22nd September 2024 – See more
- Richmond Walking and Book Festival – From Friday 20th September to Sunday 29th September 2024 – See more
- Somerset & Exmoor Coast Festival – From Saturday 21st September to Sunday 29th September 2024 – See more
- Walk the Isle of Man – From Sunday 22nd September to Friday 27th September 2024 – See more
- Ross on Wye Walking Festival – Herefordshire – From Friday 27th September to Sunday 29th September 2024 – See more
- Llandysul and Pont-Tyweli Walking Weekend – From Friday 27th September to Sunday 29th September 2024 – See more
- Alpkit Big Shakeout – From Friday 27th September to Sunday 29th September 2024 – See more
- The Saltmarsh Coast Walking Festival – Essex – From Friday 27th September to Sunday 6th October 2024 – See more
Find your YHA Walk
With the return of the YHA Festival of Walking, here’s a reminder that all the walks can be searched by information such as pubs, cafes, seats and toilets. See article
Other dates
- 17th August 2024 – Muslim Hikers: Family Adventure at Carding Mill Valley – see more
- 29th September to 3rd October – Muslim Hikers first international expedition and conquer Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa! – see more
- 28th to 31st October 2024, Paris – 10th International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress – see more
- 4th December 2024 – Scottish Physical Activity Research Connections Annual Conference, Reducing inequalities in physical activity for health – see more
- 21st June 2025 – Entries now open for the 2025 10 in 10 and Family 5 in 5 Challenge – see more
Walking vacancies
- See the Sights Tours – Happy Potter Walking Guide – closing date 4th August
- Paths for All – multiple vacancies including: Freelance Trainers and Development Officer – closing dates between 5th August and 19th August.
- Access the Dales Volunteers – volunteer to join the of mission of making the countryside more accessible for everyone.
Get in touch, send us your comments, news, events and vacancies for the next newsletter: matt@walkingpace.uk