National Walking Month

May is National Walking Month 2025, a campaign to encourage people across all ages and backgrounds to get outside and embrace the simple, yet profound health benefits of walking. This month-long event is the perfect opportunity to explore the great outdoors, improve fitness, and connect with others in a healthy, enjoyable way. The theme this year is the Magic of Walking.

What is National Walking Month?

National Walking Month is an annual initiative that promotes walking as a free, easy, and accessible form of exercise and transportation. The event encourages individuals, communities, and organisations to host walking challenges, share walking routes, and raise awareness about the health benefits associated with regular walking. These benefits include walking as a way to boost your physical and mental health.

When is National Walking Month?

National Walking Month takes place throughout May. During this time, various activities and challenges are organised to inspire people to walk more, whether it's for commuting, leisure, or health.

How to Get Involved

• Participate in walking challenges: Join local or online walking challenges to stay motivated and connect with a community of walkers.

• Organise group walks: Set up walking groups with friends, family, or colleagues to explore local parks, nature trails, or urban walks together. Alternatively, you can find local walking groups here.

• Share Your Walks on social media: Use social media to post pictures, routes, and stories from your walks to inspire others to join in.

• Encourage walking meetings: If you work in an office, suggest walking meetings to combine work with physical activity.

• Support walking charities: Engage with charities that promote walking and active lifestyles, either through volunteering or fundraising.

You can start your walking journey by joining your local parkrun. Parkrun is a free, community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate. parkrun is 5km and takes place every Saturday morning. Your nearest parkrun is held at Marlborough Common. Please find more information here home | parkrun UK

If you feel you would like a bit of support to start your walking journey, please contact your surgery and ask to talk to your social prescriber - they can help link you to groups set up in your community.