Walking is simple, free, and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier. It is good for you and good the planet too as it produces no carbon emissions and it lets you take in the beauty of the natural world around you. By switching to walking from other modes of transport, you are reducing your impact on the environment.

Myth buster: Did you know that you are actually more likely to be exposed to higher levels of air pollution when travelling in a vehicle than you are if you are walking or cycling.

NHS - walking and staying motivated

Whether you’d like to join a led walk over a short or long distance or just want to download a route to walk by yourself, you’ll find it below with information about walk programmes and walking routes.

If you get chance to do your walking in nature, it is a great way to relax and it can be good for your mental health. In South Gloucestershire we are blessed with many beautiful natural locations, and we are working hard to protect and restore nature.

• Parks and open spaces
• Nature reserves and woodlands

This page is for information purposes only.  Please note that all providers listed are independent of the Council and the Council takes no responsibility for their ability to provide the services they offer.  Please ensure that you use the provider best suited to your needs and contact them if you require further information about their services.

Walking Well (Previously known as Walking for Health)

You may be aware that Walking for Health (nationally) will end later this year to be replaced by Ramblers Wellbeing Walks. At South Gloucestershire Council we have decided to run our health walks scheme independently of them.

The new scheme will be called Walking Well and will focus on helping people who are inactive become more active.

All walks are free and led by a group of trained leaders who can help you take the first steps to a more active lifestyle, as well as being a great way to meet new people.

The walks are between 30 and 90 minutes, designed to suit different walking abilities. These walks are designed to accommodate any walker’s needs, allowing people to walk the distance they feel comfortable with.

People of all ages and walking abilities are supported, including those who use wheelchairs or have other access requirements. To find out more or ask any questions, please contact us: Telephone: 01454 863440 or Email: walking@southglos.gov.uk

All walkers walk at their own risk. During the briefing at the start of each walk potential hazards are highlighted. We would be very grateful if walkers could pay particular attention to the briefing for their own safety and the safety of others. Please don’t walk if you are feeling unwell.

No specialist equipment is needed for our walks but please dress appropriately for the weather.

Walking Well Registration

A Walker Registration Form must be completed before you can attend a Walking Well health walk. If you require support to complete the registration process, please contact the Walking Well team  on 01454 863440 or walking@southglos.gov.uk

How to book on to a Walking Well walk

If you would like to attend a Walking Well walk you will need to book on via Eventbrite. Eventbrite links can be found under each walk on the drop-down list below. (If you are unable to book on to a Walk Well walk online, please contact us: Telephone: 01454 863440 or Email: walking@southglos.gov.uk

Current Walking Well Walks

Promoted walking routes

Extended list of walking routes in South Gloucestershire

The below routes vary from short circular walks designed to be easily accessible, to long-distance walking routes. We also have an extensive network of bridleways and have developed a range of circular rides. 

Click on the menus below for a full list of walks in each area (all of the below are downloadable PDF leaflets except Frampton Cotterell which links to an external website):

Heritage trails

Within South Gloucestershire lie many hidden treasures that have helped shape the landscape as we know it today. Natural, industrial and cultural forces have played a part in making up the local environment that we live and work in.

A list of or heritage trails and links to the leaflets are below:

• Hatter’s trails – Frampton and Watley’s End
• Frampton and Coalpit Heath
• Pucklechurch village
• Industrial places
• nonconformist trail
• Tudor places trail
• Avon Valley Woodlands heritage walks
• Bradley Stoke heritage walks
• Emersons Green heritage walks
• Warmley Forest Park heritage walks
• Willsbridge Valley heritage walk

Easy access trails

• Easy access trails 10 circular walks
• Easy access trails 10 more circular walks

Park Trails

Park trails are ideal to build up your walking or running distance on a measured and marked course.  Originally set up in partnership with England Athletics and called Run England 3-2-1 routes, these vary in distance from 500 metres (posts every 100m) to multi-lap 5,000m trails (posts every 1,000m). Please click on the links below to view or download a route.

• Brinsham Fields, Yate BS37 7YF: 500 metres
• The Common, Yate BS37 4BU: 800 metres
• King George V, Downend BS16 6AU: 700 metres
• Lees Hill, Kingswood BS15 4TW: 500 metres
• Little Stoke Park BS16 6HR: approx. 1,400m lap, marked to 5,000m
• Page Park, Staple Hill BS16 5PJ: 700 metres
• Pomphrey Hill, Mangotsfield BS16 9NF: approx. 1,500m lap, marked to 5,000m
• Scott Park, Patchway BS34 5JR: 1,000 metres
• The Ridings, Chipping Sodbury BS37 6BQ: approx. 1,600m lap, marked to 5,000m
• Three Brooks, Bradley Stoke BS32 9BS: 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 metres (out and back)
• Wickwar Playing Fields GL12 8JD: 1,000 metres

A Forgotten Landscape

This website will help you discover the stunning landscape adjacent to the River Severn with a series of 10 regular walks and 5 easy access walks. Either use the map (zoom in for more detail) or click on the individual leaflet icon below the map for more information about the route or to download a PDF version of the leaflet.

Out and About

The Out and About walking folders include maps of local walks of one to three miles – see the list below

• Out and about – Cadbury Heath
• Out and about – Kingswood
• Out and about – Patchway
• Out and about – Yate
• Out and about – Filton
• Out and about – Staple Hill

Walking volunteers

Being a volunteer

Our programme of free, led walks would not exist without our team of volunteers. As a volunteer you will:

• help and support people in your community to get active and healthy
• be involved in risk assessments and route planning
• attend a training day covering the basics of walk leading as well as health and safety considerations
• be encouraged to have First Aid training (with fees covered by us)
• receive ongoing support from our Public Health team

We also hold an annual ‘get together’ day where volunteers meet for refresher training, go for a walk and have lunch. Please email walking@southglos.gov.uk if you are interested in being a walking volunteer.

Other volunteer opportunities

For information about other volunteering opportunities in South Gloucestershire, visit our volunteer page.

Other volunteer opportunities

Useful resources and information

• “We Are Undefeatable” – this new campaign aims to help people with long-term health conditions to get more active. Visit the campaign website for more information.
• Physical activity and mental health -Sport and physical activity has a powerful and positive effect on mental health. Visit the Sport England website to find out more.
• Benefits of exercise – Exercise is free, easy to take, has an immediate effect. It can also reduce your risk of major illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer by up to 50%.
• See our top 10 tips for motivation and change.
• One You national website – Further information about One You as well as a range of other One You apps – available from the Apple store or Google Play
• UK Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines – physical activity for adults and older adults – The guidelines emphasise the importance of building strength and balance for adults as well as 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity and, for older adults, activities to improve balance.
• The National Centre for Exercise and Sports Medicine has produced this guide to staying active at home during the coronavirus outbreak.