Walking

Walking is simple, free, and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier.

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.

Table of Contents

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

Chipping Sodbury

A loop walk around the Chipping Sodbury Rugby Club. It is a flat walk on compacted ground with a slight slope as you head down towards the finish of the walk which takes you through the little park. There is then a slight incline for those people who have parked their cars in the car park. That said there is an alternative route back to the car park which branches off before we walk to the park.

Duration of walk: 30 to 50 minutes depending upon mobility

Distance of walk: 1.02 miles

  • May be mud
  • Inclines
  • Buggy Friendly

Location – The Ridings Car Park, The Ridings, Chipping Sodbury, BS37 6PQ

Find dates and book your place here

Kingswood - Kingsmeadow @ Made Forever

The walks currently take place on the second Monday of every month from 10:30 to 12:30. However there plans to increase walks to twice a month. We will provide an update when this change occurs.

Duration of walk – 2 hours (May vary in bad weather)

Distance of walk – 3 miles

  • Toilets
  • Refreshments available
  • Uneven ground
  • Steps
  • Stiles
  • May be mud
  • Inclines
  • Wheelchair friendly
  • Rest opportunities
  • Buggy Friendly
  • No Dogs please

Location – Kingsmeadow @ Made Forever, Fisher Road, Kingswood, BS15 4RQ

Find dates and book your place here

Siston - Heritage Walking Group

Heritage Walking Group aimed at engaging the local community with a variety of topics related to the cultural and natural heritage of the Commons, from ecology to social history. This includes bat walks, tree identification walks, and walks on the folklore of the area.

Duration of walk: 1 hour 15 Minutes

Distance of walk: 1 mile

  • Toilets
  • Uneven ground
  • Stiles
  • May be mud
  • Inclines
  • Rest opportunities

Location – Siston Common, Siston Common, Warmley, BS15

Find dates and book your place here

Thornbury

Short walk around central Thornbury on mainly level paths/footpaths. Suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Dogs welcome on leads.

Duration of walk: 1-2 hours

Distance of walk: 2 miles maximum

  • Toilets (at the refreshment venue)
  • Refreshments available
  • Uneven ground
  • May be mud
  • Inclines
  • Wheelchair friendly
  • Rest opportunities
  • Buggy friendly
  • Dogs welcome

Location – Middle of St Mary’s Centre Thornbury behind Savers, Quaker Lane, Thornbury, BS35 2AD

Find dates and book your place here

Yate - Young Onset Dementia Group

Walking Group for people with a diagnosis of Young Onset Dementia (diagnosed under the age of 65), their carer/friend/supporter. Meet at Kingsgate Park, which has footpaths, with plenty of places to sit down. There are no steps and just a few slight inclines. Each walk will be a ‘gentle’ walk and will take around 30 minutes or so. There are public toilets, including a disabled toilet. Toilets are also available at the cafe. After the walk there is an opportunity to go to the Bird Cage Café. Even if the weather is not so good on the day, we plan to just go to the cafe and eat cake! If the weather becomes extremely bad, we will cancel and reschedule for another time.

Duration of walk: 90 minutes including stopping for refreshments.

Distance of walk: Approximately 1 mile

  • Toilets
  • Refreshments available
  • Uneven ground
  • May be mud
  • Inclines
  • Wheelchair friendly
  • Rest opportunities
  • No Dogs please

Location – Kingsgate Park, Sundridge Park, Yate, BS37 4EP

Find dates and book your place here 

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):

Chipping Sodbury walks

Cotswold walks

Dramway walks

Frome Valley walks

Frampton Cotterell

Severn way walks

Staple Hill walks

Warmley and Siston walks

Wick walks

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:

Easy access trails

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.

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

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