Walking
Table of Contents
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 motivatedWhether 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.
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
Bristol & Bath Railway Path
Staring from Monday 6th February 2023 and from then on every other Monday join us for a pleasant walk along the Bristol to Bath Railway Path. Walk as far as you feel able before turning around and heading to the cafe for refreshments. Max distance 1.5 miles, but many of the group walk a shorter distance. The path is suitable to walking aids. The emphasis is achieving what you can, enjoying the outdoors and some good company.
Time: 11am
Duration of walk: As short or as long as the walker would like.
Distance of walk: Maximum 1.5 miles. Can turn back anytime.
- Toilets
- Wheelchair Friendly
- Refreshments available
- Dog welcome (must be kept on a lead)
Location – Avon Valley Railway, Bitton Station, Bath Road, Bitton, BS30 6HD
Bitton
Every 2nd Wednesday of the month. Join us for a walk from Bitton station along the railway path.
There will be a variety of walks which may include Willsbridge Mill, Bitton village and the River Avon
This walk may cover some uneven ground or hills but will be on paved paths. We will go at the pace of the group, and there will be a few benches to stop along the way. Feel free to bring some money to join us at the end of the walk for a chat over a tea or coffee.
Time: 2pm
Duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
Distance: 3 miles
- Toilets available
- Refreshments/café
- Parking nearby
Location: Avon Valley Railway, Bitton Station, Bath Road, Bitton, England, BS30 6HD
Page Park (Gentle Walk)
These walks are ideal for people who would like to take part in gentle exercise around the flat, easy access Page Park. The walks last up to 30 mins and are accessible for people with walking aids. After the walk enjoy a cuppa and a chat (small donation requested).
Frequency: Every Tuesday and Friday
Time: Tuesdays 11:30am and Fridays 10:30am
Duration: 20 – 30 minutes
Location: Meet at Clocktower, Page Park, Park Road, Bristol, England, BS16 5LB
- Toilets available
- Parking nearby and accessible from 7 or 49 bus
- Wheelchair friendly
- Refreshments in the Nest community room after the walk (small donation requested)
- No dogs
Page Park
Every 4th Wednesday of the month. Join us for a variety of walks from Page Park.
There will be a variety of walks which may include the Railway path, the Leap Valley and footpaths in the Downend area.
This walk may cover some uneven ground or hills but will be on paved paths. We will go at the pace of the group, and there will be a few benches to stop along the way. Feel free to bring some money to join us at the end of the walk for a chat over a tea or coffee.
Time: 2PM
Duration: 1-1.5 hours
Distance: 3 miles
Location: Meet at Clocktower, Page Park, Page Road, Bristol, England, BS16 5LB
- Toilets available
- Refreshments/café
- Parking nearby and accessible from 7, 19 or 49 bus.
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
Find dates and express your interest on The Friends of Siston Common Facebook page.
Thornbury
Duration of walk: 1-2 hours
Distance of walk: Around 3 miles
- 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
Young Onset Dementia Group
Walk Information below:
Walking Group for people with a diagnosis of Young Onset Dementia (diagnosed under the age of 65), their carer/friend/supporter. Venue will vary: please see linked dates below for details of where the walk will be. Each walk will be a gentle 30-45 minutes long, have wheelchair-friendly footpaths, with places to sit down. There will be no steps and just a few slight inclines.There will be parking and toilets, including a disabled toilet. After the walk there is an opportunity to go to visit a cafe together. (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 – Please check the links below for dates and locations.
Friday 11th October 2024 – Kingsgate Park, Sundridge Park, Yate, BS37 4EP
Friday 8th November 2024 – Page Park, Page Road, Bristol, England, BS16 5LB
Friday 13th December 2024 – Kingsgate Park, Sundridge Park, Yate, BS37 4EP
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.
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):
Cotswold walks
Dramway walks
Frome Valley walks
Frampton Cotterell
Jubilee Way walks
Severn way walks
Staple Hill walks
Warmley and Siston 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:
- 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
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
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 opportunitiesUseful 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.