Want to start walking? Then follow our guide!
Walking is free, fun, sociable and anyone can do it. Walking regularly can help you keep fit, reduce stress and control your weight. And it's the best way of exploring your local area.
You don't have to travel to the countryside to walk -- even in cities you'll find lots of good places to walk within easy reach. Walking is much more convenient and flexible than going to the gym and you can even walk on short everyday transport trips as a cheap and pollution-free alternative to the car.
The links on this page will help you get started.
Help and advice for complete beginners
 | Get Walking Keep Walking helps people in big cities do more regular local walking to improve their health and well-being. It provides free locally based 12-week walking programmes combining information and motivation with led walks and other activities, and there's an option to go DIY. |
Finding places to walk locally
 | Our Walking for you pages have practical advice and tips on finding local easy walks, an introduction to countryside walking and advice for people with disabilities. |
Walking with a led group
Health walks
 | Health walks are very short, easy led walks aimed at beginners and people who are unfit. They are often run by local councils and the local health service. For more information, contact the following organisations: |
Easy walks
Many Ramblers Groups now offer shorter walks at an easier pace, ideal for people who are relatively fit or have been on health walks and now want something a little more challenging.
Other Ramblers walks
You can find details of hundreds of other walks led by Ramblers volunteers, including more challenging countryside walks, on our online Group Walks Finder.
Getting children to do more walking
 | You'll find some quick hints and tips on the Get Walking Keep Walking pages and there's lots of useful information in the Walk4Life toolkit on the Change4Life site. For more detailed advice see our Walking for everyone pages, including information about child carriers and pushchairs, walking when pregnant and lists of books of child friendly walks. |
Advice for people with disabilities
 | You'll find comprehensive and authoritative advice for people with asthma, blind and partially sighted people, deaf and hard of hearing people, people with diabetes, people with epilepsy, people with limited mobility and wheelchair users in our Walking for everyone pages. |
Further information
 | Once you get started walking you'll find our walking information pages indispensable, with practical advice on walking gear, health and safety, maps and navigation, access arrangements for walkers, finding transport and accommodation and organising walking events; and details of popular trails and routes, parks and countryside areas. |
This First Steps page is a Ramblers promoting walking project. Read more about our promoting walking work in Great Britain.
