Walking

Walking in the West Midlands

Walking is a great form of exercise - it’s suitable for everyone. There are plenty of places to explore in the West Midlands.

Adding walking to your day can:

• strengthen your heart
• keep weight in check
• reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes

If walking all the way to work is too far, and you travel by bus, you can pay a Short Hop fare (where they’re available). Walk to the next bus stop to get some exercise and save money at the same time.

If you have children, you can help your whole family get more exercise by walking with them to school. We are working with the Living Streets walking charity to help you walk your usual school run.

Walking and running routes

If you want to go on a longer walk or run, it’s best to plan your route so you can avoid busy roads. You can use websites like WalkIt or PlotARoute to find the best routes for you.

The West Midlands are home to some great walks along the canal network. Visit the Canal and River Trust to find out more about walks near you.

Walking groups near you

You can explore your local area on foot by joining an organised local walking group:

• Birmingham Walking Groups
• Coventry Healthy Walks
• Dudley Walking Programme
• Sandwell Stride
• Walking in Solihull
• Walsall Walk On
• Ramblers

Walking apps

If organised walks or runs aren’t for you, but you want to stay motivated, an app can help you keep on track.

• Active 10 is a free walking tracker that shows you how much walking you're doing and how you can do more.
• Couch to 5k is an NHS app for beginner level runners. It gradually builds people up to be able to run 5k in just 9 weeks.
• Love Exploring is a free app which lets you explore your local Black Country park whilst learning about the area with guided tours, discovery games and quizzes.