A festival encouraging people to walk is taking place in Bristol throughout May.
The annual Bristol Walk Fest is a celebration of walking, with routes heading through the city.
The event is in its seventh year and last year it attracted as many as 3,000 walkers from Bristol and beyond.
There are a series of events including historical walks, nature walks, street walks, and a variety of walking sports.
With health high up the agenda for governments and local councils, walking is being encouraged more and more.
According to a Public Health report on Bristol in 2017, the health priorities identified for the city were reducing obesity, increasing physical activity, and improving mental wellbeing.
Walking has been show to improve all of those things, with NHS England saying: “Sometimes overlooked as an exercise, walking briskly can help you build stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier. It’s simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get healthy.”
In a city like Bristol, with lots of green and open spaces, and interesting culture spaces, it’s ideal for walking.
Bristol Walk Fest 2019 is co-ordinated by Active Ageing Bristol in collaboration with Bristol Sport Foundation, The Anchor Society and St Monica Trust, working in partnership with Age UK Bristol.
This year sees far more emphasis on walking sports, a phenomenon which is catching on all across the country.
Participants will get the chance throughout the month to try walking rugby, walking tennis, walking hockey and much more. And what has traditionally been seen as sports for older people, according to Bristol Walk Fest co-ordinator Kerry Morgan, isn’t necessary the case.
She said: “One of the joys of this year’s Walk Fest programme is the number of opportunities it gives for sports fans of all ages and fitness levels to try a walking sport.
“There’s a myth that these slower versions of popular sports are strictly for older people. While it is true that they are a great way for ageing players to maintain their interest in a game, stay active and enjoy team cameradie, they are also a way for lapsed and injured players of all ages to get back into their favourite sport,” she added.
Unlike many competitive sports, walking sport can be played and enjoyed by people of all standards and ages, and is family play is encouraged. Kerry continued: “The walking part is a physical leveller, and allows different abilities to play together, and grandparents, and parents with their children, competing together or against each other.”
“Also, the fact its slower can also allow regular players to hone and practice their techniques. So there really is not limits to it.”
Sessions in these sports will be taking place all across Bristol, and the range is vast. Kerry said: “We’re also thrilled by how many different walking sports can be sampled during the festival, with a mix which includes traditional favourites like cricket, football, hockey, netball, rugby and tennis as well as several people may not have heard of before, such Boccia, New Age Kurling and Nordic Walking!”
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How do I sign up?
The festival continues until May 31 and the majority of events are free. Details can be found via www.bristolwalkfest.com
As well as the online calendar, a free brochure is available from libraries, the Tourist Info Centre on Harbourside and several other info points across the city.
Updates are also being shared via the Bristol Walk Fest page on Facebook and by @briswalkfest19 on Twitter.
