Get your boots on, say the Ramblers

Britain’s couch potatoes are being urged to pull on their boots and get on their feet for a weekend of walking.

The Ramblers are urging everyone in Britain to join in Get Walking Day 09 – and help themselves and the planet. The free festival of led walks takes place over the late May bank holiday, and is aimed at persuading the ever expanding population of Great Britain to take up the simple pleasures of walking.

Each of the walks will be under five miles and many will have themes and include special events.

Ramblers’ chief executive Tom Franklin said: “Make this May weekend the best ever, by dusting down those shoes, opening your door and getting your friends and family out to join the Ramblers on one of our fun, free, festival events. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how much you use your legs, there’s a walk for everyone to enjoy this Get Walking Day.”

“It’s a fantastic, free way to make new friends and make the most of the weekend.

Tom Franklin

“Joining Get Walking Day is an excellent way to kickstart a lifelong love of walking.”

The Ramblers, the 74-year-old campaigning organisation, points out the advantages of walking: it’s free – important in economically straitened times and a lot cheaper than using the bus or car.

Walking, according to the Ramblers, burns as many calories as jogging the same distance and reduces stress, and walking will cut car use and reduce carbon emissions.

Former television presenter Floella Benjamin, president of the Ramblers, added: “Free, fun and accessible to all, walking is a perfect form of exercise. Even walking for half an hour five times a week makes a real difference. Make walking part of your life as the more you do, the better you’ll feel.”

The Get Walking Campaign encapsulates the Ramblers move towards encouraging walking in both the countryside and urban areas.

The led walks will take place over the weekend of 30 May-1 June.