More people need to get walking, the Ramblers said

A quarter of British adults walk for no more than an hour each week.

The alarming figure that so many UK residents lead couch-potato lives led the country’s biggest walkers’ charity to call for a walking revolution.

The YouGov poll also revealed 43 per cent of over 18s walk for two hours or less a week.

The UK’s chief medical officers recommend at least 2½ hours moderate activity such as walking each week to maintain health.

Almost all those polled – 93 per cent – agreed that walking was a good way to keep fit, but their actions don’t back up their beliefs.

The Ramblers said: “Walking is the key to helping reverse this pandemic of inactivity but more needs to be done to help people get started; from support for projects like Walking for Health, which provide free, friendly short walks, to ensuring there is greater investment in the places we walk, enabling people to travel by foot.

“To help kick-start this walking revolution, the Ramblers are inviting everyone to step out and join them for Britain’s biggest short-walks festival, with hundreds of free walks across the country, aiming to get 100,000 people to their feet.”

Benedict Southworth, Ramblers chief executive said: “We want people all over Britain to join the walking revolution and take their first steps towards a healthier and happier lifestyle.

“Walking is one of the most accessible and achievable ways to truly conquer this inactivity pandemic in Britain, and we need to get started now.

“Find a short walk with your local Walking for Health scheme or Ramblers group during Get Walking Week and join us as we get Britain moving.”

Public health minister Anna Soubry added: “Walking is one of the best ways to keep healthy, as I know from the many excellent walks in my own constituency of Broxtowe.

“People need to walk more to experience its many health benefits. I fully support this initiative and hope people will join a short walk during Get Walking Week to get started.”

The Get Walking Week began on Saturday and ends next weekend.

The YouGov online poll of 2,021 people confirmed a recent Department of Health study which found that two-thirds of adults in UK aren’t doing enough physical activity for good health.