Walking your Way to Health

Take a stroll around the park in 2010

(Date of issue: Friday, 19 March 2010)

Carlisle City Council’s Doorstep Walks programme is encouraging local residents to take the first steps towards a healthy 2010 with a launch of a new programme of events.

A series of free walks has been arranged around local beauty spots and aims to improve the fitness and maximise health benefits for those that take part. The scheme has been awarded accreditation by Walking For Health, an initiative of Natural England having successfully demonstrated that they meet the required criteria. This includes offering led walks for beginners, meeting the "Walking For Health" safety and insurance standards for all walks and collecting basic monitoring information.

As part of the free programme, there is a chance to take part in Short Park Health Walks, held on Mondays and Wednesdays, every week except on Bank Holidays. These are held every Monday, 2.30pm, at Chance’s Park (meet at Morton Community Centre) and every Wednesday, 2pm at Melbourne Park (meet outside Lakeland Gate Hotel car park, Warwick Road).

The Walking your Way to Health is held on Wednesdays, starting at and 1pm. All walks are free, easy, are on good paths and last around an hour (expect the ‘Summer Surprise’ event):

• 24th March – Carlisle Cemetery. Meet at the Richardson Street entrance.
• 7th April – Heysham Park. Meet at the Sports Cage off Raffles Avenue.
• 21st April – Chance’s Park. Meet at Morton Community Centre.
• 5th May – Flood Defences. Meet at the Toby Cavery car park, Rosehill.
• 19th May – Milton Rigg Woods. Meet at the Milton Rigg car park.
• 2nd June – Kingmoor Sidings. Meet at the Nature Reserve car park, Kingmoor Road.
• 16th June – ‘Summer Surprise’. Detail to follow... it’s a surprise! Telephone 01228 817370 to book a place.
• 30th June - Longtown. Meet at the Longtown Community Centre.
• 14th July – Stanwix Bank and Ettery. Meet at The Sands Centre.

Tuesday Trundle

Walking longer and further, held on Tuesdays, starting at 10am:

16th February – Lanercost – Priory, village and river walk. Approximately 3.2 miles – Estimated duration 2-2 ½ hours). Meet: In the Bridge car park, just over the bridge (from Brampton direction) on the left.

2nd March – Wetheral and Great Corby. Approximately 3.7 miles – Estimated duration 2 ½ - 3 hours). Meet: Wetheral village green. Please be aware that parking is limited so you may need to park on the roadside and walk to meet at the village green.

16th March – Hallbankgate – Geltsdale – "Stagside Trail". Approximately 3.8 miles – Estimated duration 2 -2 ½ hours. Meet: Enter village (from Brampton direction), turn right and drive past the Belted Will pub, continue past the Village Hall (on right) and play area (on left) and park on the roadside before the end of speed limit sign (last house on left).

30th March – "Special" Eden Hall / Langwathby. Approximately 2.8 miles – Estimated duration 2 – 2 ½ hours). Meet: Edenhall Cricket Club Car Park, Edenhall, Langwathby.

For further information about the walking programmes, telephone 01228 817370.