The benefits of walking

Walking is one of the most natural - and effective - forms of exercise. Take a look at the enormous benefits you can enjoy from taking a walk along your local canal or river.

Not only does it put you in touch with the waterways and the natural environment, walking is suitable for people of all ages and is an activity which all the family can enjoy together. More importantly, walking makes you feel good.

Walking is good for you because:

• It improves your health (especially your heart, lungs, muscles and joints)
• It helps you to get fit and stay fit
• It works off calories and helps you to control your weight
• Last but not least, it's free!

Experts now say that walking for 30 minutes a day is enough to improve fitness levels. That may seem a lot, but walking can easily be accommodated into your every-day routine and your 30 minute goal can be broken down into three easily managed ten minute bouts.

walking along our canals and rivers

Plenty of evidence suggests that simply being near to water makes people more content and relaxed - so what better place to exercise and spend your leisure time than alongside a canal or river?

With over 1,500 miles of walking routes around the country, and links to thousands of miles of footpaths, the river and canal towpaths provide peaceful havens in towns and cities across the UK. The network offers excellent walking routes for leisurely strolls or long-distance hikes.

Over half the UK population lives within five miles of a canal or river, so it couldn't be easier to take to the towpaths and enjoy the health benefits of a waterside walk.

organised canal walks

If you're new to walking or just fancy some company, why not join one of the many guided walks which take place around the river and canal network all year round. Take a look at our events diary for more details.

find a waterside walk near you

Ready to go? Find a waterside walk near you by clicking on the map or typing your nearest town or waterway name into our search box.