The Stepping Out guided walks offer exercise for people who want to get fit, who are recovering from an illness or who just enjoy walking with other people.

 

The Framlingham Health Walking Group is inviting anyone who is interested in improving their health through regular walking to join their three walks during February, March and April.

 

“We know walking improves both mental and physical well-being and these walks have been designed for people who are recovering from an illness, have arthritis or joint pain, want to get fit or just as a means of making new friends,” said Councillor Sherrie Green, Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership Board member.

 

The first walk on February 28 will start at the Castle car park, pick up the Badingham Road before cutting across fields towards Ash Grove.  Walkers will return along New Road, passing Framlingham College and back into the town.  The March walk (12th) will stay within the town and the third walk on April 9 will go towards Cherry Tree Farm, across fields and return via Mount Pleasant and College Road. 

 

The walks are free and are led by trained volunteers who will talk with each walker before starting to check that it is within their capabilities. There is also a volunteer who walks at the back of the group to make sure that slower members do not get lost or neglected.

 

“These walks are graded, typically last about an hour, cover a distance of approximately one to one and a half miles and finish near to a café for those who would like to extend the social aspect of the exercise. The March walk would be suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs,” continued Councillor Green.

 

Suffolk Coastal District Council, Suffolk Primary Care Trust and members from the voluntary and community sector have developed these health walks across the district, ranging from ones on easy, flat good surfaces to more challenging ones which may include steeper slopes and rough ground.

The Framlingham Walking Group was set up in January of this year as part of the ‘Stepping Out in Suffolk’ initiative.

 

There are other ‘Stepping Out’ walks led by volunteer walk leaders in the areas around Felixstowe, Woodbridge and Aldeburgh, and also outside the district in parts of mid-Suffolk and Waveney.

 

In addition to the organised walks there are three routes in the district at Felixstowe, Woodbridge and Aldeburgh which have been marked up as health walks that people can do on their own. These are recognisable by the ‘Stepping Out’ logo and show the distance walked in half-mile intervals.  More marked health walks are planned for those who want achievable and safe walks for their ability.

 

For more information on the ‘Stepping Out’ walks, health walks in general, or becoming a volunteer walk leader contact Sharon Jarrett, Suffolk Coastal’s Health Improvement Manager, on 01394 444697 or Zeta Wright or Althea Unthank, Health Walk Co-ordinators on 01394 444501.  The programme of health walks in the district can be viewed on Suffolk Coastal’s website www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourfreetime/steppingout