Old Town walk.

New Year, new you, on a Hastings health walk!

And when it’s all over, and you feel it’s time you got yourself back into shape, how about a healthy walk? You can join like-minded folk on a variety of healthy walks in Hastings, St Leonards and Ore by just turning up in the right place at the right time, writes Jenny Deering, scheme coordinator for East Sussex Health Walks, who also supplied the photos.

Once Christmas is over and the mince pies have all been eaten, it’s not unusual for thoughts to start turning towards what the New Year will bring. Amongst those thoughts might be a conviction that this will be the year that we finally make a concerted effort to improve our health and fitness. For some this will mean joining a gym, or a fitness class perhaps.

But even with the best of intentions, this doesn’t always work out. By the time February comes around, we can end up feeling a bit disheartened about spending so much time and money on something that, in reality, we find it quite hard to stick to.

So why not try a health walk instead? Walking is a wonderful form of natural, low-impact exercise, which doesn’t require any special equipment or fees, but is still very effective. In just a short space of time walking can significantly improve your health, well-being and confidence. As well as helping you to gently increase your levels of activity, walking is also a great way to meet new people and explore your local area.

Hastings Health Walks are short (no longer than an hour) sociable walks which take place every week. We even have a shorter 30-minute stroll every Thursday on Hastings Pier, for those who find it difficult to walk for a full hour. Our walks are FREE, accessible – and you don’t need to book a place in advance. After each walk there is the opportunity to visit a local cafe for a cuppa and a chance to chat.

We are also looking for more volunteers to train up as health walk leaders. Leading health walks is fun and rewarding, and can make a real difference to both your own and your walkers’ lives. No experience is required, just a friendly, supportive nature and the availability to lead at least one walk per month.

For up-to-date information on where and when your nearest health walk in East Sussex is taking place, please check the Walking for Health website or contact Jenny Deering on 07740 899559 or j.deering@tcv.org.uk.

Also in: Health Matters