Walking

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough is 60% rural meaning we are very fortunate to have some beautiful countryside and parks right on our doorstep, in and around the villages and towns. From Bagworth Woods to Hollycroft Park, Burbage Common to Bosworth Battlefield there are many places to explore.

Walking is simple, free and suitable for people of all ages and most abilities, making it one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier. See the table at the bottom of the page for details of all our local walks.

The health benefits of walking on a regular basis

• Stengthens your heart
• Lowers risk of disease
• Give you more energy and make you feel better
• Help to manage your weight
• Reduce stress, helping you to sleep better
• Help to maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints

Get Going!

Begin slowly and gradually increase how much walking you do. Build walking into your daily routine so that it becomes a habit – that way it will be easier to keep it up. Below are some ideas to help you get started.

• Walk to work. Or if you're journey is too long to walk the whole distance, park further away and walk part of your journey
• Walk to the shops instead of driving
• Use the stairs instead of the lift
• Go for a walk in your lunch break with a colleague
• Instead of going to a cafe to catch up with a friend, get a take away drink and go for a walk
• Walk the kids to school
• Get off the bus two stops earlier and walk the rest of the way
• Organise a walk for the whole family, even if its just a short one after dinner
• Set yourself challenges or a goal such as aiming to walk 10,000 steps a day - using a pedometer is a cheap and fun way to monitor this.

Keep Motivated

Once you have incorporated walking into your daily routine, there are a number of things you can do to keep yourself motivated.

• Explore the UK and other Countries on foot - hill walking, coastal/beach walks, woodland walks
• Try Orienteering - look out for local Xplorer challenges that are suitable for the whole family or look into joining a local club
• Join a local walking group - Through the Active Together team we are keen for people to explore more about the walking opportunities we have across the borough. Regular led-walks are supported by a very active volunteering community. Qualified walk leaders create a safe and friendly environment for people to meet regularly.

Walking Groups Across the Borough

Where	When	Meet	Additional Info
Barwell (Health Walk)	Friday 10am	Barwell Methodist Chruch, Chapel Lane, Barwell	short walk around barwell, refreshments provided
Barlestone	Wednesday	Barlestone Elohim Hub	ONLY DURING JULY Contact Rodger- 01455822381
Desford	Monday Morning		ONLY DURING MAY AND AUGUST Contact Rodger- 01455822381
Desford (Village Walk)	3rd Sunday of the month 2.30pm	Desford Library
Earl Shilton (Health Walk)	Tuesday 10am	Earl Shilton Methodsit Church	1,455,255,678
Groby (Health Walk)	Thursday 10am	Groby Village Hall
Hinckley	Tuesday 10.30am	Argents Mead Bandstand	1,455,255,678
(Health Walk)	Wednesday 10.15am	Burbage Common and Woods Visitor Centre, Leicester Road, Hinckley	walk covers uneven ground. food and drink available at visitors centre 01455255678
Market Bosworth (Health Walk)	Tuesday 10am	Rectory lane Car Park, Market Bosworth	short walk around Bosworth. refreshments available.
Bosworth Battlefield	Sunday 11am	Bosworth Battlefield Visitor Centre	guided 2km walk and hear the history of the battle of bosworth. PLEASE NOTE there is a charge of £3 adult, £2 Concessions, Families £8 (2+2) or £5 (1+2)
Markfield	Wednesday 2.15pm	Markfield Community Centre, Mayflower Close, Markfield
*Newbold Verdon	Wednesday	Newbold Verdon Library	ONLY IN JUNE Contact Rodger- 01455822381
Ratby	Thursday 10.30am	Bulls Head Pub	Dogs allowed on lead. walks no more than 2.5 miles

For more information on our local walks, please contact the Health and Recreation Manager Graeme Chilvers.