Walking and talking in North Herts

If you’ve ever seen a big group of happy, chatty people out walking in the countryside in North Herts, chances are you just walked past a Hertfordshire Health Walk. These group walks are free and organised by Hertfordshire County Council’s Countryside Management Service. We caught up with some of the volunteer leaders who run the walks to find out a bit more about them.

Hitchin

First we spoke to Alan Cowles from Hitchin. Alan said: “I first got involved in Hertfordshire Health Walks when I retired and had more time to do things. I went along to the Three Moorhens walk in Hitchin initially and after a while the leader of that walk asked me if I would be interested in becoming a walk leader. I took him up on that offer and I’ve now been volunteering as a walk leader for 11 years.

“I share the responsibilities with three other volunteer walk leaders who each take it in turn to lead and be a back-marker at the rear of the group. We do this walk every Friday at 10.30am. It starts at the Highlander Pub on Upper Tilehouse Street in Hitchin. The pub allow us to use their car park and we can also stop by there for refreshments at the end of the walk, which varies between 1 ½ to 4 miles in length, depending which route we do that day. We always walk to Oughtonhead Common as part of the route. We can have 30 – 40 people on a walk and walkers can bring their dogs on leads if they want to. We go out in nearly all weather apart from when it is really icy and slippery under foot.

“Everyone gets to socialise, get some exercise, do some wildlife spotting and get some fresh air too. Many have made good friends on the walk including a group of ladies now nicknamed ‘the coast to coast girls’ who met on this walk and now go off on annual walking holidays together, often to the coast and often covering 100 to 200 miles on their break. I highly recommend getting involved because it will keep you fit and you will meet lots of wonderful people.”

Knebworth

Next we chatted to Joy Hall from Knebworth. Joy said: “I got involved as a health walk leader initially when we affiliated our existing local weekly ramble with Hertfordshire Health walks, because they offer training, insurance, publicity and back up support. The Knebworth Herts Health Walk has now been running for 3 ½ years, we have 30 – 40 people regularly attend and 10 volunteer Health Walk Leaders.

We started off as a First Steps walk for people with reduced mobility, wheelchair users and those who would just enjoy a gentle stroll. The walk was just under a mile within the Knebworth Recreation Ground. Once some of the group began to feel fitter and more confident, they asked if we could extend the walk, so we added a second walk which goes from the Recreation Ground and through the countryside to Bragbury End and back. Since then a third option has been added which goes a further 2.1 miles. If we have enough walk leaders we run all three walks, every other Tuesday. The walks always end up at the Bowls Club pavilion on the Recreation Ground where people are able to get a tea or coffee.

Everyone is welcome and some people bring their dog. Our eldest walker is in his 90s. Some people find out about our walk from their GPs too. We all go out for a meal twice a year – once at Christmas and once on the anniversary of our first walk every June. It’s a real community and it has been lovely seeing how friendships have flourished within the group.”

Letchworth

Finally we had a natter with Valerie Williams from Letchworth: “I sort of fell into being a walk leader here after being a participant for around a year and I’ve now been involved as a volunteer for about 5 to 6 years. The walk is held weekly and we have three different walks to choose from – the fast group which will walk for 2 miles, the 1 & 2 combined group which will walk for 1 ½ miles and the First Steps group which will walk about half a mile. We have six volunteer walk leaders including me, who take it in turns to lead our walks, always starting from St George’s Hall in Common View, Letchworth.

As a walk leader, I depend on the help and support of the other leaders. I usually lead the First Steps group. Sometimes our groups walk to and around nearby Norton Common Nature Reserve and sometimes we walk around the surrounding area. We mix up the routes or walk them in reverse so they stay fresh. At the end of each walk those who want to, go for teas and coffees in the church hall. It’s a very social thing to do and some who have met on the walk socialise outside of it too. I volunteer here as I like to put something back into the local community. I would recommend getting involved in a health walk for many reasons including socialising and getting out and enjoying the wonderful countryside around us.”

Hertfordshire Health Walks are held across North Hertfordshire on week days and weekends and are for all ages. Find out more about where your nearest walk is on the Countryside Management Service website.