Fancy A Walk? We're Here To Help

Volunteers from across the region are leading 25 weekly walks following a series of walk leader training courses provided by the Council’s Active Communities programme.

Following a year of walking during lockdown, the training opportunity received huge interest from volunteers who were keen to encourage more people to get out and enjoy our beautiful towns and villages. The volunteers undertook various training ranging from Walk Leader, Strength and Balance and Nordic Pole Walking. This has resulted in a range of walks being offered to people of all abilities.

Walking Group	Day / Time	Venue
Pole Walking	Sun 10.30am	McJerrow Park, Lockerbie
Pole Walking	Mon 10am	McJerrow Park, Lockerbie
Stroll in the Park	Mon 1.30pm (starts Mon 16 Aug)	Everholm Car Park, Annan
Pole Walking	Thurs 5.30pm	Everholm Car Park, Annan
Stroll in the Park	Wed 1.30pm	Springfield Primary School, Springfield
Community Walk	Thurs 6.45pm	Aldi Car Park, Annan
Pole Walking	Mon 10.00am	North Gateway Overflow Car park, Gretna
Stroll in the Park	Wed 1.30pm	Kiln Green bandstand, Langholm
Pole Walk	Sat 10.30am	Kiln Green bandstand, Langholm
Health Walk	Tues 1.30pm	Eaglesfield Church Hall
Health Walk	Wed 10.00am	Green Frog Garden Centre, Moffat
Health Walk	Fri 10.00am	Lochmaben Centre
Pole Walking	Mon 10am	Easterbrook Car Park, Crichton, Dumfries
Stroll in the Park	Tues 1.30pm	Easterbrook Car Park, Crichton, Dumfries
Power Walk	Mon 9.15am	Cupcake Café, Dock Park, Dumfries
Power Walk	Tues 6.00pm	Cupcake Café, Dock Park
Stroll in the Park	Tues 1.30pm	Carlingwark Car Park, Castle Douglas
Pole Walk	Wed 6.30pm	Carlingwark Car Park, Castle Douglas
Community Walk	Tues 6pm	The Fullarton Theatre, Castle Douglas
Health Walk	Sat 10am	Town Hall Car Park, Dalbeattie
Pole Walk	Wed 6pm	Dalbeattie Town Woods Car Park
Community ‘Family’ Walk	Fri 10.00am	Dalbeattie Learning Campus
Community Walk	Tues 6pm	Riverside Car Park, Newton Stewart
Stroll in the Park	Thurs 1.30pm	Car Park Entrance, Agnew Park, Stranraer
Community Walk	Thurs 1.30pm	Driftwood Café, Agnew Park, Stranraer

Stroll in the Park

Low level walks aimed at anyone who is living with or recovering from a long-term condition, or who may have limited mobility. Ideal for anyone wishing to continue their recovery or maintain a level of fitness by means of developing strength and balance, confidence and enjoying being part of a group of like-minded people in the beautiful surroundings.

Health Walks

Walks aimed at inactive people who would benefit from doing more physical activity. Ideal for people who haven’t been active in a while and would like to start again. Walkers will be able to walk at a pace and length that suits their ability.

Pole Walking

Easy to moderate paced walks. Walking with poles can provide stability and can reduce the strain on the lower body joints by sharing both the effort and body weight with the upper body muscles. Pole walking can improve cardio-respiratory fitness, core strength, improve balance and assist breast cancer recovery. The walks will be easy to moderate paced. NOTE: Poles are not provided on the walks.

Community ‘Fitness’ Walks

Moderate to brisk paced walks which will allow the participants to benefit from a slightly increased pulse rate, faster breathing but still be able to maintain a conversation with others. Ideal for anyone wishing to increase their overall fitness.

Power Walks

Faster paced walks which emphasis speed and arm motion as a means of increasing health benefits.

There is no need to book a place on the walks, participants can just turn up although some paperwork will be required to be completed if attending for the first time. For more information on our walking programme, contact Active.Communities@dumgal.gov.uk

Chair of Communities Committee, Councillor Andy Ferguson said “It is great to see volunteers delivering new health and wellbeing focused walks in Dumfries & Galloway. The introduction of such initiatives will help people live healthier and more independent lives as well as enhancing much needed social interaction.”

Vice Chair, Councillor John Martin said “These new walks are a great addition to the Active Communities activities within our local communities. By continuing to promote physical activity we are contributing to the improved health and wellbeing of the people we serve.”