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Welcome to Brighton & Hove's Healthwalks scheme, managed by Brighton & Hove City Council.
Whether you want to improve your health, meet other people, or enjoy spending time in the wonderful natural spaces across the city, we hope you have a great time taking part in our Healthwalks.
Find information below about what to expect when joining a Healthwalk, including information to help you join in safely, and our code of conduct for all walkers.
Make sure you have registered before attending a walk so we can ensure the walk is safe and enjoyable for you.
Familiarise yourself with our Code of Conduct.
Check the grade of a walk to see if it matches your ability.
If you need care or assistance in day-to-day life, please ask someone to accompany you on a walk.
Under 18s’ must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Check weather conditions before leaving. In the case of an extreme weather warning issued by the Met Office, walks will be cancelled. You can view weather warnings and advice on the Met Office website.
Dress for the weather and wear appropriate walking shoes. Some walks have limited shade, so please wear a hat and sunscreen.
Most walks have nearby cafes; however, you may wish to bring water, especially if it's a hot day.
Check that you have any emergency medication you might need with you (for example, an inhaler or epi pen).
Arrive at least 5 minutes before the start of the Healthwalk. Introduce yourself to the Walk Leader. They will be wearing Healthwalks branded uniform.
If you need to leave a walk early or have any concerns during a walk, make sure you tell the Healthwalk Leader.
Dogs are welcome on walks, unless clearly stated. If you're attending with a dog, please ensure that it's kept under control at all times.
All new walkers must register before joining a Healthwalk. You can find information about how to register on our Join a free guided Healthwalk page.
Once registered, you will be sent a confirmation. Please show this, as proof of registration, to the Walk Leader when arriving at any of our Healthwalks.
If you need any support to register, contact the Healthy Lifestyles Team.
Walking is a great way to enjoy the benefits of moving more. No matter how much or little you do, physical activity is good for your body and mind.
Brisk walking can give your body a boost, lift your mood and make everyday activities easier. You can tell if you're walking briskly if you can still talk but not sing.
If you ever feel uncomfortable or short of breath on a walk, slow down, stop, rest and let a Walk Leader know. If you have a health condition that feels like it's made worse by attending walks, we recommend seeking advice from a healthcare professional.
All our Healthwalks will have a rear Walk Leader, who will walk at the pace of the slowest member of the group, so everyone can walk at the pace that suits them.
Healthwalks are a great way to start walking and increase your activity levels. To help make it easy for you to find a walk that best suits your ability, we publish the distance of each walk alongside a grading for each walk.
Suitable for all. These walks take place on flat or gently undulating routes on even ground, using surfaced pathways with plenty of resting points.
Moderate challenge. These walks may include gentle undulations or moderate hills. Some routes may include sections that follow grassed or uneven pathways.
Greater challenge. These walks will include more challenging, steeper hills and use grassed or uneven pathways in Downland locations.
If you're unsure which grade is right for you, always start with an easier, shorter walk and try different routes when you feel ready. If you're looking for longer or more challenging group walks, you can find details of these on the Ramblers website.
If you have any questions about any of our walk routes, contact the Healthy Lifestyles Team.
Walking is a fantastic, low-risk form of physical activity with multiple health benefits. We welcome walkers of all ages and levels of ability and offer a variety of routes to cater for all.
Many people living with health conditions attend our walks and can find that walking helps them manage them.
If you're living with medical conditions, we recommend talking to a healthcare professional before attending any walks. Our volunteer Walk Leaders are not qualified to advise on any medical issues.
It's important that everyone can enjoy Healthwalks together in a respectful and supportive environment.
We ask you to do the following.
Treat everyone kindly and avoid any behaviour or language that might upset others. We all deserve to feel safe and welcome.
Listen to the Walk Leader's advice and follow their instructions to help keep things running smoothly.
Please don’t join a walk if you’re under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication that makes it unsafe. Smoking and vaping are not allowed during the walks.
Choose walks that match your fitness level and ability. Make sure to register by filling out a Healthwalks form before you join your first walk. If you feel unwell, are in pain or need a rest at all on a walk, let a Walk Leader know.
Walk Leaders are here to ensure everyone enjoys the walk. They may adjust or stop the walk if needed.
While we take precautions, accidents can still happen. You join in on Healthwalk at your own risk. Please ensure that you follow any instructions from the Walk Leaders and do not engage in any activity that may endanger yourself or others whilst on a walk.
If someone’s behaviour isn’t in line with this Code, the Walk Leader will try to resolve it informally. If the issue continues, it will be handled following our policy on managing unreasonable behaviour.
There may be occasions where, due to extreme weather or volunteer availability, we may need to cancel a walk at short notice.
When you register, we ask for contact details so we can keep you updated on any affected walks you may be planning to attend.
Let us know if your contact details change so we can ensure you continue to get important information about the walks.
If a minimum of 2 walk leaders are not present at the walk, then Walk Leaders will need to cancel the walk. We thank you for your understanding in these circumstances.
If you have any questions, comments or feedback about Brighton & Hove’s Healthwalks programme, contact the Healthy Lifestyles team.