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Wellbeing Walks

Thursday, 28 August 2025 01:00

By Callum Ewing

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has linked up with the local ramblers group to organise walks to aid physical and mental health.

The "Wellbeing Walks" are free to attend and have walk times ranging from 10 to 90 minutes.

One of the walk leaders, Rhonda, explained how the walks had helped her. She said: “When I came to Tunbridge Wells, I did not know anyone. I had an accident, and I was literally becoming agoraphobic because I could not walk."

Rohonda continued: “I found out about the walks, and it is not just the physical benefits but the mental as well. I just like having people to talk to otherwise I am at home by myself.”

Wendy and Stefan come along to the walks, and they add that the walks are one the best things the council have done and explained that they meet so many different and interesting people.

Walking locations include Calverley Grounds, Grosvenor and Hilbert Park, Paddock Wood, Tunbridge Wells Common, Rusthall, Cranbrook and Dunorlan Park.

Sue also told West Kent Radio about how inviting the group is.  She said: “Though we all come from different walks of life we all get on. Everyone who comes on our walks always says how welcoming we are.”

Over the last year there have been 3,000 visits to the walks.

The walks fall under the One You Kent service which is a service aimed to help promote healthy lifestyle changes.

Rebecca Bowers, health improvement team leader at Tunbridge Wells, talks about the future of the walks: “The volunteer walk leaders we have are so passionate so it would be for them to continue to deliver the walks.

Rebecca continued: “The aim of the walks is that they are accessible to people and that people do not have to travel far to a walk. If people do travel for a walk, it is hopefully because they want to visit all the walks we have across the borough.

The council are looking for more volunteer walk leaders and for more walk locations to help expand the walks.

You can listen to our news feature on the Wellbeing Walks below and find out more on the Ramblers website.

 

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