Walking programmes
Walking is one of the best physical activities you can do and there are many opportunities available. Whether you want to walk and talk with a group of like minded people at a leisurely pace or take a more energetic walk on your own in some of the borough's beautiful open spaces and countryside there is plenty of guidance to get you going.
Basingstoke Wellbeing Walks
Basingstoke Wellbeing Walks encourages people of all ages to join regular, short walks in their own communities. The walks help boost the health of participants whilst enjoying local, natural spaces in the company of others. The social side of walking can be as important for wellbeing as the walk itself.
For more information and to book a walk please visit the Basingstoke Voluntary Action website.
Self-guided walks
We have developed a number of self guided walks for you to try out.
Self-guided walk around The War Memorial Park
Self-guided walk around Eastrop Park and The War Memorial Park
Self-guided walk around The War Memorial Park, Black Dam Ponds and Crabtree Plantation
Binfields nature woodland walk
Basingstoke Canal Heritage Footpath leaflet
Down Grange 2km trail
The War Memorial Park Tree Trail
Eastrop Park Tree Trail
Crabtree Plantation one mile route
Popley way-marked route walk
Stratton Park way-marked route walk
Little Penwood Trim Trail
Ramblers clubs
The following Ramblers Clubs run affordable days out to the countryside, and shorter walks in towns and cities.
- Basingstoke Ramblers Club
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Basingstoke Ramblers Club is a group of some 200 people of all ages and fitness levels. They walk three times a week and occasionally go away for a weekend or holiday excursion. Most walks are about six to eight miles but some are a little further and include a pub stop. Visit the Basingstoke Ramblers website.
- North Hampshire Downs Ramblers
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Visit the North Hampshire Downs Ramblers website for more information
- Oakley Rambling Club
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About every three weeks there is a Sunday morning walk of around five miles. The walks start within a half hour drive from Oakley and end with an optional pub stop. Two or three evening walks and a couple of midweek morning walks are also arranged during the summer.
- Whitchurch Rambling Club
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The Whitchurch Rambling Club meets on a regular basis throughout the year. If you are interested in seeing the beautiful Hampshire countryside, keeping fit, and meeting people, why not join the club?
For the more adventurous, why not join the Ramblers Association.
Walk4life Miles
Walk4Life Miles are one mile long walking routes. You will find them in parks, along footpaths and along canals. They are easy to follow, and will be generally free of barriers such as gates or stiles. Some Walk4Life Miles may be waymarked with distinctive yellow waymarkers showing where they start and end.
Walk4Life Miles is supported by community groups, Walking for Health groups, local councils and a range of other organisations. You could even create a Walk4Life Mile of your own.
It takes most people about 20 minutes to walk a mile, although if you don’t take much exercise it might take you a bit longer than this at first. Search the Walk4Life website and find a Walk4Life Mile in your area, and see how long it takes you to walk a mile?
You can look for miles which are flat, barrier free, and see if they have any potential hazards, as well as look for ones which are waymarked so that you will know exactly when to stop walking.