Heritage coastline used to promote
healthy living
County Durham residents are being encouraged to improve
their lifestyles by getting out and heading for the beach as part of the
Heritage Coast Outdoor Festival running from 28 May to 5 June.
Over 40 activities are being organised by Durham Heritage
Coastline as part of the Reach for the Beach initiative, including kayak taster sessions, rock rambles, short
walks and a half marathon.
Durham County Council will be tying into the Reach for the
Beach initiative with a series of walks, as part of their Everyone Active North
East campaign and National walking month. The walks, which are spread across
different environmental settings throughout County Durham, include:
·
National Nature reserves – Castle Eden dene walk
– 22 May
·
Durham Heritage Coastline – Easington Colliery
walk – 23 May
·
Durham Wildlife Nature reserves – West Rainton
walk – 24 May
·
Areas of outstanding natural beauty – Stanhope
walk – 25 May
·
Historical castle – Bishop Auckland walk – 26
May
·
Durham heritage Coastline – Blackhall walk – 27
May
·
Celebrating our coast at Dalton Park – 28 May
The walks are open to everyone, and will be led by
the Council’s trained walk leaders. All walks are designed to last between
30-90 minutes, and are on safe, risk assessed routes.
Durham County Council’s Principal Physical
Activity Manager, Andrew Brown, said: “Our walks are a great opportunity for
people to make their first steps towards being more active or simply maintain a
healthy lifestyle.
“There are so many wonderful places to walk in the
natural environment across County Durham, from our England Coastal Path,
forests, long distance paths, river banks, parks to miles of rights of way.
These organised walks are a great way to explore new routes in your local area
in the safety of a group and meet new people.”
A leaflet with all 40 Reach for the Beach
activities can be downloaded from http://www.durhamheritagecoast.org
and for a timetable of the organised walks, please visit www.durham.gov.uk/walk4life
