Thank you for logging on to the Tendring Ramblers Group Web Site. Please take the time to browse through the following pages which we hope you will find interesting.

We have again included the popular monthly Wednesday  Half Day walk also, a set of  bus/train  walks. These have been supplied by Derek Keeble who will also lead them.  Please click on the above links for more information.

Taking The Next Step

Imagine if a pharmaceutical company invented a new ‘wonder drug’ which, if taken by the whole population, would cut coronary heart disease deaths by over a third. People would be clambering for it to be provided free on the N.H.S. But imagine if that drug could also reduce cases of osteoarthritis because it increased bone density in those with fragile bones; reduce hip fractures because older people would have better coordination, strength and balance: dramatically cut rates or obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease; halve the rates of colon cancer among those most at risk; reduce the levels of breast cancer and aid recovery among cancer sufferers; reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol; cut by two-thirds the risk of strokes among the highest-risk middle-aged men; and cut by a quarter the risk of dying of a heart attack among those who’ve already survived one attack. In short, imagine if that drug could cut the risk of premature death by 20-30 per cent.

That drug already exists – it’s called walking. If everyone did it frequently and fast enough, people would live longer lives. They would also live happier lives. Depression is now the biggest psychological disorder in the western world – in 15 years it will be the most common of any illness. One in four people in the UK will now experience mental health problems in the course of a year. Walking is an effective way to reduce depression, stress and anxiety, and aid sleep.
Throughout its 72 year history, the Ramblers’ Association has understood the value of walking for people’s mental and physical well being. The work to improve and extend walking infrastructure – through protecting our footpath network and campaigning for access – has created more opportunities, while the work to encourage people to take part – through our group walks and by providing information – has encouraged millions to get walking.

But despite successes, the plain fact that people are walking 25 per cent less than they did 25 years ago. They are taking less of the ‘walking wonder drug’ than they’ve ever done in human history. That’s one of the reasons why we are facing the obesity epidemic.