Go Green and Get Fit with the Community Walks Programme in Donegal

Donegal’s free Community Walks return this March, providing you with a safe and sociable way to improve your fitness and health.

The Community Walks programme is back in Donegal this Spring, giving people an opportunity to step into a healthier lifestyle. The programme involves volunteer-led community walks that encourage participants to enjoy Donegal’s natural environment whilst also improving their fitness and health. The Walks run for eight weeks, starting early March, and take place in Letterkenny, Dunfanaghy, Falcarragh, Cloghan and Donegal Town.

The Community Walks are part of the Green Prescription programme, which runs throughout Donegal and is the first of its kind in Ireland. The programme helps people stay healthy, at low cost and in their own communities, and is developed by the HSE, in partnership with local communities and GPs.

The Community Walks are free and open to everyone (aged 18 and over) and are recommended if you want to improve your health, become more active, experience your local countryside, and meet new people. The trained walking leaders set a gentle pace, and each walk lasts between 30 minutes and one hour.

The health benefits of regular walking outdoors include:

• Have more energy
• Feel more confident, happy and relaxed
• Improve cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels
• Help to maintain a healthy weight
• Reduce stress and feelings of anxiety and depression
• Lower blood pressure
• Keep your bones strong and help prevent osteoporosis
• Cope better with asthma and respiratory problems
• Meet new people
• Spend more time in nature
• And have fun outdoors!

How to take part in the Community Walks:

The Community Walks start the first and second weeks of March and continue for eight weeks. To get involved, just come along to a local walk or contact the Green Prescription Support Worker, Bill Vaughan, on 087-3680033 for full details.

Community Walk locations and times:

The Green Prescription Programme is developed by the HSE in partnership with local doctors and local communities; Get Ireland Active; the Irish Heart Foundation; Donegal Road Safety Working Group; and Donegal Sports Partnership.

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