Wellbeing Walks

The all-inclusive 1km Walk or Wheel is a non-judgmental and friendly walking group that will provide support and encouragement.

When

• Every Monday (apart from Bank Holidays) from 11:00 to 11:30.  Meet: outside Xcel Leisure Complex, Waterside Drive, Walton-on-Thames KT12 2JG 

Who the walk is for

The walk is suitable if:

• you are currently experiencing limited mobility: either rehabilitating from injury or surgery or limited by a long-term disability
• you are living with a long-term medical condition that limits your mobility
• you are visually or hearing-impaired - our group leaders will make every effort to communicate in a way that works for you
• you are experiencing problems that are affecting your mental health 
• you are experiencing learning disabilities - your carers or family members are welcome to join you
• you need a short walk or wheel as you don’t have the energy for longer - 200m with a stop at 100m is the minimum distance required but you must be willing to wait at a bench for the group covering the longer distance to return
• you can cope with a small road crossing with an island in the middle (dropped curbs with small lip)
• you can cope with a very small slope that is no longer than 5 meters

Equipment needed

You will need to:

• bring any mobility aid you may use
• bring any medication you might need and inform our walk leader if you carry anything that can be used in case of an emergency
• put anything you need to carry in a comfortable bag (ideally a backpack)
• wear comfortable shoes
• bring layers you can put on or off to keep you at the right temperature 

Pace of walk

It is not possible to say how long the walk will take:

• the group will walk to the pace of the slowest in the group
• if you decide to take a prolonged rest or stop the walk at one of the benches on route, we will decide with you whether the back leader stays with you to wait for the return of the group and walk back together
• if you decide to leave the walk at any point you must inform the walk leader

Joining the walk

There is no need to book, just turn up a few minutes before.

When you arrive, we will ask you to register and provide a telephone number in case of emergency.

Refreshments

There are no refreshments during the walk:

• you can get on and off a picnic style bench if you need a rest break (see pictures of the route) -  the benches are fixed in the grass area
• the plan is to use the café in Xcel Leisure centre when it reopens in June.

Toilets

There are disabled toilets in the Xcel Leisure Centre and in the Sports Hub.

Parking

There are disabled parking bays outside the Xcel Leisure Centre.

Public transport 

The 564 bus stops at the Xcel Leisure Centre (bus timetable).

Route map and information

Please check if this walk is suitable for you. This is the route going out and returning on the same path.

This is the meeting point:

We walk/wheel by the side of Xcel and cross this side entrance. There is a dropped curb.

At the back of Xcel this is the road we cross to join the path next to the river:

We pass through these boulders. The gap is wide enough for a large wheelchair:

We join the path that is slightly back from the river and there is a possible rest break at the picnic bench:

We walk to the end of this road and then turn around and return:

For further information, email health@elmbridge.gov.uk or call 01372 474571.