It’s all hotting up for finale of Erewash Walking Month!

(Credit: EBC)

A borough council-backed mission to get more Erewash residents going for walks during May is about to reach its climax – amid forecasts of a mini heatwave.

The final week of Erewash Walking Month is poised to see temperatures top 29°C amid glorious sunshine – making the weather perfect for getting out and about exploring the hidden delights of the borough.

The past three weeks have already seen hundreds take advantage of a free volunteer-led programme of 36 organised rambles, ranging from short accessible ones to medium and longer hikes.

The aim has been to cater for people of all abilities, including those who rarely go for a simple stroll. The walks have been billed as ideal for exploring nature and finding out about local history – as well as for meeting new friends or socialising with existing ones.

Highlights in the final week include a council-run Family Treasure Hunt on Friday 29th May. It will be staged in Long Eaton from 10am to noon, beginning and ending at West Park Leisure Centre.

The next day – Saturday 30th May – will see people invited to turn up at 10am to experience The Hermitage/Hopwell Farm Alpacas Loop. It is a six-mile jaunt that starts and finishes at The Royal Oak in Ockbrook.

An even longer but still gentle 8.25-mile hike is scheduled for Sunday 31st May. The spookily-named Coffin Walk and Shardlow Circular will trace a path from Breaston that was used to carry caskets to Church Wilne before the village got its own graveyard in 1824. It starts in the car park behind Draycott Fish Bar – and participants simply need to be there at 10.30am.

The coming weekend will feature a Saturday morning walk in Ockbrook, which has been organised by the parish council. On Monday – 25th May – the Monday Strollers are teaming up with Move More Cotmanhay to set out at 10.15am from Ilkeston’s Victoria Park to Shipley Lock.

Retired teacher Martyn Robinson-Slater, 71, a grandfather from Stanley Village, told how he took up walking after being diagnosed with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. He said: “It is fantastic that finally I no longer feel breathless walking up the stairs.

“I urge everyone to take a cue from how my life has been transformed by simply going for a stroll. Erewash Walking Month is a great way to make a start. What I realised is that a little bit but often goes a long way and takes you a long way. It is your own personal golden win.”

The number of residents who have already taken part in the initiative over the past three weeks is close to 500, according to Cllr Josy Hare, who is Erewash Council’s Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing.

She said: “With the weather warming up nicely we expect hundreds more to join the fantastic free walks that have been arranged for the final week of May. These strolls are led by superb walk leaders who are mindful that some may need to take things slowly – so there is no question of anyone being left behind.

“This is a terrific opportunity for anyone feeling unfit to get on the path to a more fulfilling life. Our message to all residents is – just take this first step!”

A short video about the programme of walks is here: (20+) Facebook. Click here for a list of all the strolls on offer: Erewash Walking Month | Erewash Borough Council