Walking is a great way of getting positive exercise, enjoying yourself, discovering the area – and all without having to spend lots of money!
There’s a very useful national network, with a great website, featuring towns that want to especially welcome walkers. Beverley is very close to achieving all the criteria needed to get this status. Market Weighton and Pocklington have already been successful. Beverley will be able to use this website to promote walking activity once we have the accreditation.
The drive to get the status for Beverley is being co-ordinated by Carli Black and has the backing of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Beverley Town Council, Beverley Renaissance Partnership and the Chamber of Trade.
Carli says:
“We have to achieve a set of aims and then send in a written submission to the national network to be judged and awarded the status. We are very nearly there! When we have the go ahead we aim to have a walking weekend to celebrate, and highlight all the walking opportunities in Beverley.”
Carli added:
“It’s a great showcase for towns and will offer both visitors and locals a focal point to find out the walks available in the area. We are already a hub for walkers wanting to visit the area and enjoy the beauty of the Wolds, however, there are also some very enjoyable and interesting town based walks to discover. We have well known and loved local trails – the Beverley Town Trail, the Fred and Mary Elwell trail, as well as a very popular Walk Your Way To Health programme run by East Riding of Yorkshire Council – but there are also other places to walk, and people to walk with.”
The scheme began in Hebden Bridge in 2007 and there are now 90 towns accredited with Walkers are Welcome status. Accredited towns are all given access to the website so that all local walking groups can publish their information on a central site. Interested walkers then have a contact point if they wish to join a walk. It can help promote Beverley and the walking opportunities to visitors planning to come to the town. It’s also a way of finding out about walking locally if you live in Beverley.
How can you help? Part of the submission is a petition and you can show your support by emailing, please include your email address to:
www.wawbeverley@hotmail.co.uk by the end of January 2012. You really can help.
Alternatively you can sign the petition in the Beverley Tourist Information Centre, Butcher Row, Beverley
Look at the website to see the towns currently accredited www.walkersarewelcome.org.uk
