A Derbyshire community project is inviting people to take a simple step towards better health — by walking, talking and enjoying the county’s countryside together.
Community Wellbeing
Derbyshire Wellness Walks: taking steps towards better health together
A welcoming community initiative is helping people across Derbyshire improve their wellbeing, discover local paths and find friendship one step at a time.
Chesterfield Times 29 September 2026
Derbyshire Wellness Walks, an Elastic FM community wellbeing initiative, offers free, friendly group walks designed to make movement feel welcoming rather than competitive. The project is open to people of different ages and abilities, with an emphasis on gentle routes, good company and the quiet benefits of spending time outdoors.
For many people, taking the first step can be the hardest part. Joining a traditional walking group may feel daunting if you have not exercised for a while, are managing a health condition or simply do not know anyone there. Derbyshire Wellness Walks aims to remove that pressure. Its message is straightforward: walkers do not need to be fast or experienced; they only need a willingness to come along.
From informal strolls to a wider community
The initiative grew from informal walks held through the Your Choices Matter programme. For three years, small groups have explored trails around Derbyshire on gentle outings built around conversation and connection. After seeing what those shared miles meant to participants, the organisers decided to open the experience to the wider community.
That human connection sits at the heart of the project. A walk gives strangers time to become familiar faces, without the formality of sitting in a meeting or the pressure of having to make conversation across a table. Side by side, people can talk as much or as little as they wish. Friendships can form naturally, and a difficult week can feel lighter after fresh air and a chat.
The project’s recent routes tell a wider story about Derbyshire, too. Walks have followed stretches of the Chesterfield Canal, linked Renishaw with Rother Valley and Poolsbrook, and travelled from Pleasley towards Teversal. These are places where industrial heritage, restored waterways, old railway lines and green spaces meet. Reports on the project website celebrate not only the distance covered, but also local history, changing weather, shared food and personal milestones.
“A successful walk is not about pace or performance, but about the moments in between.”
Each completed walk also becomes part of a growing community record. Photographs and reflections are shared online, allowing participants to revisit the day and giving newcomers an honest sense of what to expect. They show that a successful walk is not about pace or performance, but about the moments in between: a conversation, a view, a laugh and the satisfaction of finishing together.
Wellbeing without competition
Walking is one of the most accessible ways to become more active. It needs little specialist equipment, can be adapted to different starting points and offers benefits for both physical and mental wellbeing. Regular walking can support heart health, circulation and joint movement, while time in nature can provide breathing space from worry and the demands of everyday life.
But the project’s value is not measured only in steps. Loneliness and isolation can affect people in towns and villages as well as in remote areas. A regular date in the diary, a familiar welcome and the knowledge that somebody expects to see you can matter enormously. Derbyshire Wellness Walks places that sense of belonging alongside the physical benefits of moving.
Routes vary, so prospective walkers should check the details before setting out. The project publishes information about distance, difficulty and meeting points on its website, helping people decide whether a particular walk feels right for them. Previous outings have included easy canal-side routes as well as longer countryside walks. The organisers also invite residents to complete a short survey about preferred distances, days and times, giving the community a say in how future walks develop.
A county made for walking together
Derbyshire is often promoted through sweeping Peak District views, but its everyday paths are just as valuable. Towpaths, country parks and former railway trails provide links between communities and offer reminders of the county’s landscape and history. Exploring them as a group can help people notice places they may otherwise pass without a second glance.
“Better health can begin with something as ordinary as walking the first mile together.”
There is something reassuringly modest about the idea. Derbyshire Wellness Walks does not promise a quick transformation. Instead, it offers a regular opportunity to get outside, move at a manageable pace and share the journey with other people. Better health can begin with something as ordinary as putting on a coat, meeting at a local landmark and walking the first mile together.
Those interested can visit derbyshirewellnesswalks.org/walks to see walk details, read reports from previous routes and find out how to join in. Updates and conversation are also available through the project’s Facebook community.