Walking for health

Walking is one of the most natural and effective forms of exercise. Take a look at the range of benefits you can enjoy from a simple stroll along your local canal.

Walking along our canals and rivers

Plenty of evidence suggests that simply being near to water makes people more content and relaxed, so what better place to exercise than your local canal? Our waterways offer traffic-free, level walking routes through some of our busiest towns and cities, perfect for walking for health.

Over half the UK population lives within five miles of a canal or river, so it couldn't be easier to take to the towpaths and enjoy the health benefits we've made freely available. Could you swap your daily commute for a weekly walk to work along the towpath? How about planning a lunchtime stroll to blow away the cobwebs before your afternoon of meetings?

Walk for mental health

When you step off the pavement and onto the towpath, you step into a whole new world. It's the perfect place to take a deep breath, shrug off the stresses of the day and enjoy a rejuvenating walk.

Not only is towpath walking a great way to de-stress. You'll also be burning off calories. Experts say just 30 minutes a day is enough to help you feel fitter.

Accessible towpaths

We want as many people as possible to experience the benefits of spending time by the water, so we've been gathering information on our towpaths and their access points to make it that bit easier for everyone to discover their local waterway.

Explore our accessibility map.