THE RAMBLERS - SANDWELL GROUP

Sandwell Stride Health Walks

Research shows that walking is an effective way to keep fit. To really benefit however, walking has to be done at a brisk pace and for a set period of time. Striding is health walking.

Stride health walking is the latest form of exercise to hit Sandwell. It involves walking at a pace that is both safe and effective. Regular Striders burn more fat, are fitter, and have less chance of future coronary heart disease than their sedentary counterparts. Inactivity is as big a risk to health as smoking, high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels. But more importantly, Striders really enjoy this form of purposeful walking.

We all walk at some stage of the day. With a little bit of extra effort, we can turn this time into a health walk. To promote health walking, Sandwell Primary Care Trust in association with the Sandwell Group of the The Ramblers is running "Stride Health Walks". During these you will meet other Striders and learn about health walking under the guidance of a qualified leader.

The health walk lasts about 60 minutes. Within that time, you will work your aerobic system, burn calories, tone muscles and increase flexibility. But above all, everyone has a great time!

Simply turn up on the day wearing loose clothes and comfortable footwear and join in the fun. If you have any questions about the walks, ring the leaders below.

Do not worry if you have not walked much before. All ranges of abilities are welcome to attend. Ring the appropriate leader or Andrew Wood, Sandwell Heath Walks Co-ordinator, on 0121 612 1400, if you have any queries, or would like to talk to someone about your particular situation.

Stride led health walks:-

MONDAYS

Red House Park - Great Barr
(meet by the Football changing rooms)
Every Monday (except Bank Holidays)
Walk Leaders, John Scott (0121 357 1079) & Janet Lissimore (0121 358 4602)
Time 10.30am till 11.30 am
Normally, adults only. Children welcome accompanied by adults during the school holidays.
Cost - FREE

Neptune Health Centre, Tipton
(finish at St Pauls Community Centre)
Every Monday (except Bank Holidays)
Phone Valerie South or Sylvia Bent via Andrew Wood on 0800 011 4656
Time 10.30am till 11.30 am
Cost - FREE

Warley Woods (Warley Health & Fitness Centre)
273 Abbey Road, Bearwood
Phone Health Walks Leader Debbie Claay on 0121 420 4554 for information
Mondays 10am till 11am and Fridays 2pm to 3pm
Children welcome if accompanied by adults
Cost - 1.50

Britannia Park, Rowley Regis
Meet at Central Methodist Church, High Street, Blackheath
Every Monday, 11am till 12noon.
Leader, Sue Kirkham (0121 559 6111)
Children welcome if accompanied by adults.
Cost - FREE

Central West Bromwich
Meet at West Bromwich Central Library
Every Monday 11.00am (except Bank Holidays)
Phone Nigel Self on 0121 612 3396
Cost - FREE

Langley Park and surrounding areas
Meet at Langley Park, Langley High Street
Every Monday 10.00 to 11.00am
Phone Gill Scarrow, 07983 882785
Cost - FREE

West Smethwick Park, Smethwick
Meet at St Johns Community Centre
Every Monday 10.00am (except Bank Holidays)
A gentle walk for men and woman from the South Asian community.
Phone Iffat Mughal on 533 2142
Cost - FREE

Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich
Meet at Dartmouth Park, main entrance, Reform Street
Every Monday (except Bank Holidays) at 2.00pm
Phone Carol Harthill on 588 4747
Cost - FREE

TUESDAYS

Brunswick Park, Wednesbury
Meet corner of Wood Green Road and Foley Street by Sons of Rest Lodge
Every Tuesday, 10am to 11am
Phone Paul Waterfield on 01922 414158
Adults only
Cost - FREE

Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich
A walk for women from the Indian Community
Meet at Gurdwara Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, George Street, West Bromwich
Every Tuesday & Thursday 10.30am to 12noon
Phone Jarnail Singh 525 7219
Cost - FREE

Kendrick Park, West Bromwich
Meet at Kuumba Centre, Boulton Road, Spon Lane, West Bromwich
Every Tuesday 11.15am
Phone Norman Nelson on 525 1629
Cost - FREE

Sandwell Valley (Priory Woods Nature Reserve)
Meet at Reception, Sandwell Park Farm
Tuesdays 10.30am till 11.30am
Phone 0121 553 0220 for details
Children welcome if accompanied by adults.
Cost - FREE

Lightwoods Park
Meet at Bearwood Bus Station
Tuesdays at 11am
Phone Sudip Virk on 564 2788
Cost - FREE

Lion Farm Playing Fields, Oldbury
Meet Harry Price House, Hartlebury Road
Tuesdays at 12 noon
Phone Sam Fenton on 07903 161948
Cost - FREE

WEDNESDAYS

Neptune Health Centre, Tipton
Meet at Health Centre
Every Wednesday 10.30am to 11.30am
Phone John Craxford (0121 422 2320)
Children welcome if accompanied by adults.
Cost - FREE

Tipton Sports Academy, Wednesbury Oak Road, Tipton
Meet at Sports Academy Reception
Every Wednesday 9.30am
Phone Marva Green on 502 5534
Participants walk around track at their own pace
Cost - 1.00

Toddle in the Park, Victoria Park, Tipton
Meet at Tipton Swimming Centre, Queens Road
Wednesdays at 10am
For parents and toddlers
Phone Al Hutchins on 522 5150
Cost - FREE

Warrens Hall Local Nature Reserve
Meet at Dudley Road entrance
Every Wednesday 10.30am
Phone Olive Whitehouse, via Andrew Wood on 0800 011 4656
Cost - FREE

Victoria Park, Smethwick
A walk for unpaid carers - meet at the Carers Centre
Every Wednesday 1.00pm
Phone Jill Aldridge on 0121 558 7003 or Sudip Vink on 558 3668
Cost - FREE

Victoria Park 2, Smethwick
Meet at Brushstrokes, St Phillips Church, Messenger Road.
Every Wednesday 2.00pm
Phone Leaders Anton Gustave or Isabelle Kotchy on 565 2234
Cost - FREE

Toddle in the Park, Jubilee Park, Tipton
Meet at Tipton Sure Start, Glebefields, 24 Ridgeway Road
Wednesdays at 1.30pm
Phone Leader Aimee Garbett on 07761 854073
Cost - FREE

Charles Pearson Court, Smethwick
Meet at CAP Centre, Windmill Lane, Cape Hill
Wednesdays (Fortnightly) at 2pm
A walk for older adults - others welcome
Phone Leader Nerissa Harvey on 553 7737
Cost - FREE

THURSDAY

Sandwell Valley (West Bromwich YMCA)
38 Carters Green, West Bromwich
Phone: Joy Chatwin on 0121 524 1950 for information
Walk Leader: Assad
Thursdays 1.00pm till 2.00pm
Cost FREE if you join walk at Sandwell Park Farm car park (1.15pm), otherwise 1.00 for mini bus from YMCA

Sandwell Park Farm & Sots Hole
Meet at Reception, Sandwell Park Farm
Every Thursday 10.30am to 11.30am
Phone Sandwell Park Farm on 553 0220
Cost - FREE

Farley Park, West Bromwich
Meet at Farley Park Lodge, Whitehall Road, West Bromwich
Every Thursday at 10.30am
Phone Pippa May-John on 557 4957
Cost - FREE

Hateley Heath
Meet at Hateley Heath Resource Centre, 66 Clarkes Lane
Every Thursday 10.00am
Phone Joselyn Latunji, via Andrew Wood on 0800 011 4656
Cost - FREE

Warley Woods
Meet at Golf Pavillion, Lightwoods Hill entrance
Every Thursday 10.00am
Phone Gill Hanley on 0121 420 1480
Cost - FREE

Barnford Park, Langley
Meet at Sandwell Irish Community Centre, 19a Langley High Street
Thursdays at 2pm
Phone Juanita Williams or Chris Flood on 533 9734
Cost - FREE

FRIDAYS

Haden Hill Park, Cradley Heath
Friday, 11.00am till 12.00noon
Meet at car park by the Bowling Green, Lee Road, Cradley Heath
Phone Alan Payne on 07788 718 093
Cost - FREE

Warrens Hall Park, Rowley Regis
Meet at Visitor Centre, Bumble Hole
Every Friday, 2.30pm till 3.30pm
Phone Geoff Tranter on 01384 814100
Children welcome if accompanied by adults.
Cost - FREE

RSPB Sandwell Valley Nature Reserve, Great Barr
20 Tanhouse Avenue
Every Friday
Phone 0121 357 7395 for details
Time 10.30am till 11.30am
Children welcome if accompanied by adults.
Cost - FREE

All's Salop Drive Market Garden, Smethwick
3rd Friday of every month
Gentle route with facilities for wheelchairs and pushchairs
Phone Veronica Barry or Helen Sneyd on 558 5555
Time 11.00am
Cost - FREE

Haden Hill - Toddle in the Park
A walk for parents and toddlers with medals for the children
Fridays 10.00am
Phone Alyson Miles on 01384 414777
Cost - FREE

Metro Line, West Bromwich
Meet at YMCA, Carters Green
Fridays at 10am
Phone Nerissa Harvey on 443 7737
Cost - FREE

Sheepwash Park, Great Bridge
Meet at Great Bridge Library, Sheepwash Lane
Fridays at 10.30am
Phone Mike Whale on 588 5068
Cost - FREE

Warley Woods
Meet at Warley Health Centre, 273 Abbey Road, Smethwick
Fridays at 2pm
Phone Debbie Clay on 420 4554
Cost - FREE

West Smethwick Park
A walk for the Sikh community
Meet at Baba Sang Sikh Temple, St Pauls Road
Fridays at 2.30pm
Phone Jarnail Singh on 525 7219
Cost - FREE

SATURDAYS

West Smethwick Park
Meet at the Orchard Centre, Londonderry Baptist Church, Bristnall Hall Road, Oldbury
Third Saturday of every month 10.30am
Phone Val Heaton on 07771 914 555
or Orchard Centre on 544 8935
Cost - FREE

More walks throughout the Borough are planned in the future.
Watch this space.

Amended 27/10/09 (stride.html)

To return to opening page - click index.html
To go to Introduction & General information - click intro.html
To go to Walks Programme - click walk.html
To go to Social programme - click soc.html
To go to Officers & contacts - click contacts.html
To go to Notice Board - click notes.html
To go to Walking in Sandwell Strategy - click strategy.html
To go to Annual Report 1/10/06 to 30/9/07 - click report.html

To access The Ramblers national web site - click www.ramblers.org.uk
To access Ramblers Staffordshire Area web site - click www.staffordshireramblers.org.uk