‘Walk This May’ challenge dates

A free walking campaign across Worcestershire and Herefordshire will run from May 1 to May 14, with organizers urging residents to log more activity than last year. (redditchstandard.co.uk) The “Walk This May Challenge” includes guided walks lasting from 10 to 90 minutes, and local reports say the routes are designed to be beginner-friendly. The walks take place on easy ground at a relaxed pace. (redditchstandard.co.uk) Routes are being offered across both counties, and organizers say participants can reach them on foot or by public transport. Worcestershire County Council said the program is being organized with Herefordshire’s local Wellbeing Walks groups and Worcestershire Health Walks. (worcestershire.gov.uk) Organizers are framing the challenge around a simple target: beat last year’s collective total. The Redditch Advertiser reported walkers logged 4,723.18 miles in the 2025 challenge, which it said was equal to covering the 53-mile border between the two counties 89 times. (redditchadvertiser.co.uk) That 53-mile figure has become the campaign’s running benchmark. Earlier coverage of the challenge said residents were invited to see how many times they could collectively match the length of the Herefordshire-Worcestershire border. (redditchstandard.co.uk) The latest version keeps the same low-barrier model: no entry fee, short route options, and walks pitched at people who are new to physical activity as well as regular walkers. Herefordshire Council said the aim is to help people take “the first steps” toward a healthier lifestyle. (herefordshire.gov.uk) The challenge also sits alongside a wider local walking culture in Redditch and nearby areas. Arrow Valley parkrun, for example, describes its weekly 5-kilometer event in Redditch as free and open to walkers as well as runners. (parkrun.org.uk) For residents who want to join this year’s push, the key dates are fixed: Thursday, May 1, through Thursday, May 14. The pitch from organizers is just as direct — turn up, walk, and help lift the 2026 total. (redditchstandard.co.uk)