Autumn Walk to Work Week 25-31 October 2010

They said "it's crazy to promote walking with the evenings get darker". They said "no way should you promote walking when it's turning chilly". But we say walking is a year round activity, to be enjoyed whatever the date. And to celebrate walking in normal clothes rather than t-shirts and shorts, we have a walking week at the end of October (Monday 25th to Sunday 31st), and here's the first announcement of our programme.

Tuesday 26 October. "Walkers' Breakfast" for people at North Colchester Business Parks. Meet-up from 7:30-9:30 at Chef's Eating House. The Seedbed centre, Wyncolls Road, Severalls Industrial Park, CO4 9HT.

Wednesday 27 October. "Chilly Hilly Fields" picnic lunch. Hot vegetable soup will be provided, after a 1km led walk. Depart from outside Mercury Theatre at 12:15 sharp, to the bench overlooking the Colne valley at Hilly Fields. Scarves may be needed.

Saturday 30 October."Stockwell Strollers" walking group. Meet at The Castle Inn, High Street, at 8.30 for a 9.00 start. It will be a 10 mile walk in the morning to The Albion at Rowhedge and a 4 mile stroll back along the river after lunch, back at The Castle by about 4.30. For more information contact Alan Hardy at alanhardywalks@lineone.net .

Sunday 31 October. "Walk the Walls" led history walk, 3km round the town's walls, led by local history enthusiast Jess Jephcott. Leaves Balkerne Gate at noon, about 90 minutes.

ALL WEEK it's the return of the "Step and Snap" photography competition, more details soon. Plus there are several "Health Walks" during the week - see Colchester Borough Council website.

"Colchester Walk to Work" links with "Walk Colchester"

"Colchester Walk to Work" is here to promote walking as transport, especially looking at the journey to work. Some of the work is promoted through Colchester2020 Travel Plan Club, and some is the personal passion of your page host Andrew Budd.

And there's "Walk Colchester" http://www.walkcolchester.org.uk/ , a green community mapping initiative, launched in 2010. The picture shows a Walk Colchester/ Colchester Walk to Work event in walking week in April. Walk Colchester's main aims are to record and protect Colchester’s paths, parks, woodland and open spaces, and to promote enjoyable, accessible, informed pedestrianism for walkers of all ages and abilities. Have a look at their website, and join the cause.

We're considering joining forces as we share much common ground, and could do even better for walking in Colchester by working more closely together. Plus Walk Colchester are inspirational and lovely people, and who wouldn't want to work with people like that? Watch out for news of our joint working.

Colchester Walk to Work's shoes are on again.

For followers of this particular blog trail, your host is back from his backpacking trip in Scotland in May. Four days cross country from Glenelg on the west coast to Invergarry in the Great Glen. Since then, at Colchester2020 Travel Plan Club, we've been busy with car sharing schemes, bus promotions, train discounts, car clubs, cycling for transport and health, smarter driving .... oh yes, and running the club. BUT NOW, WALKING IS BACK!!!!!

And lots has happened since May. Our first Walk to Work Week in April went well, with lots of media interest in the idea of promoting walking as transport, and for fun and good health too. The two Colchester walking maps have proved to be very popular, with repeat orders from most of our distributors, and very good feedback from our customers.

"YES, BUT WHAT'S NEXT?" I hear you say. Well, walking is for all seasons, not just for summer, so we're going against the grain and promoting winter walking, starting with a "winter walk to work week", Monday 25 October to Sunday 31 October. During the week, we'll be launching a media campaign, and will be having some special events.... and that's the subject of another posting.