Nordic Health Walk - Outney Common (Aug '26)

This is a lovely riverside walk of 3-4 miles around Outney Common in Bungay.

We will meet at the Common Car Park (next to the Bungay Golf Club - NR35 1DS) at 10am and walk in a northerly direction towards the River Waveney. We will then walk around the common, following the course of the river, and finishing back at the golf club for our cool down around 12pm.

Please note that cattle sometimes graze on the common. After the walk there is the option for refreshments or lunch at one of the cafes in Bungay.

The aim of these monthly Nordic Health Walks is to bring people together, explore a variety of beautiful routes and enjoy the physical and social benefits of Nordic Walking in a friendly and supportive group.

In 2026, our monthly programme will include 9 staged walks along the Sandlings Walk, taking us from Heath Road in Ipswich to Southwold over the course of the year. In the remaining three months, we will offer slightly shorter, circular walks on three of our favourite routes, giving variety while still maintaining a regular monthly rhythm. Walks will all be at weekends with a 10am start.

All walks are run for charity, with an £8 donation per person per walk. Of this, £5 will be split between two charities chosen by the group: Médecins Sans Frontières (national/international charity) and the East Anglian Children's Hospice (EACH).

Some walks are planned and led by Charlotte or Carol, with others planned and led by members of the group. As it is not always possible to walk and fully risk assess every route in advance, participants should be aware that they join a Nordic Health Walk at their own risk. Each walk begins with a warm-up and finishes with a cool-down. Where possible, time is built in for a coffee or lunch before, during or after the walk.

Walk lengths will vary depending on the route. The Sandlings Walk stages range from 4.6 to 8.4 miles, while the circular walks will be shorter and more relaxed, suitable for most walkers.

Ideally, participants should be familiar with the Nordic Walking technique, and poles may be borrowed if you do not have your own. However, everyone is welcome to join the group, including those who prefer to walk without poles. Please book your place by 10pm the night before each walk so that further information, if needed, can be sent out to you.

Nordic Walking uses specially designed poles to enhance your natural walking experience. With a technique that is similar to the upper body action of classic cross-country skiing, Nordic Walking is a whole body exercise that can be enjoyed at many levels, from walking for health to athletic Nordic running. More than 10 million people globally enjoy this outdoor activity all year round.

Nordic Walking combines the simplicity and accessibility of walking with simultaneous core and upper body conditioning similar to Nordic skiing. The result is a full body workout, which means that you:

• burn up to 46% more calories compared to walking without poles
• release tension in the neck and shoulders
• improve your posture and gait
• strengthen your back and abdominal muscles
• reduce the impact on the joints

And because Nordic Walking doesn’t feel like hard work, you’ll be happy to walk further and for longer.