A series of maps featuring local walks to live longer better have been launched.
The Hiking Household, in partnership with Active Cumbria, have produced six maps focused around popular parks and open spaces in Carlisle, Penrith, Workington, Cleator Moor, Ulverston and Barrow-in-Furness.
As well as providing short easy-to-follow routes, the maps include information about the benefits of being active and simple exercises which can easily be done outdoors using benches along each walk. They also highlight how being outdoors can significantly improve mental wellbeing.
Founder of The Hiking Household and creator behind the maps, Laura Earl said “I have really enjoyed working with Active Cumbria to develop these maps and I am excited to see them come to fruition.
“I hope the maps can help older adults use their local area and enjoy getting outside more.
“Each of the six maps are easy to access with regular bus routes available. There are multiple places highlighted on the maps to stop, rest, and take in the scenery, as well as exercises on how to improve your physical and mental health.
“I really hope the community enjoy using the resource as much as I have creating it.”
The maps have been made possible through funding from The Reconditioning Fund which supports Active Cumbria’s Live Longer Better programme.
Active Cumbria Development Officer and Older Adults Lead, Clare Paling said “Creating the maps with Laura has been such an enjoyable process and we are really pleased with the finished resources.
“We want to encourage more people including older adults to get out and about in their communities and keep active in a way that suits them and their abilities.
“The maps will encourage more people to be and keep active whilst enjoying the scenery on their own doorstep.”
Maps are available on the Active Cumbria website at https://www.activecumbria.org/news/archive/new-maps-feature-walks-live-longer-better/ copies can also be picked up locally.