Walking and Wheeling

Did you know that in 2023, 56% of Glasgow residents walked or wheeled at least five days a week?

Choosing to walk and wheel can:

Improve your physical and mental well-being
Connect you with your local community
Contribute to a healthier planet

That's why we're committed to improving roads, paths and public spaces for walking and helping people make the choice to walk or wheel for everyday journeys.

Browse this page to learn what's available in Glasgow so that we can all walk and wheel more - it's a simple way to be healthy, happy, and connected with your surroundings.

Some people, for example wheelchair or mobility scooter users, identify with the term wheeling instead of walking.

Benefits

Whether you take a leisurely stroll or a brisk walk or wheel, physical activity offers numerous benefits for your overall health and lifestyle. It can be quicker than driving for short trips, it helps you discover your local area, and keeps you healthy.

Stay fit and healthy: Walking or wheeling help you stay fit, maintain a healthy weight, and reduce the risk of diseases like diabetes and cancer. It's especially great for your heart, improving blood circulation and reducing the risk of heart problems.

Feel positive: Walking or wheeling act as natural mood boosters, reducing stress and helping with relaxation. It can improve mental health by alleviating anxiety and depression, resulting in an overall better quality of life.

Enhance your community: Walking or wheeling helps you connect with your neighbours, lets you explore your local community, and discover parks, art, and nature. It brings you closer to the vibrant community life and local businesses, combining outdoor activity with visiting your local area.

Save money and the environment: Walking or wheeling is kind to the environment because it doesn't produce pollution. It saves you money too since you don't need to pay for fuel or parking. People-friendly streets make the local area safer for everyone, including children, to get around independently.

Learn more about the benefits of walking and wheeling on NHS Inform and our suite of Transport Strategy Documents.

Events and Activities

Glasgow Life and other local organisations host a variety of activities that you can participate in throughout the year.

You can enjoy walking with friends or learning about Glasgow's sights and history. There are plenty of outings and walking groups available such as guided tours and health walks.

Learn how to get involved by visiting Glasgow Life, Paths for All, and find out what's happening in Glasgow's Parks and Open Spaces. If you're wanting to stroll outside the city, try Ramblers Glasgow for their current walks.

This year Glasgow will host its first Walking Festival. Keep updated by checking the Avenue's walking festival storymap for more information.

Whatever your age and ability, there's a walking challenge for everyone.

Everyone:

National Walking Month
Join thousands of others who support a great cause by participating in Glasgow's Kiltwalk.
Meet new people at a fundraising walk hosted by MS Society. They host events across UK, including Glasgow. Find out if an event is coming to Glasgow this year by visiting their fundraising page.
Experience the city at a Shine Night Walk hosted by Cancer Research. Visit their charity walks page to learn whether you can participate this year.

Schools:

WoW Walk to School Challenge gets younger people to walk more and win fun badges.

Workplaces:

Ditch the desk and walk the walk with the Step Count Challenge. The challenge gets employees to walk a little more in healthy competition with other organisations. Add a few extra strides to your daily routine and feel the benefits.

Plan Your Journey

Planning a journey couldn't be simpler with the various digital route planning tools available. If you have an idea of where you want to go, route planners will help find you a suitable route.

Follow these four simple steps to plan your route:

Open your preferred digital mapping service.
Find your starting location and destination by searching for building name, street address or postcode. Search options will vary based on your chosen application.
Select the walking option and submit the details.
Review the proposed route and step by step directions to make sure the distance and estimated walking time is suitable for you. If there are any parts of the route that make you feel uncomfortable, choose an alternative or try adding an interim destination before your destination.

A safe and accessible route will likely have footways, signal-controlled crossings, be well lit and have people nearby.

If using a device for navigation, ensure its charged and you may wish to carry a portable charger on longer routes. Ensure you have sufficient mobile data if not using an offline mapping application.

Leisure Routes

Glasgow has themed walks, parks, and lots of countryside nearby.

Another inspiration for getting out there is Geocaching. The purpose of this 21st century leisure treasure hunt activity is to find hidden caches, usually small boxes containing a logbook and items left by other geocachers. The geocache phenomena is global and whether searching locally or further afield, you'll find some that are placed close to a walking route to add that further incentive to get out there.

Responsible Walking

Everyone must be kind and courteous when using paths and roads.

When using roads and footways, the Highway Code applies and when using footpaths away from the road, the Scottish Outdoor Access Code applies.

When using paths and roads, please:

Be considerate and respect other people
Be safe
Be seen and heard, alert others to your presence and pass with care
Listen for others approaching and allow them to pass safely
Take responsibility for your own actions
Care for the environment

If you feel someone is acting unlawfully, please report this to Police Scotland.

Travelling Together

When walking in some parts of the city, you may share space with people cycling. Shared surfaces are indicated by periodic blue roundels which show a person cycling and a pedestrian side by side. These blue roundels can be located on posts or on the ground. On all new schemes, tactile paving indicates the extent of these areas for people with visual impairments.

People walking have priority when using footways, at zebra crossings and at side roads. Drivers, motorcyclists, horse drawn vehicles, horse riders and cyclists must give way at zebra crossings (PDF) [5MB] (opens new window) and should also give way at side roads.

We are committed to creating inclusive, enabling environments for all to enjoy the benefits of active travel across the city. Sustrans' Walking for Everyone shares guidance on how this could be achieved.

Getting Started

The NHS shares tips for getting back into or starting to walk more on their webpage.

You can track your walking or wheeling activity easily with apps or a fitness tracker. These can help you reach any goals you may have by providing daily health targets.

Walking to the shops, to school or to the train station is a great start and seats and bus shelters offer a chance to rest along the way.

Short journeys do not require special clothing but before longer journeys journey, think:

Weather: Check the forecast so that you can dress appropriately. Remember that the weather might change for your journey home so plan ahead and take a lightweight waterproof coat or hat if required.
Comfort: Choose comfortable shoes like trainers that provide support and do not pinch or rub. Also, consider wearing comfortable clothing that you can move freely in.
Water: Bring a water bottle to keep hydrated, especially on longer walks or hot days. You may require snacks if on foot for long periods throughout the day.

Funding

The Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council fund activities and street improvements that encourage walking and wheeling. Walking and wheeling improvements to Glasgow's streets and outdoor public spaces make it more accessible, inclusive, desirable, and comfortable for everyone.

There is financial support available to improve routes and support people to walk or wheel more. To learn what Scottish Government transport funding is available to organisations, visit Sustainable Travel website.

To learn what funding is available to voluntary organisations, visit The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.

Other funding may be available this financial year via the following websites: