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 #Trail Therapy 

Great for the mind  -  great for the body

It's proven that being active amongst nature is a highly effective way of improving mental wellbeing as well as physical health

But for lots of people it’s not easy to get out there to benefit from exploring the woodlands and countryside. Fear of getting lost, personal safety, lack of skills, confidence levels, or simply not having anyone to go with are amongst the reasons for this. 

We’re very passionate about helping people overcome these barriers and have been on a mission to introduce people to the joys of what's become known as ‘trail therapy’ through the activities we organise, such as our Thursday morning bRUNch Club. And it’s been a real pleasure to watch the fitness, confidence and wellbeing of many of our participants grow as a result, and for strong friendships to develop amongst them. 

 

As a small team though, we know we’ve only been scratching the surface of the number of people who could benefit from this kind of activity.

 

So we’re thrilled that, with the help of a National Forest Society Grant, we're able to increase the number of #TrailTherapy running and walking activities we do across the National Forest area.

Below are details of our Summer 2023 programme of Trail Therapy Runs and Walks.

 

These activities are FREE to enter.  Small donations to help us help more people in the community gain the benefits of trail therapy are appreciated, but not expected.  The price of a coffee (around £3.50) really helps us, but please only what YOU can afford. 

 

For other things we do go to our What's on page.

If you can't see what you are looking for below, please get in touch

 SUMMER 2023 PROGRAMME 

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TTSummer23Prog

 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

How fit do I need to be?

If you are joining an activity that has a walk option, you just need to be capable of walking the distance at a relaxed pace, be able to climb over any stiles on the route and be okay with ground that may be a little uneven or muddy in places.

For jogging activities, if you are able to complete parkun or equivalent distance (5k/3-miles) in 45--mins or less you should be fine. Although some activities are a bit further, we tend to walk any challenging hills and have plenty of stops to take in the surroundings and let everyone get their breath back. 

The emphasis on all these activities is to enjoy some exercise in natural surroundings with a friendly and supportive atmosphere, rather than to push anyone to go faster than would be comfortable. Our leaders will always make sure nobody gets left behind.

Will I be able to keep up?

Yes, we never go faster than is comfortable for everyone in the group. We usually have at least 2 leaders, so if there is a need we can split into two groups to enable participants to walk/jog with others of a similar ability level. 

What kit will I need?

Generally just clothing and footwear that is suitable for the activity (walk or jog) and the weather conditions. This should include a waterproof jacket to keep you warm if we have to stop for any reason, as well as to keep you dry if it rains.

We also recommend:

  • Grippy shoes (either off-road running shoes or walking boots if walking), especially if it is wet or there has been a lot of rain in the previous few days.

  • Carrying a drink if it is a warm day.

  • Having a snack in your pocket in case you have an energy dip. 

  • A head-torch for evening events where it is dark, or gets dark during the activity.

Are there any age limits?

There are no upper age limits. 

For jogging activities participants must be 12 or above but those under 18 must be accompanied and supervised by a parent or guardian throughout the activity.

For walking activities we allow younger people that are capable of walking the distance unaided, but they must be accompanied and supervised by a parent or guardian throughout the activity, and no more than 2 children per parent/guardian are allowed. 

Can I bring my dog?

We can only take dogs by prior arrangement, and will often have to turn requests down. This is not because we don't like dogs (we love them!), it's simply because dogs can become a hazard, particularly if routes go close to farm animals, and they can cause stress to other participants who are nervous around dogs.  

Can I run with a buggy?

Most of the routes aren't suitable for buggies due to encountering stiles and/or uneven ground. However, if you'd love to be able to participate with a buggy, please do let us know. If we find there is enough demand, we'll look at organising some buggy friendly activities going forwards.

Will you be doing any more activities as I can't make any of the dates above?

We already have a regular Thursday morning activity, known as bRUNch Club - details of which are HERE.

 

And, YES we plan to do more activities going forwards. The schedule for this summer is experimental to help us discover what days, times and locations suit people who would like to get involved. So, we'll use what we learn to help plan for the future.

 

Please let us have your thoughts and ideas on what you think would be popular.

 MEET OUR TRAIL THERAPY LEADERS 

TrailTherapyLeaders

Thanks to the support from the National Forest we're delighted to have been able to recruit 8 new volunteer leaders from within the local community to help us provide more Trail Therapy activities.  To find out more about them click on the image.

TRAILTHERAPYBOOK

 BOOK YOUR PLACE 

For more information on individual activities and to book a place click on the 'More info' button next to the one you are interested in.

  • Tue 20 Jan
    Gresley Woods
    20 Jan 2026, 09:30
    Gresley Woods
    Join us for our fabulous Walking Talking Tuesday session around beautiful the Gresley Woods area. Bookings open 30th Dec Guided Walk for all abilities.
  • 28 Jan 2026, 18:30 – 21:00
    Sence Valley
    Join us for a guided jog or walk round the Sence Valley area.
  • 30 Jan 2026, 19:00 – 23:00
    Swadlincote, Civic Way, Swadlincote DE11 0AE, UK
    This session will focus on providing you with the skills, knowledge and information needed to support your leaders and jog groups. It's interactive and includes a physical activity so there will be plenty of opportunity to chat to others and share your experiences.
  • Tue 03 Feb
    Location sent after booking
    03 Feb 2026, 09:30
    Location sent after booking
    Join us on a Walking Talking Tuesday around beautiful the Sence Valley area. Guided Walk for all abilities.
  • 14 Feb 2026, 12:00 – 14:30
    TBC
    Join us for a guided jog or walk around the beautiful South Derbyshire countryside and trails.
  • Tue 17 Feb
    Location confirmed when booked
    17 Feb 2026, 09:30
    Location confirmed when booked
    Join us on our fabulous Walking Talking Tuesday, this time around beautiful the Staunton Harold area. Relaxed and friendly Guided Walk for all abilities. Everyone is welcome.
  • 25 Feb 2026, 18:30 – 21:00
    Staunton Harold
    Join us for a guided jog or walk around the beautiful Staunton Harold
  • Tue 03 Mar
    Location Confirmed when booked
    03 Mar 2026, 09:30
    Location Confirmed when booked
    Join us for our fabulous Walking Talking Tuesday session around beautiful the Hicks Lodge area. Guided Walk for all abilities.
  • 14 Mar 2026, 12:00 – 14:30
    TBC
    Join us for a guided jog or walk around the beautiful South Derbyshire countryside and trails.
  • Tue 17 Mar
    Location sent after booking
    17 Mar 2026, 09:30
    Location sent after booking
    Join us on a Walking Talking Tuesday around beautiful the Ticknall area. Guided Walk for all abilities.
  • 25 Mar 2026, 18:30 – 21:00
    Ticknall
    Join us for a guided jog or walk around the beautiful South Derbyshire countryside and trails.
  • Wed 01 Apr
    Anywhere and Everywhere
    01 Apr 2026, 00:00 – 28 Apr 2026, 23:59
    Anywhere and Everywhere
    Originally a 'lockdown' Challenge in 2021, Run for the trees has remained a popular fixture in the Peak Running calender.
  • 18 Apr 2026, 05:30 – 23:50
    Castleton
    An epic journey through the Peak District for both runners and hikers alike, showcasing the very best of the varied landscapes of the area as well as being a celebration of its anniversary.
  • Sat 01 Aug
    Hartington
    01 Aug 2026, 08:30 – 20:00
    Hartington
    Trail race and challenge walk in a wonderful part of the Peak District, with marathon-ish and 15-mile-ish distances available.
  • Date and time is TBD
    Ticknall
    Date and time is TBD
    Ticknall
    The Winter Bash is a winter version of the popular Brooksie's Bash 10-Mile Trail Race.

Booking for later events will be open soon. Keep an eye on this page.

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