Why Britain is falling back in love with walking

For many of us, the New Year starts with big health promises; join a gym, cut out sugar, get fitter, sleep better. But as the mornings stay dark and the weather bites, those grand plans can quickly fade. It turns out the nation isn’t chasing marathon medals or punishing workouts – we’re simply hoping to put one foot in front of the other.

New research from the British Heart Foundation reveals walking more is the UK’s number one health goal for 2026 – beating eating better (34%), reducing stress (26%) and even going to the gym (16%).

To help get the country moving, the charity is urging people to take on its ‘Walk for Hearts’ challenge, during Heart Month in February, to help fund BHF’s lifesaving cardiovascular research and support their own heart health in the process. Participants can choose to walk 28, 50 or 100 miles across the month, fitting it around daily life, whether that’s the school run, a lunchtime stroll or a weekend wander.

Aston spoke to Ruth Goss senior cardiac nurse from British Heart Foundation.