Country Walking Magazine Kicks off New Year with Walk1000Miles Challenge

Image credit: Front covers of 'Country Walking''

​Bauer Media’s 'Country Walking' – the UK’s best-selling walking magazine – has inspired the nation to start 2026 on the right foot with a New Year’s Revolution. The February issue of the magazine is inviting everyone to take a simple step towards better health and happiness by joining its award-winning Walk1000Miles challenge and walking their way to a brighter year.

Founded 11 years ago, Country Walking’s award-winning Walk1000Miles challenge is for anyone of any age, fitness level and experience - it’s free to join, fun, flexible, and proven to transform lives. The challenge is simple: Walk 1,000 miles in a year – the equivalent of Land’s End to John o’Groats (the long way) – by averaging just 2.74 miles a day (less than an hour for most people). It has been highly praised by GPs and health practitioners who say, if it was prescribed by doctors in place of medication in hundreds of thousands of appropriate cases – it could help reduce the pressures on the NHS.

Included with the new February issue, Country Walking’s dedicated Walk1000Miles supplement covers all aspects of the challenge for beginners as well as seasoned walkers to get them started, along with a special progress tracker card to count miles. Walkers can get a badge, stickers, an inspirational 2026 calendar and new eco-friendly medals from Country Walking’s shop, and there are plenty of resources to download for free at www.walk1000miles.co.uk. Brand partners of Walk1000Miles 2026 include: Scarpa outdoor footwear, Bridgedale world-leading socks, and Ordnance Survey maps and navigation.

Celebrities backing Country Walking’s initiative include Stephen Fry who said, “Walk1000miles is an idea without flaw... and you might find it brings 1000 other benefits too.” Along with Clare Balding, broadcaster, author and presenter of Radio 4’s Ramblings, musician JB Gill, and Julia Bradbury, TV’s best-known walker also support the annual walking challenge.

New Bauer Media Celebrities from its Audio brands signing up to walk 1000 miles in 2026 include: Fleur East and Hits Radio Breakfast Show co-hosts Will Best and James Barr who will share their progress with listeners, Nicki Chapman Magic Radio presenter, Kate Thornton Greatest Hits Radio presenter. BBC Morning Live presenter Michelle Ackerley and Royal author and broadcaster Katie Nicholl also join the challenge having literally just walked herself free from an aggressive cancer diagnosis.

Since launch, Country Walking’s Walk1000Miles challenge has amassed more than 100,000 registrations and more than 40,000 members to its growing Facebook community. Anyone can sign up to the Walk1000miles challenge by registering for free online at www.walk1000miles.co.uk. New participants will automatically join the established community, where they can gain tips and advice, mentoring, support and encouragement to achieve individual goals, or join approved sub-groups to make friends and share experiences.

Nick Hallissey, 'Country Walking' head of content, said, “Right now, the universe is screaming at us to slow down. For most, life is fast, bewildering, overwhelming. Walking is the antidote – the declutterer, the great euphoric breathing-out that puts your mind and body back in sync. The Walk1000Miles challenge turns that effect into a quest. Keep walking, see more, be more. It’s not a fad or costly – it’s free, anyone can do it, and the evidence speaks for itself.”

“And you only need to look at the success stories of Walk1000Miles to see the impact. The people who’ve shed pounds, turned the clock back, made lifelong friends, or just surprised themselves by becoming a brighter, shinier version of the people they were. Others have walked their way back from the most debilitating illnesses or found a way to manage bereavement, or trauma, or anxiety. For whatever reason, thousands of people use the same simple phrase: ‘this challenge changed my life’.”

Rachael Beesley, publisher of 'Country Walking' added, “Country Walking’s Walk1000miles is a proven initiative to transform people’s lives ‘one step at a time’. Since launch over 100k people have signed up to Walk1000miles, with tens of thousands joining each year to improve their mental and physical health, fitness, weight loss and happiness. With the continued support of our partners, health experts, celebrities and by increasing awareness, we predict walk1000miles 2026 will be our biggest and best challenge yet.”

'Country Walking' is published monthly, priced £6.25, and is available at all major retailers and at greatmagazines.co.uk/countrywalking (print and digital editions).