And now is the perfect time to make a start as May is National Walking Month.

Walking is a free, low impact way to exercise with no special equipment and you can set your own pace and distance.

Councillor Robert Brown, the Chair of the council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, said: “Walking is a great form of exercise that suits people of all ages, abilities and lifestyles.

“The benefits of walking for health and wellbeing are extensive. It’s good for heart and lungs, bones and muscles, strength and balance.

“It also improves your mood, reduces stress and leads to better sleep. It is very sociable too: walking and talking at the same time go together very well.”

And to help you on your way, Get Walking Lanarkshire organises a programme of free health walks across Lanarkshire with planned weekly walks which are easy, last no longer than an hour and go at a gentle pace.

The walks are suitable for all ages and abilities and are particularly suitable for people who are looking to become a bit more active.

The walks are also very friendly with most groups going to a café after the walk for a cuppa and a chat.

If you’d like to take part, please book for your first walk.

More info is available on the council’s Get Walking Lanarkshire page. The health walks programme can also be found on www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/getwalking

And if you’d like to help why not become a volunteer health walk leader? No previous experience is required, just a friendly nature and enthusiasm for walking. Free training will be provided. To enquire please email getwalkinglanarkshire@northlan.gov.uk or phone 07903 358424.

Get Walking Lanarkshire is a partnership project between NHS Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire Council and South Lanarkshire Council and Walking Scotland, which is the umbrella organisation for health walks in Scotland.