May – National Walking Month

May is National Walking Month, so we thought this May, we’d share some of the lovely local walks around our part of the world, along with some handy footwear and footcare tips to help you enjoy the great outdoors.

Routes local to Kirkburton

There are no shortages of footpaths through and around our village. In fact, the Trans-Pennine Trail has a spur which goes from the main route through to Kirkburton, and this runs just across the road from the clinic, on the footpath next to the church.

Kirkburton Parish Council has created 10 circular walks in and around the village, exploring lots of our local history.

And then of course we have the Shelley Welly Walk, which goes right past our front door!

We’ve included links to come of the walks here –

Kirkburton Parish Walks

Walks in Kirkburton

Shelley Welly Walk

TransPennine Trail

Footwear tips for walking.

There are a whole host of different types of footwear for walking, ranging from trainers, right through to some seriously tough walking boots, and everything in between!

Firstly, make sure you have checked out the type of terrain that any walk you plan on doing covers, what the weather is due to be on the day of your walk, as well as what it has been recently. Then match your footwear accordingly.

For example, if your walk crosses fairly flat, dry fields and well-laid footpaths, then a good pair of walking trainers maybe sufficient to keep your feet dry and comfortable. On the other hand, if your walk covers moorland, and soggy ground, then a sturdy pair of waterproof walking boots would be best, as these will support your ankles over uneven ground, and keep your feet dry.

One thing not to overlook on your walk is socks. If you are doing a long walk, or if you are wearing sturdy boots, then it may be helpful to wear a pair of liner socks underneath your usual socks for walking. This will add an extra layer to help reduce friction on your skin and also to help wick sweat away from your feet.

We’ve put a link to some handy advice on footwear here.

Footcare tips for walking

If you are doing a longer walk, or if you are in footwear that is new or that you haven’t walked a great distance in, then a pack of blister plasters, like Compeed for example, is a great thing to have with you. As soon as you feel the burning or stinging sensation that may signal the start of a blister, pop one of these on and it really helps to keep the skin happy.

Make sure your toenails are kept short and tidy, as pressure from footwear can add to the risk of bruising under the nail, or even trigger ingrown nails in some cases.

If you are planning a long-distance walk, it’s always worth making an appointment to see your Podiatrist in the run up, who will be able to manage toenails, and any skin issues, along with giving plenty of advice to help keep your feet happy on a walk.

We’ve put a link to some handy advice on foot care when walking here.

We’re always happy to help walkers, no matter what the month. So, if you think we can help you, you can book online here.