Wellbeing walks rolled out at Cornish National Trust site

The walks have been rolled out elsewhere in Cornwall after success at Penrose

A series of "social" walks has been rolled out at a Cornish National Trust site to improve wellbeing.

The National Trust said the walks were led by trained volunteers and offered the opportunity to connect with nature and spend time in different landscapes.

All the walks at Penrose, near Helston, are free of charge, the National Trust said.

It said the walks took place about every two weeks and vary in their start location, day and time.

Lydia Allt, volunteer and community officer at the trust, said: "We know walking is just as important for our mental as well as physical health, and we want to remove the barriers which prevent people from walking in the outdoors, whether that's due to lack of confidence, not knowing anybody to walk with, or simply not feeling fit enough.

"May is National Walking Month and we'd love people to see this as the opportunity to join us for their first social walk."

The National Trust said it welcomed more people to join the walks

Robert Andrews, volunteer walk leader at Penrose, said anyone who wanted to take part in the walks would be made to feel "welcome and respected".

He said: "We'd love to see more people join us and enjoy the countryside here at Penrose.

"We offer these walks all year round and whether somebody has walked here before or not, we'll make everybody feel welcome and respected, no matter their experience."

On top of the social walk series at Penrose, the volunteer team is now planning the roll out a series of walks across the Lizard, including spring wildflower walks starting at Poldhu, chough and wildlife walks at Lizard Point, and countryside walks starting at National Trust Teneriffe Farm campsite, near Mullion.