Walk On is a walking group for adults run by volunteers on behalf of LivingGrief, the bereavement service at St Elizabeth Hospice.
Open to all bereaved people, even if you haven’t accessed hospice services before, the Walk On group explores local places and the countryside to boost wellbeing and mental health.
We are offering walks in Ipswich & East Suffolk and also in Great Yarmouth and Waveney. Click the buttons below for your chosen location.
Led and created by husband and wife volunteers, Dennis & Sarah, Walk On started in 2021. Together with a team of volunteer walk leaders, Walk On now offers an extensive range of walks.
Open to all bereaved people, Walk On offers walks which are typically between two and eight miles in length, that explore local places and the countryside of Suffolk. The walks include a stop at a café.
Research shows that engaging with others who are experiencing similar bereavement can prompt meaningful conversations that foster a sense of shared understanding. These can help to ease feelings of isolation and support emotional recovery. Talking to others who are going through similar experiences of bereavement can be enormously beneficial.
Additionally, spending time in natural surroundings can enhance emotional wellbeing and the restorative qualities of walking in nature offer a tranquil environment conducive to reflection and renewal.
A real highlight is the coffee and cake at the end of every walk! Walk On has been a great comfort to me. It has helped me a great deal and I would really recommend the group to anyone, as it is a positive impact on both your mental and physical health.
We really do talk about everything, have laugh as a group, a chinwag and put the world to rights. The coffee and cake at the end of each walk is a real highlight too.
Walk On is such a lovely crowd of people, open to all, with an ethos of helping one another and we always enjoy welcoming new people who join.
Walk On is a really nice, informal and relaxed setting. There really is something wonderful about walking and talking in the outdoors and I have found it quite therapeutic, talking freely with others in a safe space, who understand how you feel.
The coffee at the end of the walk is a great chance for a chat with people who truly understand what you’re going through, creating a nice atmosphere where you can talk things through – it’s very reassuring.
The walk and exercise are great, but the coffee and conversation at the end are invaluable. I would thoroughly recommend Walk On to anyone.
Please note, information can be subject to change.
If this is your first walk, please register via the form below & chat with Dennis or Sarah.
Please wear appropriate clothing and suitable footwear, as some of the walks can be on rough/slippery ground. Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome.
During warmer weather, walkers are encouraged to bring a bottle of water.
For any queries on the walks or if you are lost, please call 07731 997683.
Please meet at Suffolk Food Hall (IP9 2AB) for an easy circular walk of three miles. Coffee at Sarah’s Coffee Shop.
Please meet to start walking at 10:15am. Approximate finish 12:30pm.
what3words meeting point: bravery.corrosive.indulges
Please meet at Suffolk Food Hall (IP9 2AB) for a moderately demanding circular walk of five miles. Coffee at Sarah’s Coffee Shop.
Please note that sturdy walking shoes are needed for this walk as it includes a steep, uneven section on wet and soft ground. Training shoes are not adequate footwear for this walk.
Please meet to start walking at 10am. Approximate finish 1pm.
what3words meeting point: bravery.corrosive.indulges
Please meet at Lemon Bridge North Car Park (IP9 2NH) for a demanding eight-mile circular walk around Alton Water, with coffee, after five miles, at the Alton Water Visitors’ Centre.
Please meet to start walking at 10am. Approximate finish 1:30pm.
Please note there are no toilets at the start of this walk.
what3words meeting point: winemaker.remix.caskets
Please meet at The Hold (IP4 1LN) for an easy walk of about two and a half miles into Holywells Park and back. Coffee at the halfway point at Bishops Café.
Please meet to start walking at 10:30am. Approximate finish 12:30pm.
what3words meeting point: mice.design.hoping
Please meet at Stutton Community Hall (IP9 2TA) for a moderately demanding six-mile circular walk with coffee either en-route at Alton Water Visitors’ Centre Café or at the end of the walk at The Stutton Community Shop.
Please meet to start walking at 10am. Approximate finish 1:30pm.
what3words meeting point: hologram.revisits.today
Please meet at The Hold (IP4 1LN) for an easy walk of about two and a half miles into Holywells Park and back. Coffee at the halfway point at Bishops Café.
Please meet to start walking at 10:30am. Approximate finish 12:30pm.
what3words meeting point: mice.design.hoping
Please meet on the footpath opposite The Scallop at Aldeburgh Beach (IP15 5BH) for a moderately demanding five-mile circular walk via Thorpeness. Coffee en-route at The Kitchen or at The Meare Shop and Tearooms, Thorpeness.
Please meet to start walking at 10am. Approximate finish 1pm.
Please note there are no toilets at the start of the walk.
what3words meeting point: darkest.bonfires.skinny
Please meet at the Riverside Car Park, Melton (IP12 3DH) for a moderately demanding walk of five miles along the River Deben to Woodbridge and back. Tea, coffee and sausage rolls (£5 – cash please) at the halfway point at The Bull, before walking back to the Riverside Car Park.
Please meet to start walking at 10am. Approximate finish 1pm.
what3words meeting point: meatball.bind.yappy
Please meet at Grove Car Park, Felixstowe (IP11 9GA), opposite the medical centre, for a demanding seven mile walk to Felixstowe Ferry and then back along the coast path. Coffee en-route at the Ferry Café. Total distance seven miles.
Please meet to start at walking at 10am. Approximate finish 1:30pm.
Please note there are no toilets at the start of the walk.
what3words meeting point: tight.bugs.hero
Please meet at The Hold (IP4 1LN) for an easy walk of about two and a half miles into Holywells Park and back. Coffee at the halfway point at Bishops Café.
Please meet to start walking at 10:30am. Approximate finish 12:30pm.
what3words meeting point: mice.design.hoping
Please meet at The Constable Memorial Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt (CO7 6TP) for a six mile moderately demanding walk which concludes back at the hall. Coffee en-route at either Flatford Mill National Trust Tea Room or at Dedham.
Please meet to start walking at 10am. Approximate finish 1:15pm.
Please note there are no toilets at the start of this walk.
what3words meeting point: cheater.went.detonated
Please meet at the Golf Road Car Park (IP11 7NB) for an easy three mile walk along the seafront to the Gulliver’s Wife café for coffee, before re-tracing the route back to the start.
Please meet to start at walking at 10:30am. Approximate finish 12:30pm.
what3words meeting point: reader.emerge.twigs
Please meet at The Hold (IP4 1LN) for an easy walk of about two and a half miles into Holywells Park and back. Coffee at the halfway point at Bishops Café.
Please meet to start walking at 10:30am. Approximate finish 12:30pm.
what3words meeting point: mice.design.hoping
Please meet at Martlesham Community Hall (IP12 4PB) for a demanding eight mile walk to and from Woodbridge, with coffee halfway at The Tea Hut or Notcutts.
Please meet to start walking at 10am. Approximate finish 2pm.
what3words meeting point: fights.accordion.wardrobe
Please meet at the Ufford Hotel Woodbridge (IP12 4AG) for an easy circular walk of two miles. Refreshment afterwards at Ufford Hotel.
Please meet to start walking at 5:30pm. Approximate finish 8pm.
what3words meeting point: streaking.headstone.organs
Please meet at Needham Lakes (IP6 8NU) for a moderately demanding walk of about four miles. Coffee en-route at Alder Carr Farm Shop.
Please meet to start walking at 10:15am. Approximate finish 12:30pm.
The café can accommodate 20 people. Please let Sarah/Dennis (07731997683) know if you are coming by Friday June 19 so that numbers attending can be monitored. Thank you.
what3words meeting point: play.behalf.humidity
Sandlings Walk stage 2 (Woodbridge to Tangham). This is a demanding walk of over nine miles which starts at The Tide Mill, Woodbridge (IP12 1BY). There are toilets close to the start and at the end.
Refreshments should be an option at the finish, but please bring water and a snack.
Walking will start at 09:30am. Likely finish time is approximately 2pm.
Those intending to walk are asked to direct message or phone Sarah or Dennis on 07731997683 by June 20, so that transport arrangements can be made to ensure cars are available to drive people back to the start.
Please note this is a demanding walk for which a high level of fitness is essential.
Please meet at The Hold (IP4 1LN) for an easy walk of about two and a half miles into Holywells Park and back. Coffee at the halfway point at Bishops Café.
Please meet to start walking at 10:30am. Approximate finish 12:30pm.
what3words meeting point: mice.design.hoping
Please meet at Sutton Hoo (IP12 3DJ) for an easy walk of three miles in the grounds of Sutton Hoo. Coffee at the end of the walk in the National Trust café.
Although on National Trust grounds, there is no charge for this walk and there is the opportunity of exploring the Sutton Hoo site after the walk. Dogs must be kept on a short lead at all times on this walk, thank you.
Please meet to start walking at 10:15am. Approximate finish 12:30pm.
Please meet at Lemon Bridge North Car Park (IP9 2NH) for a demanding eight-mile circular walk around Alton Water, with coffee after five miles at the Alton Water Visitors’ Centre.
Please meet to start walking at 10am. Approximate finish 1:30pm.
Please note there are no toilets at the start of this walk.
what3words meeting point: winemaker.remix.caskets
Please meet at The Hold (IP4 1LN) for an easy walk of about two and a half miles into Holywells Park and back. Coffee at the halfway point at Bishops Café.
Please meet to start walking at 10:30am. Approximate finish 12:30pm.
what3words meeting point: mice.design.hoping
Walks do not need to be booked in advance, but those new to Walk On are asked to register before attending their first walk.
Simply fill in the form & chat with Dennis or Sarah on the phone so we know to expect you on: 07731 997683
We appreciate that people with mobility issues may like to access Walk On for connection and emotional support. Unfortunately, as this is a walking group, we do require that attendees of the walks can participate in the walks. If you require emotional and wellbeing support but are not able to actively attend these walking groups, please refer to the local group support page of our LivingGrief Hub for information on alternative support groups you may benefit from in your community.
No, the walks are free, but for some locations there is a charge for car parking, and you will need to purchase your own food and drink at the café stop.
No. Unless it is your first walk, you do not need to let us know if you are coming on a walk; just arrive at the starting point at the appropriate time.
However, if you are coming on your first walk, we ask that you phone Dennis or Sarah in advance so that our volunteer leader can look out for you. Tel: 07731997683
If you have phoned us in advance, we should have told you the name of the volunteer leaders for your first walk.
When you arrive at the starting point for your first walk, look out for our volunteer leaders who will be wearing yellow Hi-Viz tabards that have the hospice logo printed on the back.
If there is a late change to a walk, for example a traffic problem that affects walkers reaching the start point on time, we will send out a WhatsApp message to the Walk On WhatsApp walkers group.
We will also endeavour to text or phone those who don’t use WhatsApp, but this cannot be guaranteed.
We encourage all our walkers to join our Walk On WhatsApp group.
Yes, but, unless you choose to use taxis, not all walks will be available to you.
The start and end point of some walks can be accessed by public transport. Below are some examples, but please check with bus and train websites for up-to-date timetables:
You will read on the Walk On website that our walks start in a wide variety of locations, please check bus and train timetables for other options.
No, if it is raining and, walkers have appropriate boots and jackets, we will walk.
Yes, if walking would be dangerous, for example, flooding, snow or high winds.
If a walk is cancelled, we will:
If in doubt phone 07731997683.
If it is safe to do so, please message or phone us 07731997683 and we will advise you.
If it is safe to do so, please message or phone us 07731997683 and we will advise you.
Walk On is not open to the general public.
Walk On is a walking group for adults who are grieving following the death of a partner, parent, grandparent, sibling, child or close friend.
We do understand that, when you are grieving, coming to your first walk can be daunting. Therefore, if you feel you need to bring a friend to support you on your first walk, please call Sarah or Dennis, in advance, on 07731997683. We can then discuss options with you, depending on your circumstances. Thank you.
No, Walk On is an adult (over 18 years-old) only walking group.
Children are welcome at the Family Walks organised by St Elizabeth Hospice Living Grief 565 service in collaboration with Walk On volunteers. These will be advertised on the Walk On page of the hospice website.
Yes, well behaved dogs are welcome, but please note that not all cafes allow dogs inside.
If the café stop is at the end of the walk, you could leave your dog in your car or have your coffee outside.
If the café stop is at the half-way point, and does not allow dogs inside, you will need to have your coffee outside, but don’t worry others will happily join you!
Try not to worry, our Walk On leaders and the members of our group are used to participants becoming emotional. The group was established to provide support for those experiencing the pain of grief and loss following the death of a loved one.
You won’t be the first walker to become emotional and you won’t be the last.
Except for the Monday morning walks from The Hub, we would advise you to wear comfortable walking shoes or boots. We will advise you if the terrain is likely to be uneven and/or muddy; some of our walkers find walking poles helpful.
We appreciate that people with mobility issues may like to access Walk On for connection and emotional support. Unfortunately, as this is a walking group, we do require that attendees of the walks can participate in the walks. If you require emotional and wellbeing support but are not able to actively attend these walking groups, please refer to the local group support page of our LivingGrief Hub for information on alternative support groups you may benefit from in your community.
For any other questions, please contact our volunteer Walk On leaders Dennis and Sarah 07731997683
Subscribe to email newsletters or our printed bi-annual newsletter for the latest fundraising, events, retail, volunteering and news from St Elizabeth Hospice services.
