Latest walking data reveals the number of people walking in Britain drops by a quarter in winter - Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey (OS) is using National GetOutside Day to try and shift the downward trend by encouraging more people to go outside all year round.
OS has announced its latest walking statistics taken from its popular navigation app OS Maps.
The figures show:
- Between April and September 2024 walkers, cyclists and joggers created 1,696,200 walking routes around Great Britain.
- Across the winter months of October 2024 to March 2025 the number dropped to 1,310,885 routes.
- And between the summer months of 2025 – 1 April up until 17 September – 1,633,258 routes were created in OS Maps app.
Overall, there was a 23% decrease in routes over the winter months compared to summer.
With National GetOutside Day fast approaching on Sunday, 28 September, OS is using the event as a starting gun to tackle this drop off. It is encouraging the nation to be outdoors just as much in autumn and winter as they are in spring and summer.
OS’s Managing Director for Leisure, Nick Giles OBE, said: “Britain is a nation of outdoor lovers. We see that every spring and summer when the sun comes out and the temperature rises. Of course, when the seasons change, and the days get shorter and it’s wetter and colder, it’s very tempting for people to stay in the warm and dry. But you miss out on some fantastic experiences and adventures by neglecting time spent outdoors in winter. You don’t have to be outside long. You don’t have to make it to that trig pillar on the top of a hill if the weather starts to change. You can always turn back halfway through. Just spending some time in the open air each day will benefit your physical and mental health enormously, no matter what time of year it is.”