One in four (24%) Brits would go on a walking date as a first date, new research1 from Nationwide reveals. And while most people wouldn’t brave going for a romantic stroll on their first date, an additional 14 per cent would do so further down the line.
But the poll of 2,000 people also reveals the biggest turnoffs (icks) on a walking date – from people checking their phones, walking ahead of their potential match, bad dress sense and even wind (not the weather!).
Walking dates are hotly debated as a ‘marmite’ way to spend a date (www.tiktok.com/tag/walkingdates). Despite this, 13 per cent of those who have been wooed on a walk say it was their best date ever.
Nationwide commissioned the research into walking dates to mark The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity’s annual Walk 50k challenge throughout September, with people striding out and raising funds. As of 4pm Friday, 2,565 people had participated in the charity effort, raising £119,494 and walking a total of 19,140 kilometres.
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity is one of four charities that partner with Nationwide's Fairer Futures. The UK’s largest building society is working to support those who have been dealt an unfair hand by tackling some of societies biggest issues.
Part of the attraction of a walking date is undoubtedly the price. While the average date comes in at £56.76, according to the research, a walking date is just £12 on average1 – around a fifth of the cost. In fact, one in five (22%) say they like walking dates specifically because they are cheaper.
The top reasons why someone would go on a walking date are: it's relaxed and low-pressure (55%), it's healthier (38%) - (walking burns off around 200-300 calories per hour), a way of seeing how your date interacts with the world (34%), environmentally friendly nature (28%) and It's a chance to hold hands and be tactile (27%).
The BIG ‘ick’: The survey reveals the top ten walking date turnoffs are:
- Checks phone constantly (41%)
- Flatulence (25%)
- Walks three steps ahead (21%) – a bigger ick for women at 26% vs men at 16%
- Sweats excessively (21%)
- Talks too loud (20%)
- Walks too fast or too slow (16%)
- Bad dress sense (12%)
- Doesn't plan anything (11%)
- Tries to hold hands too soon (10%)
- Weird walking style / bad shoes (8%)
Meanwhile, the top green flags include good manners (30%), walking at your pace (25%), a good laugh (24%), smelling amazing (18%) and undivided attention (also 18%).
- Walking and falling head over heels: among 25–34-year-olds, walking dates are proving surprisingly romantic: 83 per cent say they’ve caught feelings mid-stroll, with 28 per cent falling for someone instantly.
- It’s all about the footwear: trainers top the list (62%) of preferred footwear on a walking date, while 25 per cent opt for walking boots. While 10 per cent would opt for Crocs as the choice of footwear, this rises to nearly a fifth (19%) for those aged 25–34. Seven per cent would wear high heels and wellies.
- Top walking dates: Tom Hardy (12%), Ed Sheeran (11%) and Adele (11%) top the list of walking dates. For, those aged 16-24, it was Tom Holland (actor – Spiderman) (18%). When looking at men versus women, Tom Hardy was the firm favourite (17%) and for men it was Emma Watson (15%).
- Top three walking date locations: when it comes to where to walk a beach promenade (34%) was the preferred option followed closely by a local park or nature trail (34%) and then along a river or canal (32%). According to Ordnance Survey, the top 20 romantic walks in the UK include Arthur’s Seat Walk in Edinburgh, Snowdon Summit Walk in Wales and Chesil beach in Dorset (see full list in Notes to Editor2).
Antonia Dalmahoy, Managing Director at The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Nationwide Building Society and everyone taking part in the Walk 50K challenge to raise vital funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Their generous support will help fund life-saving research at The Royal Marsden, to develop more effective, personalised treatments for the benefit of people with cancer globally. We wish everyone taking on the challenge the very best of luck.”
Charlotte Kensett, Customer Experience and Social Impact Director at Nationwide, said: “Walking has a wonderful way of bringing people together and through Nationwide Fairer Futures we’re delighted to be supporting The Royal Marsden Cancer charity walk 50k challenge. This month we have seen colleagues up and down the country taking part to help save and improve the lives of cancer patients across the UK and around the world.”
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