Active Lifestyles - Walking to Health
Walking to Health provides short, safe, sociable and free walks in East Hampshire.
The walks are generally one or two miles, and can be completed within an hour. All walks are led by trained Volunteer Walk Leaders who encourage and support anyone taking part.
All walkers are encouraged to walk at their own pace which helps to make these walks particularly suitable for those new to exercise or returning to exercise following an illness or an injury.
The National Scheme
Walking to Health is part of the national Walking the way to Health Initiative (WHI) which was set up in 2000 from a partnership between the British Heart Foundation and the Countryside Agency.
Its aim was to get more people walking in their own communities, especially those people who take little or no exercise. The WHI has now secured extra funding from the Big Lottery Fund and has helped to create over 350 local walking schemes, train over 14,000 volunteer walk leaders and has encouraged about one million people to walk more since its start in 2000.
Walking to Health in East Hampshire
The local Walking to Health scheme was set up in 2000 from a partnership between East Hampshire Primary Care Trust, the Forestry Commission, East Hampshire District Council and Havant Borough Council.
Walking to Health Training Opportunities
The local Walking to Health scheme relies on volunteers to go with walkers and encourage them on pre-planned routes.
All walk leaders have completed one day's free training provided by Terri Bryant, Active Lifestyles Coordinator (Rural). This means they are also covered by the WHI national insurance scheme.
Walking Opportunities across Hampshire
Hampshire County Council has its own dedicated walking pages which provide further information about walking oppportunities across the whole of Hampshire.
Hampshire County Council also provide interactive Rights of Way maps which allow you to identify local footpaths, bridleways and byways in Hampshire. A very useful tool when planning walks in your local area.