About
The 'Health Walks' project was set up by Dr William Bird, a GP in the Village of Sonning Common in Oxfordshire. The aim of the project is to improve people's fitness and well-being by encouraging them to use their local countryside for walking to achieve a greater level of fitness, both in body and mind. Together with Val Lunn, a local fitness instructor, Dr William Bird promoted the project which has now grown into a very successful scheme that has been adopted nationwide.

The project started nearly six years ago and the Walks have been running for eleven years. Over 500 walks a year have been organised with well over 800 local people having taken part at some time.

Information gathered from the walks is used by Oxford Brookes University School for Health Care Studies to evaluate the effect walking has on fitness levels. The Countryside Agency also promote Health Walks through their 'Walking The Way To Health' scheme which was launched nationwide in October 2000.

The walks cater for all types of people, young, old, fit and unfit. The walks are graded into three levels, A, B and C with A generally having hills and stiles etc. down to C which are generally flat without stiles etc.

Just because the project has 'health' in the title, don't be put off. Although these walks are designed to improve your fitness level, it doesn't mean that you have to walk fast. The only correct speed of walking is to walk "fast but without over-exertion". This could mean between 4 and 5 mph if you are young and fit or 2 mph if you are older and less fit. Both the younger and older person will be exerting themselves at the same rate despite the different speeds. It is the level of exertion that is important, not the speed. As you get fitter you will be able to walk faster at the same level of exertion.