Get active in Bucks with National Walking Month!

6 May 2022, 4:14 p.m.

National Walking Month takes place every May and is an excellent opportunity to get active and learn more about the local walks in Buckinghamshire. The aim of the month is to get everyone to walk more, even if it is only a short distance.

Adding a little more activity into a daily routine can have a huge impact on mental and physical wellbeing, the environment – and your wallet.

Choosing to walk a short journey instead of driving can benefit your overall health, reducing the risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and certain cancers. It's also a reliable, low-cost travel option that has significant advantages for the environment. By swapping your short daily drive to a brisk walk, you can reduce congestion, improve road safety, and lower pollution – meanwhile saving fuel. If walking all the way to work or school doesn’t seem possible, you can always use public transport, or park a short distance away and cover the last leg by foot. View our public rights of way map to access picturesque walking routes throughout Buckinghamshire.

To be more active, you can try to:

Leave the car at home at least once a week and walk instead.
Get on or off a stop later or earlier than usual, if taking a bus.
Take the stairs instead of lifts or escalators.
Encourage small children to walk short distances, trying to reduce the use of a buggy.
Take a walk during a lunch break or hold a walking meeting.

While lockdown helped to show us all the benefits of walking outside in nature – keeping us fit and aiding our mental health – it’s important to continue these habits even after all the restrictions have been lifted. Walking in the fresh air with family and friends can turn exercise into an enjoyable social occasion. While walking, we recommend keeping to footpaths and steering clear from long grass, to prevent tick bites.

Carl Jackson, Buckinghamshire Council's Deputy Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing (Public Health), said:

“We encourage everyone who is able to take part in National Walking Month to get outside and visit one of Buckinghamshire’s gorgeous nature walks and trails. As part of our Active Communities programme, we have launched a series of park walks in Aylesbury and Wycombe, which come in different shapes and sizes to encourage all residents to add a little more movement to their lives. Take a pet, a family member or a friend and get moving.”

You can find out about the location of these unique walks on Buckinghamshire Council's website. And for those who like to go on organised walks, visit the Council’s Simply Walk programme.