Best foot forward in Walking Festival

Co-ordinated for Herts County Council by the Countryside Management Service( CMS), the Walking Festival builds on the success of the Hertfordshire Year of Walking.

During May, CMS are offering more than 70 walks, led by knowledgeable leaders, friendly volunteers and other organisations.

The walk leaders have gone the extra mile to create some great walks with lots of informationto share. From short walks for those who want a gentler stroll to hikes for those who really want to stretch their legs, there’s something for everyone.

Details of all the walks, graded from 1 to 4 (Easy to Challenging), can be found in a listings booklet at www.hertsdirect.org/walkingfestival

Walks in Dacorum include a Level 1 evening photographic walk in Hemel Hempstead Old Town and Gadebridge Park, with experienced photographers on hand for support and guidance.

For more advanced walkers, there’s a Level 4 10-mile walk to discover the upper reaches of the River Gade and explore its sweeping valley with some fine views of the Chiltern landscape.

On May 16, there will be a Mass Health Walk, with more than 15 Health Walks taking place across the county between 9am and 1pm.

Regular Monday Health Walks will go ahead as usual, and some walk leaders have organised extra one-off Health Walks to help get more feet on the ground.

The schedule for the Mass Health Walk is available at www.hertfordshirehealthwalks.org