The Greater Cambridge Partnership is supporting National Walking Month by highlighting how its new transport projects are helping people’s walking journeys.

May is National Walking Month, a Living Streets campaign which encourages communities to get active and take a walk in their area. This year, the theme centres on the #MagicOfWalking: discovering the many physical and mental wellbeing benefits of walking or wheeling.

The GCP is looking to encourage more people to walk, wheel and cycle around the region, making Greater Cambridge a more attractive and sustainable place to live, work and study. The GCP is working on improving infrastructure across the Greater Cambridge area by delivering more accessible walking and cycling routes.

People have been sharing their experiences of walking along the GCP’s flagship Chisholm Trail route – which provides a direct link over the River Cam from Cambridge North to Coldham’s Common.

A resident in the GCP's Chisholm Trail video said:

“The scenery is nice, nice wide paths so cyclists and walkers can all share the same space, and it keeps us all off the main roads. It gives some alternative routes where we can walk and travel around Cambridge, get some exercise and enjoy ourselves”.

Another resident, who uses the trail regularly, said:

“I could always get along by the river but it’s much better now the bridge has been built. Now there’s different options for getting around, it’s really nice. I also use it… for walking our dogs and stuff at weekends so that’s all really good”.

The Chisholm Trail, which opened in 2021, is just one of a number of active travel projects the GCP is delivering to enable more people to walk, wheel and cycle.

The award-winning Histon Road project was also opened in 2021 to provide better walking, cycling and bus journeys along a key route in and out of the city.

The GCP is currently on-site at Milton Road to create better footpaths for walkers. The southern section of the road, near Mitcham’s Corner, is already showing how the smoother path will enhance walking in a busy area.

The Greenways is a network of 12 new walking, cycling and – where appropriate – equestrian links to connect surrounding towns and villages to Cambridge and key employment sites.

The GCP is now working on the Horningsea Greenway, resurfacing the path all the way from Horningsea to Fen Ditton to create a shared-use path that is a wider, safer, and smoother surface for anyone to walk, wheel or cycle.

Cllr Elisa Meschini, Chair of the GCP’s Executive Board, said:

"The Chisholm Trail and Histon Road are on my doorstep and have truly transformed my daily commute and that of so many residents in my division. It is great to see these schemes used by so many people, especially in some of the most deprived areas of our region.

“Walking has many benefits, and so we want to make it as safe, easy, and quick as possible to encourage more people to get out of their cars and travel more sustainably. That’s why we are putting in place new infrastructure and safety measures to help more people travel to school, college, and work on foot.”

Whether it’s horse riding, wheeling, a casual bike ride or serious power walking, getting out and about increases mental wellbeing by reducing isolation and loneliness. Swapping a drive for fresh air boosts physical health, all whilst decreasing pollution.

National Walking Month is a Living Streets campaign which encourages communities to get active and take a walk in their local area.

For more information about the GCP’s transport schemes visit www.greatercambridge.org.uk