Keep fit and meet new people while walking

Chichester District Council’s Heartsmart walks are available to book a week in advance at chichester.gov.uk/ heartsmart and include:

•Tomorrow (March 31), 10.30am: Stoughton Down. A five-and-a-half-mile hilly walk with great views but can be muddy and slippery in places. No dogs. Not for beginners. Meet: Stoughton Down car park.

•Monday (April 3), 10.30am: Chichester Canal. A one-mile flat walk at a gentle pace. Meet: Chichester Canal, Basin Road.

•Monday (April 3), 2pm: East Dean. A gorgeous, but up-hill, more than six-anda-half-mile walk through farmland and forest up to the

South Down Way with stunning scenery. No dogs. Meet: All Saints Church, East Dean.

•Tuesday (April 4), 11am: Midhurst Jubilee Walk and South Pond. Various flat walks around Midhurst at a gentle pace passing interesting historic buildings along the way. Meet: The Grange Leisure Centre, Bepton Road.

•Wednesday (April 5), 10.30am: Stansted Forest and Rowlands Castle. A six-anda-half-mile more strenuous walk using footpaths that criss-cross through woodland and grass meadows, with some fine views. Muddy stretches during winter months. No stiles. Meet: Stansted House car park.

•Thursday (April 6), 10.30am: Plaistow. A more than four-mile walk starting from Plaistow, along a quiet country lane before crossing fields with grazing sheep, walking through woodland, and finishing at the village stores. No dogs due to livestock. Meet: On East side of village green opposite shop.

•Thursday (April 6), 10.30am: Thorney Island with Nutbourne Option. A flat longer walk around Thorney Island with two options – an island walk of seven-and-ahalf miles or a longer ten-mile walk to Nutbourne, returning by bus. Bring lunch and a drink and if you think you may return by bus, a bus pass or money. No dogs. Meet: The junction of Thorney Road and Thornham Lane by the sewage works.