Walking Festivals in England

The Bishop’s Castle Walking Festival is one of the hidden gems of Britain. The walking festival contains a wide variety of walks and is an excellent way as an introduction to the South Shropshire Hills and Borders with Wales. Offa’s Dyke path is included in a number of the walks which is only a few miles West of Bishop’s Castle. In the evening of the Friday and Saturday there is some splendid entertainment; check these out on our Evening Events page. The walking festival started in 2000 after a number of friends considered that Bishop’s Castle would benefit from a festival to introduce walkers and others to the area.

The National Walking month falls during May, and we think this is one of the best times of the year to be outdoors in the National Forest. From the drama of spring blossom, the heady scent of bluebells carpeting ancient woods, and the chance to see wildlife in abundance are all wonderful for the mind and soul.

The Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival takes place in and around the Lincolnshire Wolds, an Area of Outstanding Beauty. This nationally important and cherished landscape has so much to offer, so many great outdoor activities, things to do and places to explore and we want to celebrate it all!

From Hitchin in Hertfordshire to Goring in Oxfordshire, the Chilterns Walking Festival provides over 65 opportunities to enjoy beech woodlands, nature reserves, family walks and much more, all in the expert care of a knowledgeable guide

The Malvern Walking Festival offers a wide range of walks (over seventy in all) from multi-day and full-day walks to half-day jaunts. Themes include Elgar and music generally, farming, heritage, art and history, geology, nature, trees and gardens and breweries and beer. The walks are graded from gentle to strenuous, so participants will be able to select a walk that’s right for them.

Come and discover an often overlooked part of England. The Harborough district is an area of rolling countryside, ancient pastures and farmland, streams, woodland spinnies and beautiful villages. Canals, battles and buried treasure are all there to be explored – not to mention local characters and ancient customs.

Wotton is a charming country town, steeped in history, nestled in the southern Cotswold Hills, equidistant from Gloucester and Bristol, Cheltenham, Cirencester and Bath. Wotton forms part of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Cotswold Way National Trail runs through the town. There are several shops to browse in and places to stop for refreshments, plus events at our local cinema, Arts Centre and Heritage Centre.

Corsham Walking Festival features a variety of local walks and social events based in our historic North Wiltshire market town. This popular annual festival takes place in June and includes long walks, short walks and an amazing variety of themed walks for all ages. You will receive a warm welcome in our Walkers Are Welcome accredited town!

Stonehouse Walking Festival celebrates the wide range of scenic walks possible around the Stonehouse area, also showcasing some walks having added specialised interest. The Festival offers free, guided group walks, including: level field and woodland footpaths, gently rolling fields, scenic view, canal, river and rail trails, walks for restricted mobility, family fun walk, dusk nature walk, history walk, tree walks, picnics, pub and cafe stops.

Located in South Devon and comprising the towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, The English Riviera is a walker’s paradise. Its sheltered position, mild climate and numerous walking trails through verdant woodlands, along winding coastal paths and hidden tracks, provides the perfect destination for walkers of all abilities. Not only does the stunning South West Coastal Path meander along our coastline, The English Riviera also holds the accolade for being an UNESCO Geopark. There are 140 Geoparks in the World and ours is the only seaside resort with this status. With all this natural beauty on our doorstep, we are eager to share it with you. Our new Festival offers a broad range of walking tours that will entertain and inform in equal measures. The walks are hosted by experience...

The North Kesteven Walking Festival is a celebration of the countless walking opportunities available within the district. Hundreds of walkers tied their laces and joined in last year for almost 200 miles of walking. Walks will be scattered across North Kesteven’s 356 square miles of picturesque villages, medieval churches and thriving landscapes. With 94% of the district classified as green space you will explore rural towns full of history, arable land rich in wildlife and see why the area is favoured by many for exploration and outdoor adventures. A great place to walk together.

Herefordshire is fortunate to be surrounded by magnificent scenery - the Wye Valley AONB, The Offas Dyke, Malvern Hills AONB, Brecon Beacons National Park, Mortimer Forest and numerous Nature Reserves dotted all over the county. Nine days – over 50 walks and one beautiful county to explore...

Experts will be leading the way on dozens of guided events from wildlife walks to historic meanders, forest bathing to fungi spotting, bird watching to ranger rambles – highlighting the unique countryside, wildlife, culture and history of this internationally-important landscape. The New Forest Walking and Cycling Festival gives people the chance to explore new parts of the Forest, connect to nature and enjoy all the mental and physical benefits that being outdoors brings. It’s run in partnership with many local organisations including Forestry England, New Forest Association, New Forest Ramblers and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

The Otley Walking Festival has walks for all ages and abilities. They include short town centre walks, themed walks, gentle strolls and strenuous moorland hikes. Each day of the festival there is a choice of walks which take place from morning to nightfall. So whatever your walking ability and interests you will easily be able to find something to suit you.

White Cliffs Walking Festival aims to showcase the scenic delights, history and natural history of our area through a variety of walks suitable for all ages and abilities. Centred on the historic towns of Dover, Deal, Sandwich and Folkestone, this festival features walks ranging in length from 2 to 30 miles. Whatever your walking ability or interest, we offer walks that will tempt you to discover our beautiful coast and nearby countryside. Immerse yourself walking among Dover’s fascinating military fortifications or take in the delightful coastal views.

Kendal makes a superb base for those who enjoy walking. Surrounded by beautiful scenery it offers a wide variety of walking experiences. It’s a 5-minute drive into the Lake District National Park and 20 minutes from the Yorkshire Dales. In addition we have Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty just a few miles south of town. We really do have it all....Mountains, Lakes, Rivers, Valleys and the wide open vistas of Morecambe Bay!!

Our annual Walking Festival will be based in the Somerset village of Stratton-on- the-Fosse which straddles the Fosse Way This ancient Roman Road linked the cities of Lincoln and Exeter. The countryside in this area is varied, with opportunities for quite gentle strolls as well as challenging walks. This is a free festival, no booking required!

This exciting Dartmoor Walking Festival will encompass everything that is wonderful about people from all walks of life getting together and enjoying the enriching experience of being outdoors in the extraordinary beauty for Dartmoor National Park. To celebrate the official launch of the Dartmoor Way walking route, we are running a long weekend of guided walks starting from locations around Dartmoor that will follow sections of the route. Members from the various Ramblers & walking groups that are based around Dartmoor will be leading these. We are offering a variety of walk distances & terrains, which should suit a range of walking abilities, plus a family cycle ride The walks will explore open moorland & ancient wooded valleys with sparkling streams that tumble off the Moo...

The Gillingham Walking Festival usually held in September. Small and friendly walking festival with guided walks to explore the heritage & wildlife in town and countryside.

Walkfest runs throughout September. Walkfest is a series of organised walks designed to encourage people of all ages to get out and enjoy our wonderful town of Guildford and the surrounding countryside.

The annual Bathscape Walking Festival shows Bath as a fantastic walking destination and landscape city.

The Valleys, Views and Vineyards festival will have a full programme of walks in and around the town for all members of the family. The festival’s walks vary in length from 1 miles up to 11 miles.

Sheffield Walking Festival presents a whole host of enjoyable walks for a range of abilities, with plenty to see and discover along the way. The festival celebrates all sides of Sheffield with routes of varying lengths and themes. You can explore the city’s varied heritage and fascinating suburbs on urban strolls or venture out to Sheffield's dramatic borders that overlap with the stunning Peak District National Park for something more challenging.

We have chalk hills in the south, the picturesque wooded undulating area in the middle referred to as the Greensand Country and a mixture of woodland and the open space in the undulating” Wolds” of the north. Located in England’s driest region, our surprising county is a great place to explore on foot and so easy to get to by road, rail, air and water as many have already found. Combined with a great range of walks, led by knowledgeable and friendly leaders, it becomes easy to see how the festival has grown and grown. This year is of welcoming our fellow walkers to Bedfordshire, and whilst things may be a bit different from past years the one thing we can guarantee is nine days of wonderful walking in our surprising little county.

Whether a walker, cyclist, horse rider, nature lover or history enthusiast, the Walking East Yorkshire Festival showcases a plethora of activities over nine days which appeal to families, casual walkers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The festival shines a spotlight not only on the rolling landscape, curvy roads and stick trees, but also our rich heritage coastline with chalk cliffs and an abundance of wildlife. The flat plains of Holderness with its big skies make it ideal for cycling along quiet country roads, disused railway lines or even a jaunt to the tip of Spurn Point’s peninsula. Popular year-on-year events include history tours of our pretty market towns, long-distance treks, Nordic walking, canal boat rides, horse riding, wildlife experiences, seabird cruises, vineyard ...