Five spring walking festivals
If it feels like the winter will never end, it’s good to have something to look forward to in the early spring. There are a good spread of festivals around the country coming up over the next few months and we thought we’d do a quick round up of five spring walking events to give you some inspiration for your next trip – or maybe even a staycation?
Celebrating 10 years of festival and their 21st walking festival, the Haltwhistle Walking Festival runs from 27 April to 6 May. With 29 walks to choose from, rated from easy to strenuous plus, there should be something for everyone. Walks do need to be booked in advance, costs vary from walk to walk and spaces are limited, so do check the website in advance.
Running over the same time frame (27 April-6 May), the North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival kicks off in Ilfracombe. moving on to Lynton and then Porlock before ending in Dunster. This festival has 41 guided walks to choose from, starting each area with a ‘Welcome Evening’ in a local pub to meet the guides. The website helpfully sorts the walks into date, distance, whether they are dog-friendly, circular and so on – so have a look!
If you’re looking for a bit more than a walk, the Peak District Walking Festival could be a good match for you. Running from 26 April to 12 May there are more than 100 events and walks on a wide range of themes – as well as the chance to learn basic caving and bushcraft skills. Find a walk that suits you, from a five-mile charity fundraiser to three days of hiking in the wonderful Peak District landscapes.
Heading south again, the Isle of Wight Walking Festival runs from 4-19 May. There are a huge range of walks in their programme from fossil-hunting walks to visiting abandoned towns. Visit their website to request a programme and get involved.
Lastly, and heading to Scotland, we have the Newton Stewart Walking Festival. Taking place from 10-16 May there are 29 walking routes catering for people of all abilities. It’s the largest festival in southern Scotland covering hills, coast and woodland walks.
Leisure
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Themocracy
One that I’m looking forward to is the Sarsens trail (May 5th) going from Stonehenge to Avebury. 26 miles of walking – this should be fun! I better get in shape!
Jamie