FESTIVALS ON FOOT Celebrate hiking and strolling, rambling and ambling, with the best British walking festivals of 2019.
WHAT IS A walking festival? Good question. In case you were wondering, they don’t involve street parades of Gore-Tex-clad ramblers. You won’t see revellers jostling to see Julia Bradbury strut around a main stage. And you don’t have to camp out or queue for chemical toilets.
With better scenery than Reading or Glastonbury, a walking festival can be an invigorating, thought-provoking and sociable way to see the countryside on foot. If you long to explore new parts of the country, but prefer the company of a like-minded group and a local guide, walking festivals are for you. Centred on a small town or spread out across an entire county, they revolve around guided and self-guided walks. You don’t have to travel far to join in, as many encourage locals to get out and walking on their doorstep.
Kicking off from early spring through to late autumn, festivals take place across Britain: from the Scilly Isles to the Scottish Highlands. Walks can vary from easy, family-friendly rambles to long-distance challenges over several days. If nature or local history pique your curiosity, you could sign up for themed walks with expert guides. Festival courses cover skills ranging from foraging to navigation and Nordic walking.
Walks are often free, but you may have to register in advance. Some festivals charge fees to cover transport and extra costs. Post-walk, evening events can include live music, talks and pub socials.
Here are just a few of the best festivals taking place in 2019.