Autumn festival will boost success of Glens walking

Following the success of the Angus Glens Walking Festival each year Angus Council are proposing a similar event to begin this autumn.

A survey of participants at last year’s Angus Glens Walking Festival showed that 86 per cent would be interested in a similar event in the autumn.

Eric Lowson, director of infrastructure services, said: «It is proposed that a new two day outdoors festival be developed which will offer, not only walking as an activity, but also taster sessions of other activities such as mountain biking, canoeing or horse riding. This will be branded as an extension of the Angus Glens Walking Festival allowing this new activity to capitalise on the success of the current walking festival, targeting those who already visit Angus in spring to return again in the autumn»

 

He continued: “It is proposed that the new festival, Angus Autumn Adventures, will take place on September 1 and 2, working with the Outdoor Angus Industry Group and other activity providers in Angus. This has the aim of attracting visitors to the area at a traditionally quieter time of year and will showcase our year-round tourism products.»

Meanwhile, the local authority is proposing to underwrite the spring festival up to a maximum of £4,500 for 2012.

The festival has grown each year since it was introduced in 2003.

Mr Lowson said: «In 2011, the Festival increased the number of available walks from 24 to 28 to encourage people to participate in more walks, to stay longer in the area and to experience the great outdoors in Angus. 2011 was the first year the festival offered ‘All Abilities’ graded walks on each day allowing inexperienced walkers to participate, thus encouraging people to take up walking as a hobby. During the festival, three evening events are organised with the introduction of two new events; a quiz night and a Taste of Angus evening while keeping the traditional Ceilidh on Saturday night.»

«These events are aimed at encouraging people to stay longer in Angus, experience local food and drink and to offer a unique entertainment programme to attract visitors to Angus. In 2009, online booking was introduced to bring in-house the booking and purchasing procedure as this had traditionally been carried out by VisitScotland. In 2010, online purchasing was established so customers can book and pay for their walks and evening events in an efficient and customer friendly manner.»

Source: Kirriemuir Herald - 6th March 2012

Official Website: http://www.angusahead.com/walkingfestival/

See More: http://walkingfestivals.blogspot.com/2011/01/angus-glens-walking-festival.html

Angus Glens Walking Festival

The Highly successful Angus Glens Walking Festival has launched its online booking service for the 2012 event.

Celebrating its 10th year, the four-day walking festival offers a packed programme of 28 walks as well as three evenings of top food, music and entertainment.

The festival runs from Thursday, May 31, to Sunday, June 3, and there is a wide choice of walks to suit walkers of all levels of fitness and ability. Places are limited so you are advised to book early.

 

Tom McGrath, chairman of the Festival, said: “I believe The Angus Glens Walking Festival has grown over the years because of the fantastic range of walks we offer. Some of our walks, such as Jock’s Road and Airlie Ridge are very popular and appear in the programme every year. However, we always like to introduce new walks. This year one of our new walks, Eagle Watch, gives you a chance to see breeding golden eagles as they search for prey for their young, an excellent opportunity to see these majestic birds in their natural environment.”

The programme of evening events is also very popular. On the Thursday there is a talk on the wildlife of the Galapagos Islands by an Angus Countryside Ranger, followed by supper.

The Taste of Angus event returns on Friday, giving walkers the chance to sample the best in local food and entertainment. And on Saturday the ever-popular ceilidh supper gives participants the opportunity to dance the night away.

Source: Guide Gazette - 22th January 2012

Official Website: http://www.angusahead.com/walkingfestival/

See More: http://walkingfestivals.blogspot.com/2011/01/angus-glens-walking-festival.html

Best foot forward for winter walking festival - Festival of Winter Walks - The Ramblers

Britains biggest walking festivalstarts on Christmas Eve - and Loughborough Ramblers are taking part inthe nationwide Festival of Winter Walks.

As part of the 10 days of free,festive, fun-filled walks, Loughborough Ramblers is inviting locals toput their best foot forward and join in local walks.

On December 26 the group will meet at 10am at The Plough Inn in Ratby fora five mile walk, and again at 1.30pm for a four mile walk - or combinethe two for a rousing nine mile walk.

The non December 28 rambling residents can meet at Kegworth Market Place at10.30am for a five mile walk or at 1.30pm for a four mile walk, whichagain can be combined. And on January 1, residents will meet at Quorn village centre Car Park at11am for six mile walk, which includes a glass of mulled wine.

Spokesman Steve Archer said: All the walks are free and open for everyone to attend.

Formore information visit loughboroughramblers.org.uk or ring Steve on 07854 488125.

Source: Longhborough Echo - 22nd December 2011 

Official Website: http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/events/Festivals/winterwalks

See More: http://walkingfestivals.blogspot.com/2011/01/festival-of-winter-walks-ramblers.html

Torridon Winter Walking Festival

TORRIDON WINTER WALKING FESTIVAL

Periodicity: annual

Location: Torridon, Applecross,  Highlands, Scotland, UK

Time of the year: March

Duration: 3 days

Number of Walks: 8 walks

1st edition:  2012

2011 edition: 3rd - 5th March 2012
2011 edition programme: http://www.thetorridon.com/activities/Festprogramme   
3rd March  
Beinn Eighe
Hour: 8am
This amazing mountain offers some of the best winter walking anywhere in Scotland and is rightly our first mountain of the festival.  This is not only a trip onto a stunning snowy mountain but it is also a trip into the winter wilderness that is the west coast of Scotland as part of the day will see you in Coire Mhic Fhearchair with the famous iced over triple buttress and uninterrupted views out towards Wester Ross.
    

Winter Skills Day
Hour: 8.30am
This day will cover all the essentials for winter mountaineering including ice axe arrest, walking in crampons and avalanche awareness.  We will spend a stunning day in the Torridon wilderness with possibly the most amazing classroom to be working in with fully qualified Winter Mountain leaders as your teachers.   

Circum navigation of Beinn na h-Eaglaise   
 Hour: 8.30am  
For those who do not fancy the rigours of a day on a wintery mountain we have an amazing circular walk planned for this day.  This walk will see you head out into the Torridon hills giving you the opportunity to explore this winter wonderland without having to get up high.  You will spend your day walking through frozen glens and past frozen lochins with all this being achieved without the winter commitment of a hill climb.
    

3rd to 4th  March

Snow Hole Expedition
 Hour: 8.30am  

For those who are looking for the ultimate adventure in the hills then look no further. Our snow hole expedition will take you into Scotland’s magnificent wilderness where you will spend a night sleeping in a snow hole, waking up to hot chocolate and Scotland laid out before you.  We only work with small groups and as such we will be keeping the group number down to four per guide on this trip

4th  March 

 A days Ice Climbing
 Hour: 7.00am      
For those who a day on the mountain simply isn’t enough we are offering a very unique opportunity to try your hand at ice climbing.  Torridon is blessed with some of the most spectacular corries and unlike many areas in Scotland that get filled with climbers our corries are always remote and stunning.  This is a unique adventure and challenge and as such those who chose to go for this have to have a sound experience of winter mountaineering and a good level of fitness.  The groups will be kept to two per guide and you will be guided by the highest qualified mountaineering guide the UK can award, MIC.  If you are looking for a challenge of a lifetime in the most amazing setting then this is the day for you.

Liathach
  Hour: 8.00am  
This mighty hill is worthy of the respect of any mountaineer and in winter it is truly one for the big tick books or those looking for a mighty tale to tell in the pub.  Our route will see you traversing the entire ridge and collecting both Munros, this will be a full day of ice axes and crampons offering one of the ultimate winter adventures that Scotland has to offer.

Into Coire Mhic Fhearchair
 Hour: 8.30am 
Coire Mhic Fhearchair is iconic amongst the mountaineering world for its amazing triple buttress, isolated lochin and un broken views of the West coast of Scotland.  Standing at just over 600m this coire is bathed in winter and as such the whole area freezes over and becomes a frozen amphitheatre.
Your walk will see travelling into this amazing location without the rigours of a hill climb giving you the unique opportunity to experience this very special place at its most dramatic.     

5th March
Beinn Alligin
 Hour: 8.30am
Our last hill of the festival but by no means the least of our adventures.  Beinn Alligin is an amazing trip in the summer but add some ice and snow and some amazing horns and the whole day will go down as one of your greatest.  The trip will include the horns and will also take in both Munros and is guaranteed to be the perfect end to an amazing three days.

Number of participants (average):

Notable walks:

Walks for disabled persons?

Price: Paid

Notes:

Sponsoring: Yes

Organization: Loch Torridon Hotel Ltd

Contact:

Torridon Activities

Torridon

By Achnasheen, Wester Ross

Scotland IV22 2EY

Tel: +44 (0)1445 700300
Fax: +44 (0)1445 712253

activities@thetorridon.com

Website: http://www.thetorridon.com/activities/Walking-Festival

Facebook page:

Logo:



(see in portuguese)

Britain’s Biggest Walking Festival Starts Xmas Eve - Festival of Winter Walks

The Ramblers Festival of Winter Walks - 24 December 2011 - 2 January 2012

The Ramblers is Britain's walking charity, working to safeguard the footpaths, the countryside and other places we go walking, and to encourage more people to take up walking. With 119,000 members in England, Scotland and Wales, they've been working for walkers for 76 years.

They work for a walking Britain, where walking is a popular choice for its people, both for relaxation and in daily life. The Ramblers want walking to be an enjoyable experience for all, whether in the countryside or in the city, on gentle paths or challenging hillsides and believe that walking contributes to health and well-being and supports a more sustainable way of life.

New rights of access to the countryside are the results of a long-fought campaign by the Ramblers. They are also working hard to keep the footpath network clear and improve its attractions to walkers.

Working to secure new national parks, protect wild land, promote public transport and encourage environmentally friendly farming and sustainable development.

For the first time ever, the Ramblers hugely popular Festival of Winter Walks starts on Christmas Eve; giving you 10 whole days of free, festive, fun-filled walking adventures.

Whether you fancy a short Boxing Day amble to spend some quality time with the family or a lengthy New Year's Day hike to kick start those New Year's resolutions - with over 800 walks taking place across the length and breadth of the country there’s sure to be a walk that's right for you.

Source: The Source - 18th November 2011 

 

Official Website: http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/events/Festivals/winterwalks

See More:  http://walkingfestivals.blogspot.com/2011/01/festival-of-winter-walks-ramblers.html

Time to take to the hills - Torridon Walking Festival

NOT everyone wants to spend their weekends tucked up on the sofa watching the latest band of wannabes battle it out for a place in the final of a TV dancing or singing show.

While those contestants face challenges that may bring fame and fortune, for a great many people the weekend is about undertaking challenges that bring personal rather than financial rewards.

The Torridon Walking Festival, a new three-day festival in north-west Scotland which springs into life this weekend and runs from Saturday until Monday, offers plenty of rewards and challenges for those signing up to spend some time in one of the most beautiful and remote parts of Scotland.

The area is thought to be the inspiration for Middle Earth in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, but thankfully you don’t need enormous Hobbit-sized feet to scale the iconic summits or explore the local forest footpaths to have a good time.

The festival aims to entice adventure seekers and low-level trekkers to try to experience for themselves some of the best walking routes in Scotland.

The programme has been designed to ensure that whether you thrive already on the thrill of being in a mountain environment or want to try a low-level walk off the beaten track, there’s something for everyone.

Highlights for serious walkers include the epic Liathach, which stands over Glen Torridon and is certainly one of the mighty boxes to be ticked by all mountaineers; a full day out on Beinn Eighe, taking in two Munros, and a day climbing Beinn Dearg following very few paths and reaching a height just a metre short of a Munro.

For those who want to extend their sense of adventure and experience some of the magic that Scotland exudes in its remote wild places, festival organisers have arranged a special overnight expedition to a remote and secluded bothy.

After dining in front of a roaring stove and swapping adventure stories, walkers can take to their sleeping bags in the knowledge that the morning brings the chance to witness Scotland’s landscape at its finest.

For those who would rather remain closer to sea level, there are loch-side rambles and leisurely woodland walks through the autumnal countryside with plenty of time to take photographs and learn more about the flora and fauna.

For walkers who are budding photographers, there is the opportunity to spend a day with a professional landscape photographer who will go through the techniques which will help create the ultimate picture of a perfect day spent on the hills.

The guides taking part in the festival are all fully qualified, enthusiastic and have spent a lifetime exploring the hills of Scotland.

Confident and with plenty of dry wit to call upon, they’re usually spotted heading up the side of the hill with no path, or trying to outdo each other by heading up the side of a hill which is steeper than the hill with no path.

Their main aim, however, is to help walkers and non-walkers achieve something they never imagined possible – which is good news for potential festivalgoers.

The festival will be opened by world-renowned Perth-based mountaineer Polly Murray who, at 26, was the first Scottish woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Because of its location, many attending the festival will want to spend the night in the area. There are plenty of accommodation options – many listed on the festival’s website – ranging from youth hostels, B&Bs and guest houses to self catering, inns and hotels such as The Torridon Hotel, named Scottish Hotel of the Year 2010 and 2011, which stands on the shores of a stunning sea loch.

In the evenings, walkers can join the guides for some live music, a pub quiz and a well-earned pint.

The first Torridon Walking Festival takes place this weekend from Saturday to Monday and prices for walks range from £15 to £105. For further details or to book a place on a walk visit www.thetorridon.com/ activities/walking-festival or call 01445 700300. Organised by Torridon Activities, the walking festival will be followed by the second Torridon Inn Real Ale Festival, which runs from October 7-9.

Source:
The Press and Journal- 29th September 2011

Official Website: http://www.thetorridon.com/activities/Walking-Festival

See More: http://walkingfestivals.blogspot.com/2011/01/torridon-autumn-walking-festival.html

Scottish Borders Walking festival’s double shot in the arm for hawick

HAWICK’S economy and reputation as a tourist destination was given a massive boost by last week’s Scottish Borders Walking Festival.

That is the overriding message following a hugely successful series of daily walks which attracted not only the highest number of bookings in the event’s 17-year history, but filled the town’s B&Bs and restaurants, and showed the community at its best.

Organising group chairman Andrew Farquhar, who led the bid to host the festival, told the Hawick News: “The whole festival went really well. We’ve had some cracking feedback on the whole thing and we are over the moon. With bookings up on previous year’s and over 700 places booked on the walks, and feedback from evaluation forms showing that 90 per cent of visitors intend to return, people like what they’ve seen, so it has certainly been worthwhile.”

Visitors on average stayed between five and six nights – although the issue of a lack of bedspace in Hawick did raise its head once again.

Although delighted with the spin-off benefits felt in the town, Mr Farquhar commented: “There were a lot of people staying in the town’s B&Bs and they were certainly busy, but a number of people had to stay outwith Hawick, so there is no doubt we need a hotel.”

Mr Farquhar said the town’s restaurants also benefited hugely from the week-long event.

The walkers came from all over the UK and as far afield as Holland, Luxembourg, Hungary, Finland and Norway to join in the festival and its 21 walks throughout Teviotdale and Liddesdale, which were carefully chosen to showcase the area’s scenery, history and wildlife.

And encompassing locations which included Denholm, Hawick Common, the W. H. Ogilvie Cairn (pictured), Shankend and Newcastleton, the walks and their leaders have certainly impressed.

Comments made included J. Gordon, from Aberdeen, who said: “Good company and the leaders were very knowledgeable and helpful.” While Mrs B. Smith, from Dumfries, said: “I enjoyed the company and will be back.” And Margaret, from Glasgow, said highlights were “the friendliness of the townsfolk”, and also “the ladies who supplied the teas, with the home baking 10 out of 10”.

Indeed the involvement of local clubs also contributed to the success of the six-days, which included help from the Girl Guides and WRI providing teas and food, and also boasted local entertainment each night ranging from a sell-out Hawick Sings concert to an Archeological talk.

Mr Farquhar commented: “Almost every organisation in the town was involved in some way, people really came together and the friendliness is one thing which impressed.”

And since the festival ended on Saturday, the praise has continued. Paying tribute to the organisers, Provost Ron Smith told the Hawick News this week: “I cannot give enough praise to Andrew Farquhar, Lesley Fraser and the steering group. Without the initiative and determination of Andrew in seeking the festival for the town, and the commitment and organisation of the group, an economic and publicity opportunity for the town would have been lost.”

He added: “I myself took part in the Friday walk from Whitrope back to town, and I was able to chat to some of the 34 walkers. Five or six were local, but others came from Selkirk, Kelso, Galashiels, Peebles, Edinburgh, Clydebank, Durham and Finland. And as I went around and asked where they were staying and where they ate, I got a measure of the benefit to the Hawick economy. Everyone was much impressed by the level of organisation of the week.”

Source:
Hawick News - 16th September 2011

Official Website: http://www.borderswalking.com/

See More: http://walkingfestivals.blogspot.com/2011/01/scottish-borders-walking-festival.html

Walking Festivals index by Date - United Kingdom

2012

Get Doncaster Walking Festival (England): 8th January – 26th May
'Winter Warmer' Walking Festival - Sperrintrek - (Northern Ireland): 28th – 29th January
Crickhowell Walking Festival (Wales): 25th February - 4th March
Torrindon Winter Walking Festival (Scotland): 3rd - 5th March
Walk Scilly: 31st March -7th April
Snaith Walking Festival  (England): 31st March - 14th April 
Pickering's Boots and Steam Walking Festival (England): 20th - 22nd April
Boscastle Walking Week (England): 23rd - 27th April
Wolverhampton Walking Festival (England): ?? April
Cotehele Festival of Walks (England): ?? April
Walk Islay  (Scotland): 14th – 20th April
Selkirk Walking Weekend (Scotland): ?? April
Dudley Walking Festival (England): ?? April – ?? May
Peak District Walking & Outdoor Festival (England): 23rd April – 8th May
North Devon & Exmoor Walking Festival (Spring) (England): 27th April - 6th May
Ulverston Walking Festival (England): 27th April - 6th May
Haltwhistle Walking Festival – Spring (England): 28th April - 7th May 
Melrose Walking Festival Weekend (Scotland): ?? April - ?? May
Tregaron Walking Festival (Wales): ?? April - ?? May
Milton Keynes Walking Festival  (England): ?? April - ?? May




Dentdale Walking Festival (England): ?? April - ?? May
Ironbridge Gorge Walking Festival (England):  ?? April - ?? May
Swanage & Purbeck Walking Festival (England):  28th  April – 6th May
Burnley Walking Festival (England): ?? April - ?? May
Around Corby Walking Festival (England): 5th - 7th May
Isle of Wight Walking Festival (England): 5th - 20th May
International Waendel Walk (England): 11th - 13th  May
Vale of Glamorgan Walking Festival (Wales):  11th - 13th  May
Irvine Valley Walking Festival (Scotland): 11th - 13th   May 
Jersey Spring Walking Week: 12th - 19th  May
The Isle of Man Walking Festival: 13th - 18th  May
Winchcombe Cotswold Walking Festival (England): 18th - 20th  May
Thanet Walking Festival  (England): ?? May
Pembrokeshire Preseli Walking Festival (Wales): ?? May
Bluestone Walking Festival (Wales): ?? May
WalkFest - the Newton Stewart Walking Festival (Scotland): ?? May
Garstang Walking Festival (England): ?? May
Guernsey Spring Walking Festival:  ?? May
Swindon Walking Festival  (England): ?? May
Aviemore Walking  Festival (Scotland): ?? May
Prestatyn & Clwydian Range Walking Festival (Wales): ?? May

Peak District's Historic Borders Walking Festival (England): ?? May
Walk Sheffield (England): ?? May
South and Heart of Suffolk Walking Festival (England): ?? May – ?? June
St Helena Walking Festival: 1st - 9th June
Ballater Walking Festival (Scotland): ?? May
(The) National Forest Walking Festival (England): ?? May – ?? June 
Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival (England): ?? May – ?? June 
Caithness & Sutherland Walking Festival (Scotland): ?? May 
Rutland Walking Festival (England): ?? May – ?? June 
Llanelli Festival of Walks (Wales): ?? May
Angus Glens Walking Festival (Scotland): 31st May - 3rd June
Malvern Walking Festival (England): ?? May – ?? June 
Black Combe Walking Festival (England): ?? May – ?? June 
Isle of Anglesey Walking Festival (Wales): ?? May – ?? June
 St Helene Walking Festival: 1st - 9th June
Princes Risborough Walking Festival (England): 5th - 10th June 
Langport International Walking Festival (England): 9th - 10th June 
Gower Walking Festival (Wales):  9th - 24th June
Bishop's Castle Walking Festival (England): 12th - 14th June
(The) Annual South Downs Way Walk (England): 22nd - 30th June
Rothbury and Coquetdale Walking Festival (England): 23rd - 30th June  
Arnside and Silverdale AONB Walking Festival  (England): ?? June 
Church Stretton Walking Festival (England): ?? June
Langholm Walking Festival (Scotland): ?? June 
Glen Affric Walking Festival (Scotland): ?? June
Walk the Glens Festival (Northern Ireland): ?? June  
Leicestershire Walking Week (England): ?? June 
South Staffordshire Walking Festival (England): ?? June 
A Weekend of Walks in Monmouthshire (Wales): ?? June 
Herefordshire Walking Festival (England): ?? June 


Mourne International Walking Festival (Northern Ireland): ?? June 
Melbourne Walking Festival (England): ?? June 
Otley Walking Festival (England): 24th June - 1st July
Conwy's Walking Week (Wales): ??  July
Islands of Barrow & Furness Peninsula Walking Festival (England): ??  July
Wallaby Walking Festival  (England):  ?? July
Weavers Way Walking  and Cycling Festival (England): ??  July
Cumnock and New Cumnock Walking Festival   (Scotland): ??  July
Explore Kent Walking Festival (England): ?? July - ?? August
Walk for All - Yorkshire Dales Walking Festival (England):  19th August  
Sperrins Walking Festival (Northern Ireland): ?? August
Stroud  Walking Festival (England): ?? September
Stewarton Walking Festival  (Scotland): ?? September 
Fife Outdoor Access Festival (Scotland): ?? September
Footsteps Walking Festival (England):  ?? September
Pendle Walking Festival (England):  ?? September
Bedfordshire Walking Festival (England): ?? September
The Great Outdoors Festival (Scotland): ?? September
Wales Valleys Walking Festival (Wales): ?? September
Scottish Borders Walking Festival (Scotland): ?? September
Tomintoul and Glenlivet Walking Festival (Scotland): ?? September
Wee Binnian Walking Festival (Northern Ireland): ?? September
Newport Muster  (England): ?? September
Jersey Autumn Walking Week: 10th - ?? September
Autumn Footprints - Amber Valley and Erewash Walking Festival (England): ?? September
Walk and Ride Festival (South Pennines) (England): ?? September
Blairgowrie & East Perthsire Walking Festival (Scotland): ?? September
Castlerock  Walk Fest (Northern Ireland): ?? September
Cardigan Coast Walks Festival (Wales): ?? September
South East Cornwall Walking Festival (England): ?? September
Barmouth Festival of Walking (Wales): ?? September
Derby Walking Festival (England): ?? September – ??  October 
Morpeth Riverside Walking Festival:  (England):  ??  September
West Lothian Walking Week (Scotland): ?? September


Pateley Bridge Walking Festival (England): ?? September
Richmond Walking & Book Festival (England): ?? September – ?? October
Ullswater Outdoor Festival (England): 24th September - ?? October
Two Day Autumn Walking Festival   (Northern Ireland): ?? September 
North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival (Autumn) (England): ?? September - ?? October
Ross-on-Wye Walking Festival  (England): ?? September -?? October
Rural Rossendale Walking Festival (England): ?? September - ?? October
Omagh Walking Festival (Northern Ireland): ?? September - ?? December 
Torrindon Autumn Walking Festival  (Scotland): ??  October 
Bridgend Love2Walk Festival (Wales): ?? October
West Sussex Walking Festival (England):  ?? October 
Hay-on-Wye Walking Festival (Wales): ?? October 
Cowalfest Walking and Arts Festival (Scotland): ?? October
Drovers Tryst Walking Festival (Scotland): ?? October
Haltwhistle Walking Festival – Autumn (England):  ?? October 
Fermanagh Walking Festival (Northern Ireland): ?? October
Moffat Ramblers Walking Festival (Scotland): ?? October
Snowdonia Walking Festival (Wales): ??  October
Autumn Walking Weekend - Isle of Wight (England): ?? October
Bollington Walking Festival (England): ?? October
Monmouthshire Walking Festival(Wales):  ?? October
Yorkshire Wolds Walking & Outdoors Weekend  (England): ?? October  
Fal River Walking Festival (England): ?? October - ?? November
National Trust Walking Festival: ?? October
South Devon Walking Festival (England): ?? October
Wooler Walking Weekend (England):  ?? October

Walking Festivals index by Date - Scotland

2012

• Torrindon Winter Walking Festival: 3rd - 5th March
• Walk Islay : 14th – 20th April
• Selkirk Walking Weekend: ?? April  
• Irvine Valley Walking Festival: 11th - 13th May
• Ballater Walking Festival: 19th - 26th  May 
• Langholm Walking Festival: : 25th - 27th May 
• WalkFest - the Newton Stewart Walking Festival: ?? May
• Aviemore Walking  Festival: ?? May
• Caithness & Sutherland Walking Festival: ??  May
• Angus Glens Walking Festival: 31st May - 3rd June
• Glen Affric Walking Festival: ?? June   

• Fife Outdoor Access Festival: ?? September  
• Stewarton Walking Festival: ?? September 
• The Great Outdoors Festival: ?? September 
• Scottish Borders Walking Festival: ?? September 
• Tomintoul and Glenlivet Walking Festival: ?? September
• Blairgowrie & East Perthsire Walking Festival: ?? September
• West Lothian Walking Week: ?? September
• Torrindon Autumn Walking Festival: ?? October 
• Cowalfest Walking and Arts Festival: ?? October
• Drovers Tryst Walking Festival: ?? October
• Moffat Ramblers Walking Festival: ??October

Walking Festivals index by Date - ALL

  
2012

Christmas Walking Festival in Westport (Ireland):  30th December 2011 – 1st January 2012
Get Doncaster Walking Festival (England - UK): 8th January – 26th May
Glen of Aherlow Winter Walking Festival (Ireland): 27th – 29th January
'Winter Warmer' Walking Festival - Sperrintrek - (Northern Ireland - UK): 28th – 29th January
Dingle Walking Festival (Ireland): 18th – 19th   February
Crickhowell Walking Festival (Wales - UK): 25th February - 4th March
Andalucian International Walking & Cultural Festival (Spain): 26th February- 4th March
Torrindon Winter Walking Festival (Scotland - UK): 3rd - 5th March
Táin Walking Festival (Ireland):   2nd - 4th March
Joyce Country Walking Festival (Ireland): ?? March
Walk About Love Festival- Israel: 1st March -  16th June
Rotorua Walking Festival (New Zealand): 8th - 18th March
International Gilboa Walking (Israel): 23rd - 24th March
Four Seasons Walking Festival (Ireland): 16th - 18th March
Ardara Walking Festival (Ireland): 17th - 19th March
Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail Walking Festival (Ireland): 23rd - 25th March
St Patrick's Day Hillwalking Festival (Ireland): ??  March



Mangawhai Walking Weekend (New Zealand): 28th March - 1st April
Canberra International Walking Weekend (Australia): 31st March  -1st April
Walk Scilly (UK): 31st March - 7th April
Snaith Walking Festival  (England - UK): 31st March - 14th April
South Sligo Waking Festival (Ireland):  5th  - 7th April
 Easter Walking Festival (Westport) (Ireland):  6th - 9th  April
Hill Walking Festival (North Leitrim Glens) (Ireland):  7th - 8th April
Echo Walking Festival (New Zealand): 10th - 22nd April
Walk Islay  (Scotland - UK): 14th – 20th April
Tinahely Walking Festival (Ireland):   14th - 15th April
Pickering's Boots and Steam Walking Festival (England - UK): 20th - 22nd April
Boscastle Walking Week (England - UK): 23rd - 27th April
Central Plateau Walking Festival (New Zeland): ??  April
Millstreet Walking Festival (Ireland):  ?? April
 Wolverhampton Walking Festival (England - UK): ?? April
 53 Degrees North Walking Festival (Ireland):  ?? April
 Cotehele Festival of Walks (England - UK): ?? April
 Selkirk Walking Weekend (Scotland - UK): ?? April
* Peak District Walking & Outdoor Festival (England - UK): 23rd April – 8th May
North Devon & Exmoor Walking Festival (Spring) (England - UK): 27th April - 6th May
Ulverston Walking Festival (England - UK): 27th April - 6th May 
Swanage & Purbeck Walking Festival (England - UK): 28th  April – 6th May  
Haltwhistle Walking Festival – Spring (England - UK): 28th April - 7th May
Dudley Walking Festival (England - UK): ?? April – ?? May
Melrose Walking Festival Weekend (Scotland - UK): ?? April – ?? May
Namsan Million Person Walking Festival (South Korea): ?? April -  ?? June
Ontario Walks (Canada): ?? April -  ?? June
Tuscany Walking Festival (Italy): ?? April - ?? October 
Leenane Walking Festival (Ireland): 5th – 7th May
Tregaron Walking Festival (Wales - UK): ?? April - ?? May
 Milton Keynes Walking Festival  (England - UK): ?? April - ?? May
 Ballyhoura International Walking Festival (Ireland): ?? April - ?? May
 Cuckoo Walking Festival (Tabert) (Ireland): ?? April - ?? May
 Cape Clear Island Walking Talking Festival (Ireland): ?? April - ?? May
Annual Walking Festival (Slieve Bloom) (Ireland): ?? April - ?? May
 Drimoleague Heritage Walkways Walking Festival  (Ireland): ?? April - ?? May
 Cavan Walking Festival (Ireland): ?? April - ?? May
 Dentdale Walking Festival (England - UK): ?? April - ?? May

 Donegal Walking Weekend (Ireland):  ?? April - ?? May
 Achill Walks Festival (Féile Siúlóidí Acla) (Ireland): ?? April - ?? May
 Burnley Walking Festival (England - UK): ?? April - ?? May
Ironbridge Gorge Walking Festival (England - UK):  ?? April – ?? May
International Two-days Walk of Flanders (Belgium): 5th - 6th May
Around Corby Walking Festival (England - UK): 5th - 7th May
Isle of Wight Walking Festival (England - UK): 5th - 20th May
International Waendel Walk (England - UK): 11th - 13th  May
Irvine Valley Walking Festival (Scotland - UK): 11th - 13th   May  
Vale of Glamorgan Walking Festival (Wales - UK):  11th - 13th  May  
Jersey Spring Walking Week (UK): 12th - 19th  May  
The Isle of Man Walking Festival (UK): 13th - 18th  May
Randonnée des 4 jours en Chantonnay (France): 17th - 20th May 
Winchcombe Cotswold Walking Festival (England - UK): 18th - 20th  May
Dalian International Walking Festival (China): 19th - 20th  May   
Kyushu International Three-Day March (Japan): 19th - 20th  May
Ballater Walking Festival (Scotland - UK): 19th - 26th  May
(The) National Forest Walking Festival (England - UK): 19th  - 31st   May 
Langholm Walking Festival (Scotland - UK): 25th - 27th May

**Pembrokeshire Preseli Walking Festival (Wales - UK): ?? May
Thanet Walking Festival  (England - UK): ?? May
Bluestone Walking Festival (Wales - UK): ??  May
Aonach ar Siúl Walking Festival (Ireland): ?? May
WalkFest - the Newton Stewart Walking Festival (Scotland - UK): ?? May
Garstang Walking Festival (England - UK): ?? May
Guernsey Spring Walking Festival (UK):  ??  May  
 Swindon Walking Festival  (England - UK): ??  May 
Aviemore Walking  Festival (Scotland - UK): ??  May
Prestatyn & Clwydian Range Walking Festival (Wales - UK): ??  May 
Peak District's Historic Borders Walking Festival (England - UK): ??  May 
Walk Sheffield (England - UK): ??  May
 Caithness & Sutherland Walking Festival (Scotland - UK): ??  May 
Donegal Walking Week (Ireland): ??  May
Inishbofin Walking Festival (Ireland): ??  May 
Llanelli Festival of Walks (Wales - UK): ??  May
Rutland Walking Festival (England - UK): 20th  May  – 2nd June
 Malvern Walking Festival (England - UK): 26th  May  – 3rd June
Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival (England - UK):  26th  May  – 10th June
Angus Glens Walking Festival (Scotland - UK): 31st May - 3rd June
South and Heart of Suffolk Walking Festival (England - UK): ??  May  – ?? June
Black Combe Walking Festival (England - UK): ??  May  – ?? June
Isle of Anglesey Walking Festival (Wales - UK): ??  May  – ?? June
Glen of Aherlow Walking Festival (Ireland): 1st - 3rd June
Four Seasons Walking Festival (Ireland): 1st - 3rd June
St Helena Walking Festival (UK): 1st - 9th June
Princes Risborough Walking Festival (England - UK): 5th - 10th June
Gower Walking Festival (Wales - UK): 9th - 24th June
Langport International Walking Festival (England - UK): 9th - 10th June 
Bishop's Castle Walking Festival (England - UK): 12th - 14th June 
(The) Annual South Downs Way Walk (England - UK): 22nd - 30th June
Hærvejsmarchen (Denmark): 23rd -24th  June
Rothbury and Coquetdale Walking Festival (England - UK): 23rd - 30th  June 
Arnside and Silverdale AONB Walking Festival  (England - UK): ?? June
Church Stretton Walking Festival (England - UK): ?? June
Festival de la Randonnée en Cévennes (France): ?? June
Boyne Valley Walking Festival  (Ireland): ?? June
Glen Affric Walking Festival (Scotland - UK): ?? June
Walk the Glens Festival (Northern Ireland - UK): ?? June
Leicestershire Walking Week (England - UK): ?? June
South Staffordshire Walking Festival (England - UK):  ?? June
A Weekend of Walks in Monmouthshire (Wales - UK): ?? June
Herefordshire Walking Festival (England - UK): ?? June
Anglesboro Mid Summer Walking Festival (Ireland): ?? June
Mourne International Walking Festival (Northern Ireland - UK): ?? June
Melbourne Walking Festival (England - UK): ?? June


Otley Walking Festival (England - UK): 24th June - 1st July
Castlebar International Four Day Walking Festival (Ireland):  28th June – 1st July
Columbia River Gorge Biennial Classic: 14th - 17th July 
Conwy's Walking Week (Wales - UK): ?? July
Islands of Barrow & Furness Peninsula Walking Festival (England - UK): ?? July
Annual Laois Walks Festival (Ireland): ?? July
Weavers Way Walking  and Cycling Festival (England - UK): ?? July
Festival Internacional de Senderismo (México): ?? July
Eco Walking Weekend (Slieve Bloom) (Ireland): ?? July
Wallaby Walking Festival  (England - UK):  ?? July
Festival de la Randonnée Pédestres a Thèmes - Touraine Val de L'Indre (France): ?? July
Explore Kent Walking Festival (England - UK): ?? July - ?? August
Cumnock and New Cumnock Walking Festival   (Scotland - UK): ?? July
Nordfjord Walking Festival (Norway): 11th - 19th August 
Walk for All - Yorkshire Dales Walking Festival (England): 19th August
Achill Summer Walks Festival (Ireland): 24th - 27th August
Sperrins Walking Festival (Northern Ireland - UK): ?? August
Festival de Senderismo y Montaña La Palma (Spain): ?? August
Sunshine Coast Walks Festival (Australia): ?? August
**International Nordic Walking Festival  (Italy):  ?? September
Stewarton Walking Festival  (Scotland - UK): ?? September
Stroud  Walking Festival (England - UK): ??  September
Footsteps Walking Festival (England - UK): ??  September
Fife Outdoor Access Festival (Scotland - UK): ??  September
Pendle Walking Festival (England - UK):  ??  September
Bedfordshire Walking Festival (England - UK): ??  September
The Great Outdoors Festival (Scotland - UK): ??  September
Wales Valleys Walking Festival (Wales - UK): ??  September
Scottish Borders Walking Festival (Scotland - UK): ??  September
Tomintoul and Glenlivet Walking Festival (Scotland - UK): ??  September
Wee Binnian Walking Festival (Northern Ireland - UK): ??  September
Newport Muster  (England - UK): ??  September
Suck Valley Walking Festival  (Ireland): ??  September
Beijing International Mountain Walking Festival (China): ??  September
Jersey Autumn Walking Week (UK): ??  September
Autumn Footprints - Amber Valley and Erewash Walking Festival (England - UK): ??  September
Walk and Ride Festival (South Pennines) (England - UK): ??  September
Blairgowrie & East Perthsire Walking Festival (Scotland - UK): ??  September
Castlerock  Walk Fest (Northern Ireland - UK): ??  September
Hi Seoul Walking Festival (South Korea): ?? September
Cardigan Coast Walks Festival (Wales - UK): ??  September
South East Cornwall Walking Festival (England - UK): ??  September
Barmouth Festival of Walking (Wales - UK): ??  September
Derby Walking Festival (England - UK): ??  September – ??  October
Toronto Trails Festival (Canada):  ??  September – ??  October
Morpeth Riverside Walking Festival:  (England - UK):   ??  September
West Lothian Walking Week (Scotland - UK): ??  September



Pateley Bridge Walking Festival (England - UK): ??  September
Burren Peaks Walking Festival (Ireland): ??  September
Richmond Walking & Book Festival (England - UK): ??  September – ??  October
Millstreet Autumn Walking Festival (Ireland): ??  September  
Ullswater Outdoor Festival (England - UK):??  September – ??  October
Two Day Autumn Walking Festival  (Northern Ireland - UK): ??  September
North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival (Autumn) (England - UK): ??  September – ??  October
Haltwhistle Walking Festival – Autumn (England - UK):  6th  - 14th October 
Ross-on-Wye Walking Festival  (England - UK): ??  September – ??  October
Rural Rossendale Walking Festival (England - UK): ??  September – ??  October
Omagh Walking Festival (Northern Ireland - UK): ?? September - ?? December
Torrindon Autumn Walking Festival  (Scotland - UK): ?? October
Bridgend Love2Walk Festival (Wales - UK): ?? October
West Sussex Walking Festival (England - UK):  ?? October
Carlow Autumn Walking Festival  (Ireland): ?? October
Hay-on-Wye Walking Festival (Wales - UK): ?? October
Cowalfest Walking and Arts Festival (Scotland - UK): ?? October
Castlegregory Walking Festival (Ireland): ?? October
Drovers Tryst Walking Festival (Scotland - UK): ?? October
Blue Mountains Lithgow and Oberon Tourism Festival of Walking (Australia): ?? October
Nire Valley Annual Walking Festival  (Ireland): ?? October
Fermanagh Walking Festival (Northern Ireland - UK): ?? October
Moffat Ramblers Walking Festival (Scotland - UK): ?? October
Snowdonia Walking Festival (Wales - UK): ?? October
Foxford Walking Festival (Ireland): ?? October
East Clare Walking Festival (Ireland): ?? October
Autumn Walking Weekend - Isle of Wight (England - UK): ?? October
Bollington Walking Festival (England - UK): ?? October
Monmouthshire Walking Festival (Wales - UK):  ?? October   
Fal River Autumn Walking Festival (England - UK): ?? October - ?? November
Four Seasons Walking Festival (Ireland): 19th - 21st October
National Trust Walking Festival (UK): ?? October
South Devon Walking Festival (England - UK): ?? October
Footfalls' Wicklow Walking Festival (Ireland): ?? October
Waiheke Island Walking Festival (New Zealand): ?? October - ?? November
Annascaul Walks - October Walking Festival  (Ireland): ?? October
Festival de la Randonnée en Cévennes - Automne (France): ?? October - ?? November
Wooler Walking Weekend (England - UK):  ?? October
Yorkshire Wolds Walking & Outdoors Weekend  (England - UK): ?? October 
Busan Gal-Maet-Gil Walking Festival (South Korea): ?? October
Jeju Olle Walking Festival (South Korea): ?? November
Upperchurch Walking Weekend (Ireland):  ?? November
Walk About Love Festival  - India: ?? December - ??  January 2013
Festival of Winter Walks - The Ramblers: ?? December - ??  January 2013
Four Seasons Walking Festival (Ireland): ??  December

Walk up, walk up, for Scottish Borders Walking Festival

SEVERAL walks are already full in the 17th annual Scottish Borders Walking Festival which starts on Sunday.

Walks through Teviotdale and Liddesdale will be led by local enthusiasts, including Hawick historian Ian Landles. Denholm-based hikes kick off the seven-day festival, with each including the top of Ruberslaw in the afternoon for an optional service at what was Peden’s Pulpit in the Covenanters’ time. The festival features three walks a day ranging from a gentle two-mile Walk It outing to long walks such as the 10.5 mile hike to the cairn dedicated to Borders and Australian poet Will Ogilvie.

Each day features a different area with Wednesday’s walks centring on Newcastleton and including hikes to the Dumfries and Galloway border and to the English border.

Evening events include films of local wildlife and on Monday fiddler Jenna Reid of Blazing Fiddles plays in the Heart of Hawick. On Tuesday there is an Hawick Archaeological Society talk and comic sketches by The SAD Dancers.

Musicians, including popular local band Scocha, will entertain in the Hawick Burns Club on Wednesday evening and on Thursday evening the Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue team will stage a demonstration at St Marys and Old Parish Church Hall. Writer and broadcaster Alistair Moffat will talk about his book The Scots: A Genetic Journey in the Heart of Hawick.

On Friday the Hawick Buskers’ Concert and ceilidh with music from the Stuart Anderson Ceildh Band starts at the Wilton Church Hall at 7.30pm. 

Source:
Southern Reporter - 2nd September 2011




Hundreds to lace up their boots for walking festival

THE popularity of the annual Scottish Borders Walking Festival, which returns to Hawick next week, has attracted the highest number of bookings in its 17-year history.

After other host towns pulled out of the running due to funding concerns and only nine months to plan, working group chairman and Community Councilllor Andrew Farquhar has revealed that Scotland’s longest established walking festival is exceeding all expectations.

“We have 535 places pre-booked on the walks throughout the week and according to Visit Scotland have been consistently ahead compared to previous years. We are absolutely delighted with the response, it’s fantastic,” he said.

Hundreds of walkers from all over the country and as far afield as Luxembourg, Holland and Helsinki are arriving to take part in the festival’s impressive programme, with seven of the 21 walks around Teviot and Liddesdale already fully booked. It begins on Sunday with three walks which will converge on Ruberslaw, where its association with the Covenanters will be marked by a short service. And the rest of the week will boast three walks of differing grades every day until Saturday, which, ranging from the Joogly Brig and the W.H Ogilvie cairn, to Shankend and Newcastleton, Mr Farquhar says have all been specially chosen to show the countryside at its best.

He stated: “Our area is an undiscovered mecca for walkers. We have fantastic wildlife, scenery and history, and we have tried to demonstrate that.”

Having benefited from grants of £3,500 from Scottish Natural Heritage, £2,340 from Sestran and almost £4,000 from SBC, the Hawick Community-Council-led event in partnership with the 50+ Walking Group has been carefully co-ordinated, and includes a brochure, registration centre, and transport.

And with the local economy set to benefit from the influx of people, local groups are also backing the festival by providing entertainment throughout the week, including the Film & Video Group, Archaeological Society and Callants Club, to name a few. Tower Mill is also hosting the Jenna Reid Band on Monday, and on Thursday author and broadcaster Alistair Moffat will introduce his new book, ‘The Scots: A Genetic Journey’.

Local historian Ian Landles, who is leading one of the walks from Denholm to Ruberslaw on Sunday, and the 1514 Club-sponsored walk around Hawick Common on Monday, says in the programme: “We invite you to sign up for the 2011 festival, by doing so you will discover a fascinating corner of Britain.”

Mr Farquhar, who chaired a previous festival in 2002, added: “We really hope this festival puts Hawick on the walking map. There is something is for everyone.”

Source:
Hawick News - 2nd September 2011

Official Website: http://www.borderswalking.com/

See More: http://walkingfestivals.blogspot.com/2011/01/scottish-borders-walking-festival.html