After last year’s inaugural event, the Sheffield Walking Festival is set to return in September 2017
Friday 8 – Sunday 17 September 2017
Last year, the Sheffield Walking Festival, organised by the Sheffield Walking Forum, provided a series of guided walks for the public. Despite poor weather for last year’s event, 530 walkers of all ages signed up to enjoy a total of 28 routes celebrating all sides of the city and its surroundings.
This year’s festival is set to take place over ten days with 34 walks incorporating a variety of themes and landscapes. Several routes showcase the city’s borders that overlap with the Peak District National Park, while others focus on Sheffield’s more central nature reserves and green spaces. Entrants will have the opportunity to explore the city’s varied heritage, suburbs, architecture and hidden outdoor art. There’ll also be an opportunity to hike the famous Sheffield Round Walk in reverse, or to walk a good portion of the newly opened Peak District Boundary Walk.
To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Sheffield Walking Group, a 15-mile Peakland walk to explore the legend of the Wantley Dragon is planned.
Outdoor photographers can sign up to a masterclass walk with award-winning photographer and author Chiz Dakin, and TV presenter Andrew White will lead the walk around Ladybower from the first series of his Walks Around Britain programme.
Sheffield has more walking clubs than anywhere else in the UK, perhaps thanks to its superb location.
All walks in this year’s festival are free to attend, and led by experienced and knowledgeable guides. It sounds like an excellent opportunity to get out walking with your family and friends – perhaps introducing someone new to the great outdoors.
For more information, and the full programme, visit www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk/walking-festival.