Outdoor events for hillwalkers in the UK

Let’s get together in the great outdoors! Here’s our pick of outdoor events – hiking, biking, running, swimming and more – happening in the UK’s high places in the coming months.

The hillwalking community can be a sociable bunch. With plenty of outdoor events organised throughout the year in the UK, there’s bound to be a festival, talk, or activity to suit your calendar. From sunrise birdwatching to stargazing evenings, the outdoor events happening across the UK’s national parks this month will inspire you to get out there. We’ve also included some cultural odes to the mountains, curated and presented inside institutions, for those days when conditions keep us indoors.

• Outdoor events for hillwalkers in April 2023
• Outdoor events for hillwalkers in May 2023
• Outdoor events for hillwalkers in June 2023

Outdoor events and walking events happening in April 2023

• Shropshire Way 80K Festival 2023
• Gay Outdoor Club’s Easter on Ardnamurchan
• Chepstow Walking Festival
• Castle to Abbey Coastal Challenge
• Outdoor Adventure Girls Eryri/Snowdonia Weekend
• Walk Scilly
• Kington Walks Spring Festival
• Haltwhistle Walking Festival
• Ulverston WalkFest 
• Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival
• Colonsay Spring Fest
• ride2stride 
• Talgarth Walking Festival
• Ironbridge Walking Festival
• The Kiltwalk

Shropshire Way 80K Festival 2023

1 April
Shropshire
Hundreds of runners and walkers will head to the Shropshire Hills for the 80k Festival which showcases the food, history and landscape of this area. It also fundraises for Grow Cook Learn, a charity delivering an education programme that teaches children from inner-city areas about how their food is grown.
Cost: £15-55
shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk

Gay Outdoor Club’s Easter on Ardnamurchan

7 – 10 April
Fort William
This members-only group weekend will take you to the Ardnamurchan peninsula, and the most westerly point on the British mainland at Corrachadh Mòr (37km further west than Land’s End in Cornwall). The area promises plenty of geological interest and a good variety of coastal, hill and mountain walking over the weekend.
Cost: £96 (plus £17/year membership fee)
goc.org.uk

Chepstow Walking Festival

11 – 16 April
Monmouthshire
Chepstow Walking Festival returns in 2023 to offer six days of hillwalking, with many routes taking in the natural beauty of the Wye Valley. As an official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town, Chepstow is a great base to explore the surrounding hills and the programme promises to be packed with walks suitable for all abilities.
Cost: Free – £5
walksinchepstow.co.uk

Castle to Abbey Coastal Challenge

15 April
Cleveland Way, Yorkshire
Challenge yourself to a bracing, epic 22-mile walk along the coastal Cleveland Way from Scarborough Castle to Whitby Abbey – the coastal equivalent of Yorkshire’s Three Peaks! Don’t be fooled into thinking this is 22 miles of easy-going coastal path as the route includes around 1,200m of ascent.
Cost: £55
largeoutdoors.com

Walk Scilly

15 – 21 April
Scilly Isles
This event is entirely dedicated to the discovery of the natural beauty and heritage on Scilly by foot – and by sea! The opportunity comes but once a year when you can experience the ‘waking-up’ of the islands when spring is in all its glory on both the inhabited and uninhabited islands.
Cost: From £10
visitislesofscilly.com

Outdoor Adventure Girls Eryri/Snowdonia Weekend

21 – 23 April
Eryri/Snowdonia
Outdoor Adventure Girls is an outdoor community providing safe and inclusive environments for women to reconnect with nature and the outdoors. This weekender welcomes you to explore Eryri/Snowdonia, including a trip up to its highest peak and much more, with accommodation at YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass.
Cost: £300
outdooradventuregirls.com

Kington Walks Spring Festival

21 – 23 April
Herefordshire
Located just west of the Offa’s Dyke Path at the intersection with five popular regional trails, passionate volunteers from Kington are again hosting their spring walking festival. The many walking routes of variable distances promise dramatic landscapes, local history, arts, natural history, and of course, excellent town and village pubs.
Cost: £5 to £19.50
kingtonwalks.org

Haltwhistle Walking Festival

22 April – 1 May
Northumberland
Explore the landscape of Northumberland – from waterfalls to follies y way of Hadrian’s Wall – over six days at Haltwhistle Walking Festival. For the long-distance walkers, festival organisers are hosting a 62.5-mile journey along the St Oswald’s Way, encompassing coast, woods and moorland.
Cost: Varies
haltwhistlewalkingfestival.org

Ulverston WalkFest

22 April – 1 May
Lake District
With three walks a day – ranging from easy to moderate to challenging – hosted every day of this year’s WalkFest, there’s plenty of opportunity to explore this iconic area of Lakeland. The festival has been running for over two decades and the walk leaders promise to delve into the untapped areas of this landscape.
Cost: Free
ulverstonwalkfest.com

Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival

22 April – 2 May
Staffordshire, Peak District
Last year, the festival hosted 40 walks attended by hundreds of walkers and this year will be bigger and better! With plenty of walks in the White Peak area of the Peak District – including sites of interest such as Thor’s Cave and The Roaches – there are more scenic vistas than you can shake your trekking poles at!
Cost: Varies
staffsmoorlandswalkingfestival.co.uk

Colonsay Spring Fest

24 April – 8 May
Argyll and Bute
Spring on Colonsay is a magical time, we often have our best weather in May and the days are wonderfully long which have inspired the new festival theme: the great outdoors! Join for a celebration of all that spring on the island has to offer with a focus on nature, wildlife and outdoor activities with various walks and talks, too.
Cost: Varies
colonsayspringfest.com

ride2stride

25 April – 1 May
Yorkshire Dales
ride2stride is a festival of walks, talks and music and it will return this year with new walks from Skipton and a chance to do the Six Peaks Trail for those who like a challenge. There will be walks to suit all levels, all starting and finishing at a train station along the Settle to Carlisle line.
Cost: Free
ride2stride.co.uk

Talgarth Walking Festival

28 April – 1 May
Black Mountains
Walkers from Talgarth, the Gateway to the Black Mountains of South Wales, welcome you to walk with them, exploring local history, geology, literature and nature. Explore the area from the festival hub with knowledgeable leaders who love the landscape, from the wooded dingles to the Black Mountains plateau.
Cost: £7 – 10
talgarthwalkingfestival.org

Ironbridge Walking Festival

29 April – 7 May
Shropshire
This festival promises a warm welcome and 60 free walks from 3 to 20 miles over nine days. You’ll pick from dog-friendly walks to morning missions or longer challenges hosted by friendly and experienced walk leaders who love the area, home of The Wreckin. There are even medals for completing 25, 50 or 100 miles during the festival.
Cost: Free
ironbridgewalking.co.uk

The Kiltwalk

30 April
Glasgow
Kiltwalk is Scotland’s largest mass participation walking event with over 120,000 people taking part since 2016. Join one of three distance Kiltwalks, all finishing in the idyllic surroundings of Balloch, Loch Lomond, to raise money for your chosen charity alongside the friendly and welcoming community of Kiltwalkers. (Kilt optional…kind of!)
Cost: £12.50-20
thekiltwalk.co.uk

Outdoor events and walking events happening in May 2023

• Shap Outdoor Festival
• Bingley Walking Festival
• Alton Walking Festival
• Arran Mountain Festival
• Isle of Wight Spring Walking Festival
• Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival
• WalkFest 2023
• Guernsey Spring Walking Festival
• Malvern Walking Festival

Shap Outdoor Festival

21 April – 22 May
Shap
Nestled between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks, the village of Shap lies in the picturesque Lowther Valley. Perhaps most famous for its award-winning chip shop, it is now keen to also become known for its landscape and wildlife, by launching the first ever Shap Outdoor Festival on Saturday 22 April. The festival is a celebration of the stunning scenery and nature that can be explored in the Lowther Valley, with a number of individuals and organisations coming together to provide a packed programme of events for locals and visitors alike.
Cost: Varies
theoldcourthouse.org

Bingley Walking Festival

1 May
Yorkshire
The 6^th Bingley Walking Festival offers a choice of between four and five walks, all mapped and led by experienced walk leaders in the area around the Airedale Valley. Each walk will have something different to offer to walkers of all abilities, ages and experience. Well-behaved dogs are also welcome on most walks.
Cost: Free (donations welcome)
bingleywalkersarewelcome.org.uk

Alton Walking Festival

1 – 31 May
Hampshire
Held at the gateway to the South Downs National Park, fondly known as ‘Jane Austen country’, Alton Walking Festival welcomes enthusiastic walkers, wanderers, and explorers of all ages. Discover an abundance of wildlife and cultural heritage on one of over 100 walks led by knowledgeable volunteer walk leaders.
Cost: Varies
walkalton.org.uk

Arran Mountain Festival

12 – 15 May
Isle of Arran
Scotland’s premier hillwalking and mountaineering festival offers an opportunity to meet like-minded people, discover a fascinating island and have unforgettable days in the safe hands of experienced local leaders. With names to inspire, like Ceum na Caillich and Caisteal Abhail, Arran’s mountains are amongst Scotland’s most amazing landscapes.
Cost: From £20
arranmountainfestival.co.uk

Isle of Wight Spring Walking Festival

13 – 21 May
Isle of Wight
You may have visited the Isle of Wight before, but this festival offers the chance to tread off-the-beaten-track routes to really explore. The island celebrates the return of the annual Walking Festival when locals invite you to get to know their little slice of paradise.
Cost: Free
isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk

Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival

20 May – 11 June
Lincolnshire Wolds
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 much to offer with plentiful outdoor activities on offer – from fishing to gliding by way of biking and, of course, hillwalking.
Cost: Varies
woldsoutdoorfestival.com

WalkFest 2023

27 – 29 May
North York Moors
This special edition of the North York Moors Walking Festival celebrates the Year of the Coast. Enjoy the usual rambles with the addition of longer linear walks along coastal stretches of the Cleveland Way (with transport back to the start). It’s billed as a great way to explore beautiful coastline.
Cost: From £8
northyorkmoors.org.uk

Guernsey Spring Walking Festival

20 May – 4 June
Guernsey
Join experienced leaders from the Bailiwick of Guernsey Guild of Accredited Guides for their annual Spring Walking Festival. Each day will offer the chance to explore Guernsey, Herm and Sark, from coastal hikes and hidden ruettes tranquilles. All are rated from an easy amble to a more testing hike.
Cost: Varies
visitguernsey.com

Malvern Walking Festival

27 May – 4 June
Malvern Hills AONB
Over 50 walks offer a wide variety of choice for all abilities and interests, from short local strolls to long distance multi-day walks exploring history, nature, local brewing, the arts and notable people from the area. For the energetic, there’s the popular Malvern Hills End-to-End and Back walk and the 31-mile “Worcestershire Way in a Day”.
Cost: From £5
malvernwalking.uk

Outdoor events and walking events happening in June 2023

• The Big Retreat Festival
• North Wessex Downs Walking Festival
• Ballater Walking Festival
• Wrexham Walking Festival
• Quantock Hills Walking Festival
• Localsh Dirty 30
• Moray Walking & Outdoor Festival
• Herefordshire Walking Festival
• Otley Walking Festival

The Big Retreat Festival

1 – 4 June
Pembrokeshire
Billed as a feel-good getaway, The Big Retreat Festival offers four days to relax and reboot in the wilds of West Wales. Reconnect with yourself, your loved ones, and nature with access to over 300 carefully curated experiences: fitness, yoga, talks, workshops, foraging, feasting, arts, bushcraft, live music and more.
Cost: From £82.50
thebigretreatfestival.com

North Wessex Downs Walking Festival

2 – 11 June
North Wessex Downs
A varied programme of walks across the North Wessex Downs will take place during the festival, including 27 walks and family-friendly events, some of which are free. You can seek out wildlife or history, visit a working farm or soak up the views from the top of the downs alongside knowledgeable and welcoming guides.
Cost: Varies
northwessexdowns.org.uk

Ballater Walking Festival

3 – 9 June
Aberdeenshire
Just east of the Cairngorms lies the village of Ballater. Here, local ramblers are hosting their annual walking festival of tough, moderate and easy walks inviting you to explore the area. There will also be a programme of evening entertainment including talks, dinners and a ceilidh.
Cost: From £15
walkballater.com

Wrexham Walking Festival

3 – 11 June
Wrexham
Walkers in Wrexham in North Wales invite you to join them on nine days of free guided rambles in the area, nestled between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, offering beautiful borderland scenery. All walks will be led by trained volunteer walk leaders and are graded easy, moderate and hard.
Cost: Free
walksinwrexham.com

Quantock Hills Walking Festival

8 – 12 June
Somerset
This year marks the fifth walking festival in and around the beautiful Quantock Hills. Once again, the majority of the walks will take place over the weekend. For those looking for a challenge, the festival is also featuring a tough four-day walk along the Coleridge Way.
Cost: Varies
stoweywalking.co.uk

Localsh Dirty 30

10 June
Highland
A 30-mile circuit from Glenelg, passing the Skye Ferry, the Skye Bridge and the world famous Eilean Donan castle before climbing over the hills and past ancient brochs before returning to the finish in Glenelg, this walking and running race will challenge you as you explore the stunning natural surroundings.
Cost: From £30
lochalsh-trails.co.uk

Moray Walking & Outdoor Festival

16 – 25 June
Moray
From the foothills of the Cairngorms to Moray’s award-winning coastline, enjoy long summer days discovering Moray’s natural, historical and cultural landscape during this 10-day festival. It offers a wide range of rambles and other activities, including foraging and history walks.
Cost: Varies
moraywalkoutdoorfest.co.uk

Herefordshire Walking Festival

17 – 25 June
Herefordshire
With nine days and over 50 walks on which to explore Herefordshire and its magnificent surroundings – the Wye Valley AONB, The Offa’s Dyke Path, Malvern Hills AONB, Brecon Beacons National Park, and the newly established Golden Valley Pilgrim Way – there’s something for every rambler at this festival.
Cost: From £6
herefordshirewalkingfestival.co.uk

Otley Walking Festival

24 June – 2 July
Wharfedale
Over 40 walks and events (some free) will take place over nine days at Otley Walking Festival, catering for all abilities. Enjoy shorter town-based walks, meadows and field paths, strenuous moor land hikes, entertaining evening events, and new themed walks showcasing the wonderful variety of Wharfedale countryside on the doorstep.
Cost: Varies
otleywalkingfestival.co.uk

Have we missed one of your favourite outdoor events or are you hosting an upcoming event? Let us know.

If you prefer to experience the great outdoors in solitude, check out the walking routes across the UK that come tried, tested and recommended by our expert contributors.