This year’s Derbyshire Dales Walking Festival launches on Monday 18th May, with free walks planned all the way through to Saturday 30th May.
Organised by Derbyshire Dales District Council, the festival celebrates National Walking Month with treks of a variety of distances to suit different abilities and interests.
The district council’s health walks coordinator, Sam Barton, said: “There really is something for everyone. The festival builds on the successful programme of community walks that take place here in the beautiful Dales throughout the year, supporting local communities to maintain active lifestyles and improve the health and wellbeing of local people.”
The festival kicks off with a launch event in Matlock’s Hall Leys Park at midday on 18th May with a choice of two walks: one will be a fully accessible social walk around the park, while the other may include uneven ground, hills and stiles.
In the following fortnight look out for a selection of walks, ranging from a strenuous 10.5-mile hike from Eyam taking in ascents of 1,700ft and an evening bat walk starting in Matlock Bath to Nordic Walking in Darley Dale’s Whitworth Park and a 5am dawn chorus walk in Bradley Woods near Ashbourne.
Other festival starting points include Monyash’s Magpie Mine, Matlock’s Hurst Farm, Ashbourne, Rowsley, Middleton Top and the Lumsdale Valley.
Two family focused events are part of the programme during half-term week: a family nature walk around Ashbourne Park on Wednesday 27th May and a treasure trail in Bakewell Park the following day, Thursday 28th.
