Bristol’s month-long walking festival, Bristol Walk Fest, has a new closing celebration, the Walk:Bristol event.
The Walk:Bristol event on Saturday, May 31 has a choice of four marshalled walks of varying distances, from five to 20 miles. Participants are encouraged to raise sponsorship for good causes, and organisers promise to donate any profit the event may make back to Bristol Walk Fest, to help ensure it continues in the future.
Staggered starts and signposted routes mean that walkers covering all distances will finish the last sections of their walks together, going around Bristol Harbourside and through the old city en masse before convening in the event village in Castle Park. Stalls from Bristol Walk Fest supporters and walk providers will welcome participants with a party atmosphere and a chance to find out more about opportunities for walking in the city.
The first ever Walk:Bristol event is organised by mass participation event organisers GoodMiles, in collaboration with Bristol Walk Fest.
Bristol Walk Fest director Karen Lloyd said: “This event is a fitting close to our month full of walking opportunities in the city, with all the benefits to health and wellbeing that walking brings, and a chance to say thank you to all our walkers, walk providers and supporters for taking part. Do come along!”
Joff Charters, event director of Walk:Bristol, added: “We are really excited to be the finale event of the Bristol Walk Fest programme. I benefit daily from the scenic walking opportunities and easy access to green spaces and woodland our beautiful city offers, and want to showcase that for others. We cannot wait to support participants of all abilities around the Walk:Bristol routes on Saturday 31 May.”
Registration, fees and discounts
Registration for the first-ever Walk:Bristol is now open.
Visit www.walkbristol.co.uk to sign up. Participants can also fundraise for a local cause.
Entry fees: 5 miles £20 / 10 miles £25 / 15 miles £30 / 20 miles £35.
Registration, using the code Bristol 0325 before the March 31 early bird deadline qualifies for a 20% discount.
Bristol Walk Fest is an annual festival taking place across the city during the whole of May. It has been running for more than 10 years, and organisers encourage people of all ages, interests and abilities to walk to enhance their health and wellbeing, and to enjoy being outside in the city.
Bristol Walk Fest brings together dozens of walking providers and local organisations, and coincides with May being Living Streets’ National Walking Month.
Bristol Walk Fest aims to be the UK’s leading urban walking festival, and to raise the profile of Bristol as a walking destination. The city offers a huge diversity of walks, and we want to celebrate that, while bringing people together in a way that benefits individuals, communities and the environment.
Bristol Walk Fest produces a printed programme and online calendar of walks and events. Past walks have included guided walks, tours, talks, workshops and family events. Walks are curated into different themes including walking for pleasure; nature and wildlife; health and wellbeing; arts, culture and history; and walking sports.
In 2024, more than 80 different walk providers delivered more than 170 walks and events, with approximately 3,300 people participating. Bristol Walk Fest is aiming for at least 80% of the walks to be free to the public.
