English Riviera Walking Festival back in June

Photo: Ruth Archer/Pixabay

The English Riviera not only boasts some of the best weather in the UK, but also has many perfect walking paths.

The English Riviera Walking Festival is returning with more than 20 guided walks from the 14th to the 22nd of June.

The Riviera covers the coastal part of Devon that includes Brixham, Torquay and Paignton. The South West Coast Path takes in the Riviera coastline, and it is also a UNESCO Geopark. Of the 140 Geoparks around the world, the English Riviera is the only seaside resort with this status.

Thirteen of the 24 walks on the website are new additions for the 2025 festival. The walks range from 1.5 miles to 15 miles, and are labelled from easy to strenuous depending on the length and terrain. However, keen hikers can do a 27-mile two-day walk that takes in the entire coastline.

On the 15th, there is a walk themed around wine, as well as a musical walk to explore the connections between the area and the music industry – such as the first Radio 1 roadshow being broadcast from the area in 1973.

The following day, June 16th, there is an art walk, history walk, another Agatha Christie themed walk, and an opportunity to combine walking with birdwatching.

The festival continues with more history walks, a foraging walk, food-inspired walks, nature trails and a yoga walk. The event closes with several free self-guided walks.

The event kicks off, or walks off, with three events on the first day, June 14th. There is a three-and-a-half hour Shore to Sea Adventure, which costs £49 per person and includes three miles of walking and a boat trip to explore parts of the Geopark. Other highlights of the first day include a four-mile Queen of the Crime Waves walk to honour Agatha Christie, which currently costs £12 per person, rising to £15 after the early-bird booking discounts end on April 17th.

The walks also have a limited number of spaces.

The festival is not for profit, and is staged by the English Riviera BID Company in partnership with Torbay Council. Ticket sales allow for professionally-guided tours and to showcase the English Riviera to a wider audience.  

For more information, and to book walks, visit the festival website.