WALKERS ARE WELCOME

This year’s Suffolk Walking Festival runs from 13 to 28 May and offers over 70 walks over 350 miles across Suffolk. 

Walk with an archaeologist in the Valley of the Kings at very heart of an Anglo-Saxon Kingdom.  Explore the heart of The Brecks in a unique landscape of gorse-covered sandy chalk soils characterised by purple heathland, tall pines and rare wildlife.  Uncover the hidden history of West Stow Country Park.  Discover the Island of Secrets on the mysterious Orford Ness. Experience Spring Wildlife at RSPB Minsmere. Meet the Blyth Otter Group watching estuary birds at Hen Reedbeds. Learn about the poet Edward Fitzgerald.  Spectacular riverside walks include a River Orwell Ramble, a Martlesham Meander, and Waldringfield Wander along the River Deben.  You can also try some Japanese Shinrin-yoku Forest Bathing.  And there’s starlit adventure on a woodland night exploration at Sutton Hoo. 

A brand new 4 day Challenge Walk, being run jointly by Sudbury Ramblers and Clare Walkers from 14 to 17 May, will take you to and through the five medieval Wool Towns of Clare, Sudbury, Hadleigh, Lavenham and Long Melford!   Clare Walkers have also entered three other walks in the Festival, including a walk in the countryside surrounding Clare, and a wellbeing and a Nordic walk.

 Also included this year are the ever-popular Walk n’ Water River trips with a boat in Sudbury; an exclusive walk with Sweep the sheepdog on Orford Ness; a twilight safari in an ancient woodland; and the intriguing stories of ancient smugglers and shipping routes on Dunwich Heath.  Lots of walks for everyone, heritage trails, and foraging walks including cream teas.

Tickets are on sale from early March. Visit:

www.suffolkwalkingfestival.co.uk for more details and buy your tickets early, especially for the ones in Clare!

Bingley Walkers are Welcome held their annual Walking Festival on May Day, Bank Holiday Monday.
The event which is now in its fifth year attracted over two hundred and twenty walkers who enjoyed a choice of four walks along with a taster session for Nordic Walking.
“Harden Moor and More” was an eight mile walk taking in Druids Altar, Harden Moor and Cullingworth before heading back into Bingley via Blackhills and Beckfoot.
“The Bingley History Walk” was a very popular choice which took walkers on a tour of the town whilst discovering more about its history.
The four mile “Aire and Altar Walk” went along the River Aire and then enjoyed views over the Aire Valley as it returned to town via Blakey Wood.
The final walk in the afternoon was the “Eldwick Farm and Fields” walk which was a three mile walk past farms and fields and over the gallops of High Eldwick.
Myrtle Park was the venue for the Nordic Walking taster session led by Discover Nordic Walking and was also a popular choice.
The group also hold regular second Sunday in the month walks meeting at Bingley Arts Centre at 10 a.m. No prebooking is necessary.
For more details take a look at www.bingleywalkersarewelcome.org.uk