Chilterns Walking Festival is Back

Living Magazines Walkers at the Chilterns Walking Festival_Credit Chilterns Conservation Board

Now in its third year, the Chilterns Walking Festival has established itself as one of the main contenders in the region’s bountiful events calendar. With more walks, more activities, more crafts and more dates, this October’s Festival is set to be bigger and better than ever.

The Chilterns autumn Walking Festival runs from Saturday 5-20 October 2019 with over 80 guided walks in the beautiful Chilterns.

The walks provide opportunities to meet artists, craftspeople, farmers, archaeologists, historians, countryside rangers, food producers and storytellers of the Chilterns, and each walk is guided by an experienced walk leader who will bring their story to life.

Whether you’re interested in sampling local drinks and produce, finding out about the history of the Chilterns heritage, or trying out a new activity or experience with your family, there is something for everyone at the Chilterns Walking Festival.

Here’s just a sample of the types of walks on offer:

  • Family Friendly: From Iron Age time travelling and stunning autumnal walks with breathtaking views, to ghostly tales from the riverbank, there are many walks perfect for getting outdoors and spending quality time with the family
  • Explore and Discover: The Chilterns is brimming with history and heritage and with so many places to explore it is no surprise that there are many walks offering the chance to discover more about our rich heritage and precious ancient landscapes. Why not take a ride on a heritage steam railway from Princes Risborough to Chinnor, explore and discover Grims Ditch or hear the story of the 1830 machine breakers’ riot
  • Learn and Do: Whether it’s mastering tree identification, practising map and compass navigation, or having a go at Nordic walking or a watercolour workshop, there are lots of opportunities to get involved and try something new
  • Food & Drink: What better way to end a scenic walk than by sampling some of the fabulous food and drinks by local producers. Why not try a gentle guided walk around Wilstone Reservoir Nature Reserve followed by a distillery tour and gin sampling? Or sample the famous ‘Bedfordshire clangers’ on a ranger-led walk around the beautiful Barton Hills National Nature Reserve and Farm
  • Storytelling: For those looking to escape the everyday and immerse themselves into something a bit different, why not try one of the storytelling walks such as Ghostly tales from the Riverbank: complete with hooded monks, phantoms and headless horsemen
  • Health & Wellbeing: Focused on sharing techniques and tips to increase health and improve general wellbeing, organisers have developed a number of walks from yoga and mindfulness to a visit to Amaravati Buddhist monastery

Chilterns Conservation Board People and Society Officer Annette Venters said: ‘We are delighted to be offering lots of new walks to spark interest and add to the mix. There are still plenty of challenging hikes, but we’ve included a greater number of shorter walks too, with the emphasis on learning and discovery, meeting the people and producers of the Chilterns, and spending time in inspiring landscapes.’

With over 80 guided walks, activities and events, the 16-day Chilterns Walking Festival has been designed to appeal to different age groups, interests and levels of fitness. There will be walks for young families, for people with limited mobility or with canine companions.

Details of all guided walks, events and activities available in the autumn programme can be found on the website www.visitchilterns.co.uk/walkingfest. Most are free of charge though some require a small fee which is clearly shown. To assist walk leaders with expected numbers, most events must be pre-booked. There’s already been lots of interest, so please do book early to avoid disappointment.

Image courtesy of Chilterns Conservation Board