The Chesterfield Area Walking Festival boasts two weeks of guided walking activities taking in the beautiful Chesterfield landscape.

From the 12th – 20th May 2012, you can choose from over 55 walks, many of them free of charge.

A clear and concise website details daily walking events

Enjoy the Chesterfield area on foot, discovering pretty villages, exploring beautiful bluebell woods or treading the Cuckoo Way alongside the ‘Haunted Canal’.

Take in some history as you follow in Elizabeth Shrewsbury’s footsteps around Hardwick, get up with the birds to hear the dawn chorus or follow the Chesterfield Murder Walk – if you dare!

Looking for a challenge?  Try the Chesterfield Round Walk, a 34 mile trek through countryside surrounding the town.  Or brave the 20 mile Beast of Bolsover.

If that’s all too much, try the Five Circular Walks – five walks of around 10 miles each through a variety of countryside.

Most walks are free so there’s no excuse not to join in, and every excuse to have a pint at the end of several of them.  All are led by a fully trained guide who knows the history, wildlife and the best countryside to walk through (as well as the best pubs to visit) in the beautiful Chesterfield landscape.

The Chesterfield Area Walking Festival website lists the events daily with clear information about facilities, suitability and booking details.

More information

Chesterfield Area Walking Festival website 

Family walks in Eskdale sponsored by Sprayway contains two walking routes around Eskdale, perfect for families.

Download Family walks in Eskdale leaflet

This leaflet contains two walking routes around Eskdale, perfect for families.

There is a shorter route for little ones and a longer one for the more adventurous.

Forest glades and dry stone walls, crystal clear rivers and becks, all topped off with the magic of a narrow gauge steam railway (Ratty), make Eskdale the perfect place for a family adventure.

Before setting off on any of these walks please plot the route on an appropriate map: OS Landranger 96, OS Landranger 89, OS Explorer OL 6,

Sprayway Family Walks – A series of golakes walking routes perfect for families is sponsored by Sprayway.
Starting from classic destinations throughout the county there is a shorter route for little ones and a longer one for the more adventurous, so the whole family can get out and enjoy the best of the Adventure Capital.
Coniston, Buttermere, Patterdale, Borrowdale and Rydal areas are fetaured in this set.

Family walks from Patterdale sponsored by Sprayway contains two walking routes around Patterdale perfect for families.

Download Family walks from Patterdale leaflet

Patterdale is a small village close to lake Ullswater and is popular with walkers who go to climb famous peaks such as Helvellyn (England’s third highest mountain).

Local folklore suggests that Patterdale is named after St.Patrick (381-461 AD), who walked there after being shipwrecked on Duddon Sands.  It is said that he preached at a holy well and gave his name to the valley of “Patrichesdale”.

Ullswater is the second largest lake in the Lake District and may have been named after the Viking lord Ulfr.

Donald Campbell achieved his first world water speed record on Ullswater on 23rd July 1955, when the jet-propelled Bluebird K7 reached a speed of 202.32 mph.

Before setting off on any of these walks please plot the route on an appropriate map: OS Landranger 90, 

Sprayway Family Walks – A series of golakes walking routes perfect for families is sponsored by Sprayway.
Starting from classic destinations throughout the county there is a shorter route for little ones and a longer one for the more adventurous, so the whole family can get out and enjoy the best of the Adventure Capital.
Coniston, Buttermere, Patterdale, Borrowdale and Rydal areas are fetaured in this set.

Family walks near Rydal sponsored by Sprayway contains two walking routes around Rydal and Loughrigg perfect for families.

Download Family walks around Rydal and Loughrigg leaflet

Rydal is a small hamlet in the heart of the Lake District.  It is close to a small lake of the same name; Rydal Water. The poet William Wordsworth lived at the house called Rydal Mount from 1814 until his death in 1850.

Both walks start and finish at Rydal Water car park and follow the same directions until you reach Rydal Caves.

Little ones can complete the shorter green walk and older ones can carry on up the longer Blue Route before meeting back at the car park.

Before setting off on any of these walks please plot the route on an appropriate map: OS Explorer OL 7,

Sprayway Family Walks – A series of golakes walking routes perfect for families is sponsored by Sprayway.
Starting from classic destinations throughout the county there is a shorter route for little ones and a longer one for the more adventurous, so the whole family can get out and enjoy the best of the Adventure Capital.
Coniston, Buttermere, Patterdale, Borrowdale and Rydal areas are fetaured in this set.

Family walks in Buttermere sponsored by Sprayway contains two walking routes around Buttermere perfect for families.

Buttermere and Scale Force

Download Family walks in Buttermere leaflet

Since the early days of the first Victorian tourists, the walk around Buttermere has become a bit of a classic.

The footpaths hug the lake shore closely and although there are a few ups and downs, they are fairly tame.

There are lots of opportunities to explore including becks, trees, gravel beaches and even a short exciting section of tunnel.

Green Route (Short)

A 7km, 2-3 hour route along lakeside paths and bridleway from the centre of Buttermere village, towards Honister Pass.  Cross Peggy’s Bridge and join the  Burtness Wood bridleway.  The walk return to Buttermere village

Blue Route (Long)

A longer route 12km, 4-5 hours, follows a start similar to the green route and then proceeds along Crummoch Water.  From Scales Beck, the road climb more steeply to the foot of Scales Force.

Return back along Crummock Water and into Buttermere village.

Before setting off on any of these walks please plot the route on an appropriate map: OS Landranger 89, OS Explorer OL 4,

Sprayway Family Walks – A series of golakes walking routes perfect for families is sponsored by Sprayway.
Starting from classic destinations throughout the county there is a shorter route for little ones and a longer one for the more adventurous, so the whole family can get out and enjoy the best of the Adventure Capital.
Coniston, Buttermere, Patterdale, Borrowdale and Rydal areas are fetaured in this set.