Featuring over 300 walks to suit all ages and abilities the Isle of Wight Walking Festival is set to be a must do event in 2012.

With more than half the Island is recognised as an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty the Isle of Wight has hundreds of miles of well-maintained footpaths.

A firewalk and a speed dating walk feature in a whole series of events planned for the festival.

The Speed Dating Walk to date has created three perfect matches all resulting in weddings. The first speed dating baby called Daniel was born in August.

The festival is in it’s 14th year.

Update Sunday 12 February 2012

The Isle of Wight will be featured in BBC Countryfile on Sunday 12th February

Matt Baker explores the locations where a real Warrior war horse was raised, trained and died and became a legend in the process.

Ellie Harrison tries her hand at winter surfing, testing out an original 50-year-old surfboard; and, two days before Valentine’s Day, Matt meets the singles hoping to find love on a speed-date walk.

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 

Details have been announced for the fifth National forest walking festival organised by South Derbyshire District Council.

Featuring more than 80 varied walks the event takes place this year between 19-31 May 2012.

Discover rolling English countryside dissected by meandering rivers & canals, dotted with picturesque historic villages.

At its heart The National Forest, an environmental project where 8 million trees have been planted – a massive “Forest for the nation” being created across 200 square miles of gentle countryside.

From a gentle stroll, walks for the whole family, walks suitable for wheelchair users, to longer more strenuous rambles for keen walkers, the packed programme  should have something for you.

More details are available in the festivals leaflet - National Forest Walking Festival

Keswick is perfectly located for an outdoor adventure, this scenic market town is right on the shores of Derwent water and surrounded by high fells.

Explore more from Keswick sponsored by Jennings offers four different easy to moderate walks;

Download Explore more from Keswick leaflet

• Derwent water and Castlerigg stone circle
• Cat bells and lingholm
• Glenderaterra beck and the old Keswick railway line
• Borrowdale and Watendlath

Located between the flanks of Skiddaw and the shores of beautiful Derwent Water, Keswick is a lovely market town and a favourite destination for fell walkers and climbers, with the Borrowdale valley just a short distance to the south.

Look out for Jennings pubs along the walks and enjoy a pint of Cumberland Ale – you’re never far away from a well-deserved glass of Jennings beer!

Before setting off on any of these walks please plot the route on an appropriate map: OS Landranger 90, OS Explorer OL 4, OS Explorer OL5

Jennings Ale Trails - Long Distance walks sponsored by Jennings Brewery, explore some great days out in the Lake District and Cumbria. With routes to suit all abilities, you will be sure to take in some great scenery, good food and real ale.
Explore more series focuses on; Cockermouth, Wasdale and Eskdale, Keswick and Elterwater

The Kentmere valley in the Cumbrian Lake District is an area of rolling countryside, valleys, woods, hedges and drystone walls.

These Staveley and Kentmere walking routes sponsored by Smartwool take in the Garburn Pass following the old drove roads and packhorse tracks

Download Staveley and Kentmere walking routes PDF

which offer a well-graded course over high ground.

A second walk follows a more steep sided and craggy route over the Western Ridge of Kentmere.

Averaging 6 – 7 hours, and 15 – 18km, these walks will take in mixed terrain.

Before setting off on any of these walks please plot the route on an appropriate map: OS Landranger 90, OS Explorer OL 7

Smartwool Routes - A set of golakes walking guides sponsored by Smartwool.
Each guide contains two walks designed to give both new and seasoned explorers inspiration to get out and discover more of this fantastic landscape.
Areas covered are; Ambleside, Keswick, Stavely and Kentmere.