Details have just been announced for two major walking events to be held in the Peak District.
More than 230 themed walks and outdoor activities – ranging from challenging hikes across open countryside to relaxed city, town and village strolls – are on offer during The Walking & Outdoors Festivals 2011, co-ordinated by Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, the area’s official tourist board.
Featuring themed walks on subjects ranging from history and heritage to water and wildlife, and outdoor activities from abseiling and cycling to Nordic walking and rock scrambling, the full programme – spanning festivals from April to mid-October – is now available in print and online.
Online booking will be available from Tuesday, 1 February 2011 for the first two festivals in the season – The Peak District Walking & Outdoors Festival (April 23 – May 8 ) and The Peak District’s Historic Border Country Walking Festival (May 14 – 22) .
Some of the highlights of The Peak District Walking & Outdoors Festival will be a five-day guided walk along the Derwent Valley Heritage Way, 30-kilometres long White Peak Cycle Rides from Parsley Hay, challenging routes on Kinder Scout and Bleaklow and less demanding walks in towns and villages such as Hayfield, Leek and New Mills.
Buxton photography competition
Photographers can also enter The Peak Photography Competition, organised in partnership by Visit Peak District & Derbyshire and Buxton Festival.
This year’s theme is Fire, and all entries must be received by 1 June 2011.
Further details can be found online at www.buxtonfestival.co.uk, or by calling 01298 70395
Peak District’s Historic Border Country Walking Festival
Included in The Peak District’s Historic Border Country Walking Festival will be the 34 miles long Chesterfield Round Walk, which can be tackled in sections; guided walks and boat trips on the Chesterfield Canal; guided walks from Chesterfield Football Club’s new ground and an evening ramble and pint in a village pub at Holymoorside.
Other festivals later in the year will be:
• The National Forest Walking Festival, Footsteps in the Forest, May 21 – June 1
• Amber Valley & Erewash Walking Festival, Autumn Footprints, September 10 – 25
• Derby Walking Festival, September 17 – October 15
Further details
An electronic copy of the Walking & Outdoors Festivals 2011 brochure can be browsed and downloaded from the tourist board’s website, while hard copies can either be ordered on-line or picked up from Tourist Information Centres in and around the area.
Tickets for The Peak District Walking Festival can be booked online at www.visitpeakdistrict.com/pdwf, or by telephoning 01538 483741.
Tickets for The Peak District’s Historic Border Country Walking Festival can be booked online at www.visitpeakdistrict.com/hbwf or by telephoning 01246 345777/8.