This year's Wolverhampton Walking Festival is set to be the biggest and best yet, offering 36 activities over eight days.
The seventh annual festival, organised by the City of Wolverhampton Council's Healthy Lifestyles Service, takes place from Saturday 13 May until Sunday 21 May, and promises to take people off the beaten track by exploring different parts of Wolverhampton and the surrounding area.
With walks for people of all ages and abilities, there’s sure to be something for everyone. Highlights include guided walks around local beauty spots including West Park, East Park, Pendeford Mill, Northycote Farm, Bantock Park and the Smestow Valley and the annual 12-mile long Walking for Health Challenge Trail. All the walks are free, though some must be pre-booked.
The eight-day programme is as follows:
Saturday 13 May:
- Bushbury Health Walk, moderate 90-minute walk over Bushbury Hill and around Northycote Farm, 10am, meet at St Mary's Church Hall.
- Bantock Park Tree Trail, easy two-hour walk and history talk, 1pm, meet at the car park.
- Perfect Paths of Perton, difficult five-mile walk, 2pm, meet at Perton Civic Centre car park.
- Figure of Eight Walk, difficult 10-mile walk to Penn and Bradmore using hidden pathways and green ways, 10am, meet at Broad Street Canal Basin.
- West Park History Walk, easy two-hour walk around Wolverhampton's premier park, 2pm, meet at Southgate Lodge.
- First World War Memorial Walk, 90-minute moderate walk and talk around the City's memorials, 10am, meet at the Civic Centre.
- Pattingham Circular, difficult seven-mile walk around the village, 10am, meet at Pattingham Village Hall.
- West Park Timed Health Walk, complete at your own pace or have a go at a timed mile, 10.15am, meet at the shelter, Devon Road entrance.
- West Park Outdoor Gym Class, free 30-minute taster session, 10.45am, meet at the shelter, Devon Road entrance.
- Wednesfield Park and King George V Playing Fields Health Walk, moderate 60-minute walk around the park, 2pm, meet at Wednesfield Library.
- Worfield to Ackleton, difficult eight-mile walk through stunning countryside, 10am, meet at Worfield Village Hall.
- Bantock Park Health Walk, easy one-mile walk around the park, 10.30am, meet at the café.
- West Park Outdoor Gym Class, free 30-minute taster session, 10.45am, meet at the shelter, Devon Road entrance.
- West Park Toddle Waddle health walk, easy one-mile walk for parents and carers with babies and toddlers in buggies, slings or toddling - older siblings also welcome, 11.30am, meet at the Albert Road entrance.
- Ramble on the Reserve, moderate three-hour ranger-led ramble around Smestow Valley Nature Reserve, 12.30pm, meet at the car park.
- Pendeford Natural History and Wildlife Walk, moderate two-hour ranger-led walk around Pendeford Mill Nature Reserve, 10am, meet at the car park.
- East Park Timed Health Walk - complete at your own pace or have a go at a timed mile, 10.30am, meet at the changing rooms.
- West Park Outdoor Gym Class, free 30-minute taster session, 10.45am, meet at the shelter, Devon Road entrance.
- Deaf Walk, West Park, easy, deaf-friendly health walk with BSL walk leaders, noon, meet at the café.
- Heritage Health Walk, moderate 90-minute exploration of Jeffcock Road cemetery, 2pm, meet at Bantock Park café.
- Fordhouses Health Walk, moderate 90-minute health walk including a short refreshment break at Northycote Farm café, 2pm, meet at the Moreton Arms pub.
- Castlecroft Rail and Canal Routes, difficult five-mile ramble along the Staffordshire Railway Walk and canal tow path, 6.45pm, meet at the Firs Inn.
- Birds of the Valley, moderate two-hour ranger-led walk around Smestow Valley Nature Reserve, 9am, meet at the former railway station.
- West Park Outdoor Gym Class, free 30-minute taster session, 10.45am, meet at the shelter, Devon Road entrance.
- Northycote Farm Health Walk, moderate 60-minute walk around the nature reserve, 10.30am, meet at the café.
- Culture Walk, moderate 90-minute walk and talk around Wolverhampton Art Gallery and the City Archives, 11am and 2pm, meet at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
- Aldersley Health Walk, moderate 90-minute walk up the 21 Locks route to Broad Street basin and back, 6pm, meet at WV Active Aldersley.
- Highgate Hike, difficult five-mile walk around Highgate Common and beyond, 10am, meet at Birch Coppice car park.
- Pendeford Health Walk, moderate three-mile walk around the green spaces of Pendeford, 10.30am, meet at Oasis Community Café.
- Nordic Walking session at West Park, moderate one-hour taster sessions, 10.30am and noon, meet at Southgate Lodge.
- West Park Outdoor Gym Class, free 30-minute taster session, 10.45am, meet at the shelter, Devon Road entrance.
- Walking for Health Challenge Trail, moderate and difficult four, seven or 12-mile way-marked and marshalled walking trails in aid of the British Heart Foundation, 9.30am, meet at WV Active Aldersley, pre-booking essential (no entries on the day).
- East Park History Walk, easy two-hour tour of the historic park, 1pm, meet at the Pavilion.
- Perfect Paths of Perton, difficult five-mile walk, 2pm, meet at Perton Civic Centre car park.
- Over Orton, difficult eight-mile circular walk along the canal and former railway line, 10am, meet at the former Wombourne Railway Station car park.
- West Park Health Walk, easy walk around the park, 10.30am, meet at the café.
“Walking can improve your health and happiness, so it’s also a great way to get or stay in shape and also discover parts of the City you may not have seen before. Everyone is welcome, and best of all, the walks are totally free.”
The Wolverhampton Walking Festival is organised by the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Healthy Lifestyle Service, with support from WV Active, the British Heart Foundation, Nordic Walking UK, the Ramblers Association, Wolves Community Trust, Wolverhampton Art Gallery and Wolverhampton Civic and Historical Society.