Walking Festivals in Britain - May 2023 - page 1 - Walks Around Britain

Go to content
Walking Festivals in Britain - May 2023 - page 1
The Walking Festival programme got back to normal in 2022 after the relaxing of restrictions from the continuing Coronavirus situation.

Here's a list of all the walking festivals and related events we know about happening in May 2023.  

We've split May into two pages... so below are the festivals starting before the 14th May, and festivals from the 15th May onwards are on this page.


If you have any further information, please get in touch with us here.

May 2023

28th April - 1st May  -  CONFIRMED FOR 2023


Details for 2023 to follow - these are 2022's details...
Celebrate Spring's arrival at Talgarth's ninth Walking Festival. We have castles and mountains, red kites and otters, an ancient hill fort, burial mounds, waterfalls, and a restored watermill.

22nd April - 1st May   -  CONFIRMED FOR 2023


Details for 2023 to follow - these are 2022's details...
After two fallow years, the Haltwhistle Walking Festival Committee is - with fingers crossed - planning for the 2022 Festival.  2022 is a special year for Hadrian's Wall, as it will mark the 1900th Anniversary of its completion.  A number of wall-related events will be taking place during the year, and some of our walks will reflect this.

22nd April - 1st May  -   CONFIRMED FOR 2023


Details for 2023 to follow - these are 2022's details...
Set on the fringe of the beautiful Lake District the annual Ulverston walking festival celebrates the town and surrounding area’s rich history.  The festival programme will offer walks for all ages and abilities including the Sir John Barrow Amble, a walk in the footsteps of the Quakers, "Walks for Wheels", nature walks and map reading activities.

29th April - 8th May   -  DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


Frodsham Festival of Walks is a series of guided walks around the Frodsham area, organised by Frodsham Town Council each year.

30th April - 8th May  - DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023

Nine days of walks for everyone to explore Garstang and its beautiful countryside surroundings in the 16th year of the festival.

30th April - 8th May  - DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


This year's festival is offering 60 walks over 9 days in and around the Ironbridge Gorge.  There is something for all abilities from short 3 or 4 mile afternoon or evening walks to all day treks with a different walk of approximately 20 miles on 7 of the 9 days and everything in between.
If you have not been before you have nothing to lose (well perhaps a couple of pounds!) and the opportunity to make some new friends.  To those who have joined us before, we look forward to welcoming you back, as friends.

30th April - 5th June -  DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


This exciting new Festival aims to provide a huge variety of outdoor activities to enjoy whilst showcasing all that this amazing part of the country has to offer in terms of sports, recreation, exploration, discovery and fun...
DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


ride2stride is a festival of walks, talks and music along the fabulous Settle-Carlisle railway line.  It's a week long celebration of the wonderful landscape and culture of the western Dales and Eden Valley.  The festival is made up of lots of events and activities and things will be happening along the length of the line. Walks will be led from stations by experienced walk leaders. Speakers will share their local knowledge and love of the area, and the pubs will be buzzing with music and song.

1st - 30th May  -  DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


This year, the GM Walking Festival returns to May.  Find out more at the website.

1st - 31st May  - DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


The city’s hugely popular, annual walking festival – Bristol Walk Fest, a celebration of walking and walks throughout the city, takes place again throughout the month of May.  Now in its seventh successful year, regularly attracts over 500 walkers from across the city and beyond.  Each year there is a variety of walking events on offer. Whether you like historical tours, nature walks, exploring street art, walking sports, or you just want to get fit and enjoy some fresh air, there is something for everyone.  The mostly free events are for all ages from young to old and all levels of fitness are welcome – walk distances range from less than a mile to more than ten.

1st - 31st May  - DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


Alton Walking Festival, which is now in its 10th year and returning bigger and better than ever with over 100 led walks, is a truly friendly walking event, ideal for enthusiastic walkers, relaxed wanderers and curious explorers of all ages. The festival is the ideal opportunity for the local community and visitors from further afield to meet like-minded people, explore the Town and its surrounding villages and discover the superb Hampshire countryside with its abundance of wildlife and rich cultural heritage.

2nd May  -  DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


Bingley Walkers are Welcome are very pleased to announce their fifth one day Walking Festival to be held on Bank Holiday Monday.  After the success of 2019, the hope is to make this one even better.  There will be five walks on offer – one more than last year – all starting from Market Square but at different times.

5th - 8th May  -  DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


Bishop’s Castle is a small market town surrounded by the wonderful Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty, near the Welsh border and off the beaten track.  It is a welcoming place.  The 21st walking festival offers a great choice of four walks every day, all beautiful, all guided by local people who know the area.  Walks vary between five and sixteen miles.  They take walkers over wide open hills, through winding valleys, tiny hamlets and past ancient hill forts.

6th - 9th May  -  DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


The Kendal Walking Festival offers an opportunity to explore this wonderful town, with its roots embedded so deeply in the peaceful  landscapes that surround it.  The festival has something for everyone regardless of his or her walking capabilities, including an appearance of the town's most famous resident - the original walking writer Alfred Wainwright.


This is the fifth year of the Kendal Walking Festival, and there are 14 walks and events on offer throughout the four days.

6th - 12th May -  DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


A week of guided walks exploring the wild hills, rugged coastline and rolling countryside of Galloway, south west Scotland.
6th - 14th May  -  CONFIRMED FOR 2023


The 10th Stevenage Walking Festival features a choice of walks, walkers can walk every day for a week, all locally on their doorstep. Stevenage has some fine walking areas, both within the boundaries of the Borough, and in the surrounding countryside.

7th - 15th May  - DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


Following its rebirth in 2018, the Isle of Wight Walking Festival returns with local and visiting walkers of all ages and abilities setting off on trails across the Island’s picturesque landscape.  Walkers will get up close and personal with the best of the Island's stunning scenery, as they journey from the beautiful chalky cliffs of the west coast to the lush green rolling hills of the east.

7th - 15th May  - DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


The Coleford area abounds in natural beauty, intriguing history and is a playground for outdoor pursuits.  It has been crying out for its own walking festival. Coleford Area Walking Festival has been a collaborative project led by Coleford Area Partnership and Coleford Town Council and will play host to 25 walks over an 8 day period.
13th - 15th May -  DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


A long walking weekend with routes from 5km to 42km (26 miles) in Northamptonshire.

13th - 15th May  - DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


On the Welsh border, this Roman-age town hosts a weekend festival that includes walks that explore the history of the area.

13th - 15th May  - DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


The MK Walking Festival consists of a variety of walks, held across two days, for all ages and abilities to come together and explore somewhere different.

13th - 16th May  -  DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


The Arran Mountain Festival is an exciting four day event of guided walking and scrambling in the Isle of Arran’s hills and mountains.

14th - 22nd May  -  DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


Enjoy the Chesterfield Area on foot, discovering our moorlands including Big Moor with its stone circles, searching out wildflowers in ancient woodlands, and going on a treasure hunt around Spital Cemetery. Explore history in the landscape on the George Stephenson – Rocket Man walk or a Tale of Two Pits. Help Clean Up Chesterfield or go on a Bumblebee Safari. Discover hidden secrets on the Unstone Line or step out on the Family Adventure Journey.

14th - 26th May  -  DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


Join us for a host of varied walks to explore this ever changing landscape.  With over 70 to choose from there walks to suit every taste and ability, from gentle strolls to strenuous rambles and routes to cater for seasoned walkers as well as pushchairs, wheelchairs and family groups.

14th - 29th May  -  DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED FOR 2023


Celebrating natural and built heritage, the Suffolk Walking Festival has 70 guided walks over 16 days, across Suffolk’s outstanding landscapes, wild countryside, rolling hills, forests, along spectacular riverside, to iconic coastal beauty spots.  With lots of weekend, evening and family walks, the programme has accessible, short, medium, long distance walks, and some challenging walks. There is something for everyone!

Tune into bats on a twilight safari through ancient woodland.   Discover a dragon in the iconic Stour Valley, explore Hawkedon’s horizons through idyllic green villages, celebrate 75 years at RSPB, one of the most special places in Suffolk.  Hear stories of smugglers and shipping routes at Dunwich Heath.   Spend time watching Sweep the sheepdog in action, managing a herd of rare breed sheep on Orford Ness Nature Reserve, where wildlife now thrives upon its unique environment where weapons were tested.
Subscribe to Walks Around Britain+

About Us

Join us for short walks and walking info from Britain's leading digital walking destination
Walking routes, information, walking festivals, gear reviews
on the website, social media, radio/podcast, DVD, books and television.
Back to content