In this blog post, we chatted to Beccy Golding, our very own marketing manager. Beccy started working for Bristol Walk Fest this January, and says she’s loving learning all about it. But when it comes to walking, she’s not exactly a novice . . .
How are you involved in Bristol Walk Fest?
As well as working for Bristol Walk Fest, I’ll be co-leading a walk this year. My friend and I are both clowns – not the circus-type, the Bristol kind who are all about play, being in the moment and embracing all our human qualities, sensible and silly. On Saturday 10 May, we are leading an ‘Idiot’s Trundle’ with a picnic on the Downs – any clowns, fools and playful folk are welcome to join us.
Tell us a bit about Bristol Walk Fest?
Bristol Walk Fest was launched in 2013 by the council’s Walking for Health team, and since then it’s evolved from a one-week event to a month-long celebration of all things walking. It’s now one of the largest urban walking festivals in the UK.
How many walks are there?
There is an astonishing amount happening! We have over 75 walk providers offering 145+ unique walks, and more than 400 walks altogether. About 3,300 people took part last year and we hope to beat that in 2025.
What types of walks are there?
We have walks for all abilities and use a key in the programme to highlight accessible walks, those suitable for people with visual impairments or wheelchair users, buggy-friendly walks, ones where dogs on leads are welcome, etc.
Walks take between 30 minutes to six hours; distance-wise the shortest are under a mile, with many are under five miles, and a good selection go up to 10 miles. We have walking skills courses, and our grand finale, Walk:Bristol on 31 May, is a day-long mass participation event with a choice of five 20-mile walks all starting and ending at Castle Park.
Walks are categorised under nature and wildlife; art, history and architecture; health and wellbeing; walking sports, and walking for pleasure. We have everything from story and pirate walks to Nordic walking and foraging, sculpture trails, neighbourhood explorations and walking tennis.
How much does it cost?
We want the festival to be truly accessible to everyone who lives in or visits the city, so we aim for at least 80% of walks to be free. The walks which charge usually offer a special BWF discount which is factored into the price shown in the programme.
Where is your favourite place to walk?
When friends from out of town visit you can’t beat a circuit of the harbour and a stomp up Park Street to Cabot Tower. If you can get to the top of a hill anywhere in the city you can see green hills and countryside.
I also I love the there-and-back-again walk through Nightingale Valley.
What do you like about Bristol Walk Fest?
Walking is free, accessible to all and doesn’t require special equipment to get started. Sometimes overlooked as a form of exercise, it can help build stamina, burn excess calories and improve heart and bone health. Even a brisk 10-minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and Bristol Walk Fest delivers this in spades.
Bristol Walk Fest also provides a great chance to discover something new about the city, explore a new area or try walking for the first time. With a choice of free walks every day of the month you’re bound to find something to pique your interest.
Image: Beccy out on a walk. Credit: Lucy Heard