The 2008 festival was a great success, attracting 500 individuals to 68 guided walks throughout the area. This was a massive 48% increase on the previous year which in itself was a healthy 31% increase on 2006. The festival is now creating its own interest and so I would like to think will grow again for 2009.
Next year’s festival is being created. There is a wide choice of guided walks on offer, more than half being within Exmoor. This will be the 9th walking festival, attracting many like-minded walkers to the area. The guides are made up of locals, rangers, wardens and landowners. All the local guides, rangers and wardens have current first aid certificates and mountain leader guide training qualifications.
A Quality Walking Festival
Quality is what this festival is all about. Quality guides, quality walks and quality scenery. No walks are repeated, keeping up the quality. You'll love it!
To give you a taste of some of the speciality walks we have for 2009:
¨ Two photographic walks on flowing water at two different locations in Exmoor with Ross Hoddinott, a local professional photographer
¨ Two bush craft walks with Jon Simons on tracking at two different locations on Exmoor
¨ Flying a bird of prey walk with Exmoor Falconry
¨ A walk around the Mineral Line on Exmoor
¨ Red deer and Exmoor pony search walks
¨ Sense and Sensibility walk at Hartland with Sir Hugh Stucley
¨ Clovelly village and coast with Hon John Rous
¨ WWII on Braunton Burrow Biosphere Reserve
¨ Learn navigation walk on Exmoor
¨ Woody Bay Light Railway walk for families
¨ A rock pool ramble on Croyde beach with Shorelife
¨ The ever-popular Lundy Island day out and walk
¨ Walks on the history of locations on Exmoor with the rangers.
The ‘standard’ walks range from half-day walks of about 3 miles up to full day 11 mile walks. There is something for all abilities, from the experienced to those new to walking. Friendly local guides add the extra knowledge to make the countryside come alive.
The Guided Walks
I have left last year’s walks on the site so that you can see what sort of outings are usually available during the festival. The new walks for 2009 will replace those by early December. The festival brochure should also be ready for mid December. Booking walks can take place from then onwards on this site or by phone.
If you are new to this walking festival then you might like to be added to the festival database to ensure you get told when the brochure is ready. Or revisit this site after mid December when I will have hopefully updated it.
