Walkers at the Iron Bridge during the Ironbridge Gorge Walking Festival.
When: 29th April – 7th May 2017
Where: Ironbridge, Shropshire
£: Free, but booking is essential
What is it?
The Ironbridge Gorge Walking Festival, now in its 12th year, will take place from Saturday 29th April to Sunday 7th May.
The festival offers 57 free and varied walks, over nine days. All of the walks take place in and around Telford’s Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, where the Industrial Revolution began over 300 years ago.
From challenging all day hikes for the brave hearted, to family friendly trails and short informative walks, this year’s festival promises to have something to whet the appetite of all ages and abilities. The walks are guided by enthusiastic and informative leaders, and with the area’s Walkers are Welcome status, a warm welcome is guaranteed.
At this year’s festival there will be around 30 themed walks taking place, most of which are under 8 miles long. The walks are a great way to find out more about this interesting and historic area. Walks include the hidden gardens and orchards of the gorge, a mindfulness walk, a walk along ancient pathways, and a pub walk.
For the more seasoned walkers there are longer outings, taking in the whole of the gorge area during the festival. These walks are either around 11 miles long, or for the most serious walkers, between 15 and 21 miles long. The walks feature ‘Thankful Villages’, rivers, views, steep climbs, forgotten landscapes, and Medieval villages.
All of the walks aim to finish at around 4pm, giving participants plenty of time for a well-earned post-walk pint (or two)!
All of the walks are free, however pre-booking is essential as numbers are limited. Well behaved dogs on a lead are welcome on some walks, but visitors should check before booking.
More info: www.ironbridgewalking.co.uk