Bristol Walk Fest launch

This year, Bristol Walk Fest is launching its month-long walking festival with an inaugural group walk across The Downs, followed by talks from members of the Bristol walking community. The launch event takes place on Wednesday 1st May and is hosted by event sponsors Ellis Brigham at their shop on Whiteladies Road.

The group walk, led by Bristol Ramblers, will start from the water tower on The Downs at 5.30pm, visiting Goat Gully and the Sea Walls before finishing at the Ellis Brigham store by 6.45pm, ready for the main event. From 7pm you’ll hear from our speakers:

• Robin Tetlow – author of Beyond Bristol: 24 Country Walks, Beyond Bristol 2: 24 More Country Walks and Beyond Bristol Again. These brilliant books comprise Robin’s 72 favourite walks within an hour’s travel of the city centre, condensed from over 25 years’ exploration.
• Sophie Brown – founder of Bristol Steppin Sisters, a walking group that aims to help motivate women of colour to foster an interest in walking and visit places they would not have ventured to otherwise. Sophie will be undertaking a solo 80-mile walk around the South West Coastal Path on 2nd May.
• Bristol Hiker Girls – Charlotte and Becky run this wonderful meet-up group for womxn that now has over 1,700 members on Facebook. The group provides an opportunity to link up with friends and meet new people whilst enjoying all the benefits of the great outdoors.
• Hannah Atkinson – founder and walk leader at Queer Hiking Bristol, a walking group that encourages the LGBTQ+ community into the outdoors. They provide a safe space and various walk lengths to bring people together to connect with nature and each other.

Karen Lloyd, Bristol Walk Fest Director and co-director of our Active Lives HIT, is looking forward to another jam-packed festival programme. She says:

“This year we’re bringing the walking community together to hear about the opportunities and challenges of walking in and around Bristol. It’s the first time we’re hosting a launch event since the pandemic and we hope it inspires new walkers to attend the festival.”

Limited tickets for the launch event are available to purchase online, so get yours before they’re gone! There is a small cost associated with the event to cover the costs of running it.

If you only wish to join for the walk, there is no need to purchase a ticket.

Book your place