Popular walking festival returns to Moorlands

The countdown is on for this year's Walking Festival which returns to the Staffordshire Moorlands this spring.

The event, which takes place from Friday 25 April to Monday 5 May, features a choice of walks each day ranging from leisurely to strenuous so there's something to suit everyone.

Most walks are free or low-cost and cater for a variety of interests whether you're looking for stunning scenery, rich wildlife, or a rewarding challenge or you want to fuel your local knowledge with historical walks and talks.

The walks are led by knowledge specialist walk leaders including those who can help you discover the spring flowers and plants that make this season so special.

Councillor Matt Swindlehurst, Cabinet member for Leisure and Tourism, said: "I can't think of a better place for a walking festival - the Moorlands offers everything from stunning landscapes to thriving towns and villages with a range of fantastic accommodation and hospitality businesses to choose from.

"So we're ideally placed to welcome walkers of all abilities and we're delighted to once again be hosting this popular event which proved to be such a success last year.

"Being outdoors and moving more is good for us both physically and mentally so do come and join one, or more, of the guided walks and experience the great outdoors we're so proud of in this part of the world."

This year's festival isn't just about walking - a range of talks, film screenings, and special events will also be taking place at locations across the Moorlands adding even more depth to the experience.

Ahead to the main event, everyone is invited to the festival launch at the Butter Market in Leek on 28 and 29 March. It's a great opportunity to learn more about the festival and find the perfect walk for you!

The 2024 Festival attracted over 900 attendees and featured over 50 walks and events. Over 30 organisations were involved and the festival website had an impressive 70,000+ visits.

Published on 20 March 2025