Taking place over ten days each September, Sheffield Walking Festival presents a whole host of enjoyable walks for a range of abilities, with plenty to see and discover along the way.
The festival celebrates all sides of Sheffield with routes of varying lengths and themes. You can explore the city’s varied heritage and fascinating suburbs on urban strolls or venture out to Sheffield's dramatic borders that overlap with the stunning Peak District National Park for something more challenging.
This year the festival will take place 6 - 15 September 2024 and will once again run alongside Heritage Open Days. Led by knowledgeable and experienced walk leaders, all the walks are free to attend, but you must be registered.
The 2024 Walk Programme will be announced in early summer 2024.
Sheffield Walking Festival is organised by the Sheffield Walking Forum in conjunction with Welcome to Sheffield and brings together a host of local outdoor communities and national organisations, such as the National Trust, Peak District National Park Authority, Ramblers Association, Heritage Open Days and Walkers Are Welcome.
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Saturday 7 September: A lovely walk in and around the beautiful Loxley Valley
Friday 6 September: A short, circular guided walk in the city centre led by local historian, Les Seaman.
Friday 6 September: A linear walk covering the entire length of the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal, from Rotherham back to Sheffield City Centre.
Saturday 7 September: An easy-going two-mile city centre discovery trail exploring how engineering has developed the city of Sheffield.
Saturday 7 September: A circular walk alongside Underbank Reservoir, through woodland, along bridleways, tracks, and moorland.
Saturday 7 September: Starting in High Bradfield, the walk passes St Nicholas’ Church before descending to Agden Reservoir, before the route then climbs above the reservoir and crosses moorland.
Sunday 8 September: Explore some of Sheffield's finest Ancient Woodland on this guided walk.
Sunday 8 September: Visit an outdoor gallery of paintings and murals in Kelham Island and Neepsend on this guided walk.
Sunday 8 September: Explore some of the highlights of Sheffield’s unique football heritage on this guided walk.
Monday 9 September: A circular walk covering the first half of the Sheffield Round Walk route.
Tuesday 10 September: This walk will take you on a tour of these forgotten but once bustling places, exploring the fascinating 900-year history and future of Castlegate—Sheffield’s regenerating “Old Town.
Tuesday 10 September: One of 3 walks from the Council for the Protection of Rural England celebrating the work of campaigner, Ethel Haythornwaite
Tuesday 10 September: A walk exploring the gardens via winding paths and 18 areas based on geographical themes, learning about its history and botanical features along the way.
Tuesday 10 September: A circular walk over Wadsley Common to Holdworth, Worrall and back again.
Wednesday 11 September: An easy-going circular walk in the Loxley Valley, looking at local history and heritage points of interest along the way.
Wednesday 11 September: The PDBW circumnavigates the National Park in 20 stages – and this section of Stage 9 is the closest to Sheffield.
Wednesday 11 September: An historic linear walk through lovely countryside using old ways.
Wednesday 11 September: A thorough exploration of Sheffield's most popular green space in the company of local experts.
Wednesday 11 September: A city centre walk, visiting the sites of Sheffield's theatrical history, including surviving venues, as well as the buildings of former theatres and concert halls.
Thursday 12 September: A short, circular guided walk in Sheffield City Centre Ied by local historian, Les Seaman.
Thursday 12 September: Ethels are the name given to the highest 95 points in the Peak District and four are visited on this circular walk starting and finishing in Hathersage.
Thursday 12 September: Explore the next planned route of the Upper Don Trail and the Trans Pennine Trail on a journey of contrasts.
Thursday 12 September: A linear walk covering the second half of the Sheffield Round Walk route in reverse,
Thursday 12 September: A short linear walk around West Bar visiting the historical sites of Sheffield's long gone music halls.
Thursday 12 September: A walk around Parkwood Springs, originally a medieval deer park, now a 150 hectare green space, which the ongoing masterplan sets out make into "Our Country Park In The City.”
Friday 13 September: A circular countryside walk from Totley, visiting seven historic halls of Sheffield and North East Derbyshire.
Friday 13 September: A walk over the access land of Wharncliffe Chase and Wharnecliffe Crags.
Saturday 14 September: One of Sheffield's finest inner city countryside walks, starting from Woodhouse railway station.
Sunday 15 September: A pleasant country walk between tram stops in the south-east of the city, on the border with Derbyshire.
Sunday 15 September: The most ambitious walk the festival has ever put on, combining a walk with music and commentary from a smart phone app. Led by the artist.
Sunday 15 September: A heritage walk tracing the origins of the main streets in Sheffield city centre.