The York Walking Festival is back next week – with a nine-day programme of ideas on how to explore the city on foot.
The festival is organised by the City of York Council’s iTravel team, to promote active travel in and around the city.
Activities include guided group walks, a York walking quiz, and lots of resources for exploring the city and ideas for walking more.
This year’s walking festival is taking place from Saturday 16 to Sunday 24 September 2023.
We’ve put together a list of all the guided walks as part of the festival this year – such as a Photography walk, Bat walk, and York Markets Walking Feast.
To find out more about York Walking Festival and to see the full list of walks and activities visit their website here.
Guided group walks
Saturday 16 September
Countryside Walk – minibus trip
A walk for people with a physical or mental disability who are confident walkers. Volunteers will be available to guide people with a visual impairment (subject to numbers – please specify when you book). Bring a packed lunch, drinks and suitable footwear and clothing for the weather. Walk organised by Open Country.
- Meet at York Railway Station
- 10am
- 5 miles, 6 hours
- To book your place contact Open Country on telephone: 01423 507227, or email: [email protected]
Bird-watching Walk
A walk for people who would like to see some of the wide variety of birds to be found on the university campus. Note – ground may be rough and muddy. Walk organised by York Ornithological Club.
- Meet at University of York, Campus East Interchange bus stops (Kimberlow Lane)
- 9:30am
- 2 miles, 1 to 1.5 hours
- No booking required
Around the world in 80 flowers
York’s streets are full of flowers from all over the world. Find out more about where our flowers came from, how they got here and some fascinating stories about their life and uses. The route passes through some less visited parts of the city but avoids steps. Walk organised by iTravel Team (City of York Council).
- Meet at Scarborough Bridge steps (near Marygate Car Park)
- 2pm
- 1.5 miles, 1.5 hours
- No booking required
Sunday 17 September
Green Corridors York – Fulford Ings to Millennium Bridge
Come and find out about the history of Fulford Ings, it’s significance as a floodplain meadow, the flora and fauna of the area and what St Nicks has been doing to help manage it. At Millennium Field, we will look at the work that has been done to preserve our endangered Tansy beetle and other local wildlife. A gentle walk, suitable for all abilities. Walk organised by St Nicks, Green Corridors team.
- Meet at End of Landing Lane, Fulford
- 9:30am
- 1.5 miles, 2 hours
- No booking required
York Cemetery Catacombs Tour
An underground peek into the rarely opened catacombs under the Chapel at York Cemetery. Then enjoy a short talk and fascinating walk around the cemetery with an expert guide. There are steps leading down to the catacombs. Walk organised by Friends of York Cemetery.
- Meet at Harriet Centre, York Cemetery
- Talk and tour 1pm and 2pm. Catacomb visits every 30 minutes from 12pm to 3pm
- 1 mile, 1 hour
- No booking required
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Monday 18 September
Rawcliffe Ramble
Enjoy a scenic walk in the fields around Rawcliffe. Walk organised by The Ramblers Wellbeing Walks.
- Meet at The Country Park Office (Rawcliffe Bar Park & Ride)
- 10:30am
- 2 to 4 miles
- No booking required
Tuesday 19 September
Dunnington Ramble
A countryside walk in the vicinity of Dunnington. Walk organised by The Ramblers Wellbeing Walks.
- Meet at The Cross Keys Pub, Dunnington
- 10:30am
- 3 to 4 miles, 1.25 to 1.5 hours
- No booking required
York City Walk
A city centre walk. Walk organised by The Ramblers Wellbeing Walks.
- Meet at Hungate Reading Café
- 11am
- 2 to 3 miles, 45 mins to 1 hour
- No booking required
Photography Walk
A walk to help people to get the most out of their smartphone camera. The walk would particularly benefit anyone without a GCSE maths qualification. Route not suitable for wheelchair users. Walk organised by Worker’s Educational Association and The Rowntree Society.
- Meet at Yearsley Baths
- 10am
- 2 miles, 2.5 hours
- No booking required
Wednesday 20 September
Museum Gardens Walk
A guided tour of the Museum Gardens, looking at archaeological remains, and the horticultural and cultural heritage of the site. The walk is wheelchair accessible.
- Meet at Yorkshire Museum
- 2pm
- 1 mile, 1 hour
- No booking required
City Centre walk
An easy short walk for people new to walking or not sure how far they can manage. Walk organised by The Ramblers Wellbeing Walks.
- Meet at York Art Gallery
- 2pm
- 1 mile, 30 minutes
- No booking required
Heworth Wellbeing Walk
A gentle walk in the Heworth area. The walk is aimed towards people who prefer not to walk too far or too fast. They are for anyone who would like to get some fresh air, get moving and all with some good, friendly company. Note: not all routes are suitable for people using mobility aids, please contact Movemates if you have mobility issues. Walk organised by Movemates York .
- Meet at Glen Gardens, East Parade
- 1:30pm
- 1 mile, 1 hour
- No booking required
York Bike Belles Walking Book Group
York Bike Belles run a monthly walking group, talking about books. For September the theme is ‘Parks and Gardens’. Walk on pavements and footpaths along the riverbank to Rowntree Park, over the Millennium Bridge to Cycle Heaven and stop for a coffee (own expense) and further book chat. The route is along pavements and off-road tarmacked paths. Walk organised by York Bike Belles.
- Meet outside York Explore, Museum Street
- 11am
- 1.5 miles, 1 hour walk plus a coffee stop
- No booking required
Thursday 21 September
Bat Walk
This walk is for people who would like to see and hear our most common bat species which live and feed in the grounds of the university campus. Note – ground may be rough and muddy at the start of the walk (on the grass). There are steps along the route but there are alternate ramps available. There are some short parts of the short walk that are slightly uphill. In terms of accessibility this walk could be categorised as easy to moderate and suitable for wheelchair users/ those with mobility issues Walk organised by East Yorkshire Bat Group .
- Meet behind the Natural Sciences Biology R block on Wentworth Way, University of York
- 7:30pm
- Less than a mile, 1 to 1.5 hours
- No booking required
Tang Hall Walk
A moderate walk around the Tang Hall area. Walk organised by Ramblers Wellbeing Walks.
- Meet at Tang Hall Explore Library
- 2pm
- 2 miles, 1 hour
- No booking required
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Friday 22 September
York Markets – Walking Feast
Introduction to the history of York’s market places, with snacks. The walk takes in stairs, uneven surfaces, and snickelways. Walk organised by Workerslunchtime.
- Meet at Visit York Information Centre
- 2:30pm
- 1.5 miles, 2 hours
- No booking required
Saturday 23 September
Campus Native Trees and Shrubs walk
A look at the native trees and shrubs to be found on the university campus and the benefits they provide to wildlife. The walk is unsuitable for wheelchair users. Walk organised by University of York Grounds Maintenance Team.
- Meet at Heslington Hall entrance gates (University Road)
- 10:30am
- 2 miles, 1.5 hours
- No booking required
Sunday 24 September
Southbank Foraging Walk
Join older and younger neighbours for a foraging walk to explore what edible plants are available on our doorstep, how we can identify them and what they can be used for. We will explore Millennium Fields, followed by Danesmead Wood before heading to Cycle Heaven for a free drink. Benches available, walk will be slow, but off-path, ground can be uneven. Walk organised by Social Connections.
- Meet at East side of Millennium Bridge, Millennium fields
- 10am
- 1.5 miles, 1 hour plus refreshments if you would like to join us
- You can turn up on the day, but booking in advance is preferred – contact Megan from Social connections on 01904 552898