By Joshua Robinson –
After a four-year hiatus, the South Pennines Park Walk and Ride Festival will return to encourage people to explore the beauty of the park area.
Taking place in the South Pennines region, which spans from Blackburn to Huddersfield and Oldham to Ilkley, the festival promises a celebration of outdoor activities, inclusive routes, and immersive experiences for all.
Scheduled to run throughout September 2023, the South Pennines Park Walk and Ride Festival is set to captivate adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
Now the festival organisers are looking for people to add their own events to the festival’s itinerary for people to enjoy as part of the celebration.
This year’s festival:
This year’s edition will showcase various activities, including walking, biking, and horse riding, inviting participants to explore the breathtaking beauty of the region’s landscapes – and organisers want to include and promote more events that people can choose from.
One of the festival’s key highlights is its commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. Recognising the importance of providing opportunities for everyone to enjoy the great outdoors, the South Pennines Park Walk and Ride Festival will offer an inclusive and accessible route specifically designed for those with physical limitations. This ensures that individuals of all abilities can participate and engage with the festival.
Moreover, the festival will introduce e-routes tailored for the housebound community, allowing individuals to virtually embark on immersive journeys through the South Pennines from the comfort of their homes.
This addition to the festival demonstrates the festival’s dedication to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, can partake in the festivities and appreciate the region’s natural wonders.
Marsden Moor
Rebecca Royce from South Pennines Park said: “We want to continue the success of the Walk & Ride festival by providing a month-long event to encourage and support people to get outdoors.”
“We want all our walks to be accessible to everyone, especially those with disabilities or who are from least economically advantaged groups or culturally diverse communities. But to do that, we need organisations, charities, and community groups to help us to deliver these fun and exciting events.”
Rebecca added: “We have found that working with others to deliver the Walk & Ride Festival allows us to have a bigger impact on communities leading to greater numbers of people accessing nature more consistently into the future.”
What South Pennines Park is looking for:
The type of events that the festival is looking for are:
- Events aimed at beginners, intermediates, or experts.
- Events aimed at children, families, adults, elderly or accessible.
- Events that have a theme like getting into nature, discovering heritage, how to navigate, cycling adventures, exploring bridleways, etc.
- Workshops that could help people learn more about activities like cycling, navigating or horse trekking.
How to get in touch:
If you can co-create and help deliver events for the Walk & Ride Festival, your events will be promoted through the South Pennines Park channels, and some funding may be available to support the delivery of the event.
To register as part of the festival, contact Rebecca Royce at rebecca.royce@southpenninespark.org before Sunday, 17th July.
To learn more about South Pennines Park, please click here.
Please watch KLTV’s video about the South Pennines Park Awards 2023 here.
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