Typical of the huge programme of local community outdoor events run throughout the year in the UK and set in the heart of picturesque Derbyshire, the annual Autumn Footprints Amber Valley & Erewash Walking Festival starts today offering sixteen days of walks up to Sunday 29th September 2019.
This popular walking festival offers a range of 42 guided walks over 16 days and has proved to be very popular with both inexperienced and experienced walkers. The walks, led by volunteers and staff from over 20 organisations, will take place in Amber Valley and Erewash. These two areas are well-known for their natural beauty, superb scenery, industrial heritage and attractive towns and villages.
All the walks are free of charge and will take place in areas of local heritage and natural history interest, taking walkers alongside rivers and canals as well as through towns and villages. The walks are of varying lengths and gradient, ranging in length from one mile to ten miles, offering something for everyone no matter what their interests or abilities. They are all led by knowledgeable local people who are enthusiastic to show off their local patch.
To give a flavour of the programme’s range, some of the walks taking place are:
- Walks suitable for families with children 5 years and above: Family Wellbeing Evening Safari Fri 20th at 5pm and Family Wild Wellbeing Safari Sat 10.30am – both are run by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and booking is essential – call 01629 533991.
- Short Heritage walks include – Historic Trees in Risley on Sun 15th at 2.15pm; Long Eaton Revealed on Mon 16th at 1.30pm; A Step Though Time: Ilkeston (2.5 miles) Thurs 19th at 1pm; “What’s Left in Langley Mill?” Sun 22nd at 2pm
- Longer Heritage walks include – Codnor Castle Circular (7 miles) on Mon 16th at 10.30am; Risley, Dale Abbey Stanton Circular (8 miles) on Tues 17th at 10.30am; In the Footsteps of the Rebels of 1817 [Ambergate] (6 miles) on Sun 22nd at 10.30am; Homage to the Canary Girls (8 miles) on Thurs 26th at 10am.
- Country walks include – Draycott, Ockbrook and Derby Canal (8 miles) on Sun 15th at 10.30am; Belper and Shottle (7.5 miles) on Wed 18th at 10am; Smalley Common, Woodside & Brackley Gate, (6 miles) on Tues 19th; Lee Dethick & Holloway (7.5 miles) on Friday 27th at 10.30am; A Walk through parishes along the Derwent Valley (10.5 miles) on Sun 29th at 10am.
- Health Walks and short strolls include Bell & Bridle (3 miles) on Tues 17th; Simon’s Walk Horsley Woodhouse & Horsley (3 or 2.5 miles) on Wed 18th; Ripley Urban Walk (4 miles) on Sat 21st at 10am; Old Hall Loop with Monday Strollers on Mon 23rd at 10.15am.
- Nordic Walking Taster sessions are on Sat 14th, Thurs 19th and Mon 23rd.
You can pick up a free comprehensive guide detailing all the walks and events from Shipley Country Park Visitor Centre or download the full leaflet from the bottom of the festival homepage.
ABOUT AUTUMN FOOTPRINTS
‘Autumn Footprints’ is the annual autumn walking festival organised by a partnership between Groundwork, Amber Valley Borough Council, Erewash Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council. Both boroughs have extensive ranges of countryside walks leaflets, created in partnership with Groundwork.
Groundwork Greater Nottingham is part of a federation of 20 local Trusts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland each working with their partners in deprived areas to improve the quality of the local environment, the lives of local people and the success of local businesses. It works on community regeneration projects in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
Traynor On The Trail 