York Walking Festival

The York Walking Festival returns from Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October 2026, with guided walks across York and the surrounding countryside. It's a council-backed initiative, supported by the City of York Council, and the whole thing is built around the simple idea of getting out and seeing the city and the landscape on foot.

The walks are led by local guides, and there's a fair bit of variety to pick from. You'll find themed routes like the Bat Walk and the Fungus Foray, alongside heritage walks and accessible routes for people using mobility aids and buggies. One of the guides is Richard Taylor, known as 'The History Man', whose walks tend to look at a different side of York's past—lawbreakers and the dramatic siege of 1644, rather than the usual Romans, Vikings and Saxons. Councillor Kate Ravilious, the council's executive member for transport, describes York as a wonderfully walkable city, and the festival is a good excuse to actually do it.

There's a health angle to it too. The festival points to NHS guidance that regular physical activity can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some cancers, and cut the risk of early death by up to 30%. If you've been meaning to get more active, this is a low-pressure way to start.

All the walks are free to attend, though some require booking in advance, so it's worth checking the details for the ones you're eyeing up. A leaflet listing all the walks is put into community hubs at the end of August, so keep an eye out for that if you want to see the full programme before you commit.