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York Walking Festival timetable

York Walking Festival timetable

These are the walks taking place during the 2024 York Walking Festival. They are all free and return to the starting point, unless stated otherwise.

Check this page before heading off to the walk, just in case there are last minute changes.

Find walks for:

River Foss - wildlife and history

River Foss, history, wildlife and conservation walk organised by the River Foss Society.

  • location: meet at Huntington All Saints Church (car parking available)
  • time: 10.30am
  • duration: 2 miles, 1 hour 30 minutes

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. Please note: ground may be rough and muddy. Organised by York Ornithological Club.

  • location: meet at entrance to Heslington Church, Field Lane
  • time: 2.00pm
  • duration: 2 miles, 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes

Bat Walk

See and hear our most common bat species which live and feed in the grounds of the university campus.

The walk is easy to moderate and suitable for wheelchair users and many with mobility issues. There are steps along the route but there are alternate ramps available. There are some short parts of the walk that are slightly uphill.

Walk organised by East Yorkshire Bat Group.

  • location: meet behind the Natural Sciences Biology R block on Wentworth Way, University of York. Buses to near the starting point are the 6, 66, and 67. Parking available (use What3Words to find the Bat Walk location)
  • time: 7.30pm
  • duration: Less than a mile, 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes

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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. Organised by Friends of York Cemetery.

  • location: meet at Harriet Centre, York Cemetery, Cemetery Road
  • times: 11.00am to 3.00pm. Tours take place throughout the day
  • duration: 1 mile, 1 hour

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 - specify when you book). Bring a packed lunch, drinks and suitable footwear and clothing for the weather.

Walk organised by Open Country.

  • location: meet for the minibus at York Railway Station
  • time: 10.00am
  • duration: 5 miles, 6 hours

To book your telephone: 01423 507227 or email: info@opencountry.org.uk.

Foraging Walk at Rowntree Park

Now fully booked.

Local forager Carl Wain will be talking about the different plants in Rowntrees Park, which ones are edible and different uses of the plants. We'll discuss how you can forage safely and will also be recording the flora we find so we can start to get a better understanding of our immediate environment and if there are any changes in the plant life over the years. Some parts of the walk will be off-path.

Walk organized by Planet Southbank.

  • location: Rowntree Park, at the bottom of the steps below Rowntree Café
  • time: 2.00pm
  • duration: Less than one mile, 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes

Dogs welcome (on a lead). No age restriction - children welcome.

Hob Moor History Walk

A walk looking at the history of this large public open space in Acomb. The moor was alleged to have been given to the poor by a knight called Hob. It was used as a home for plague victims, as a brickworks, a golf course, a cavalry training ground and for sport. The walk will feature some fascinating stories about the Moor.

Walk organized by Friends of Hob Moor.

  • location: Meet at The Hob Stone on Little Hob Moor, off Tadcaster Road
  • time: 2.30pm
  • duration: 1 mile, 1 hour

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Rawcliffe Ramble

Enjoy a scenic walk in the fields around Rawcliffe, organised by Ramblers Wellbeing Walks.

  • location: meet at The Country Park Office (Rawcliffe Bar Park & Ride)
  • time: 10.30am (moderate), 10.30am (fast)
  • duration: 2 to 4 miles

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Dunnington Ramble

A countryside walk in the vicinity of Dunnington, organised by Ramblers Wellbeing Walks.

  • location: meet at The Cross Keys Pub, Dunnington, YO19 5NG
  • time: 10.30am
  • duration: 3 to 4 miles, 1 hour 15 minute to 1 hour 30 minutes

York City Walk

A city centre walk, organised by Ramblers Wellbeing Walks.

  • location: meet at Hungate Reading Café (YO1 7AF)
  • time: 11.00am
  • duration: 2 to 3 miles, 45 minutes to 1 hour

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Nordic Wellbeing Walk - cancelled

City Centre walk

An easy short walk for people new to walking or not sure how far they can manage. Organised by Ramblers Wellbeing Walks.

  • location: meet at York Art Gallery
  • time: 2.00pm
  • duration: 1 mile, 30 minutes

Wildwatch walk - St Nicks

A weekly walk looking at the wildlife to be found within this popular local nature reserve.

  • location: meet at St Nicholas Fields Nature Reserve, Environment Centre Gate, Rawdon Avenue
  • time: 10.00am
  • duration: 1 to 1.5 miles, 2 hours

Multi-sensory Nature Walk

This multi-sensory nature walk will allow people to experience their surroundings using their senses, smartphone technology and good old pencil and paper. Part of York Environment Weeks.

  • location: Meet at the entrance to Berrick Saul Building, Harewood Way, University of York
  • time: 12.00pm to 1.00pm
  • duration: 1 mile, 1 hour

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Tang Hall Walk

A moderate walk around the Tang Hall area, organised by Ramblers Wellbeing Walks.

  • location: meet at Tang Hall Explore Library.
  • time: 2.00pm
  • duration: 2 miles, 1 hour

York Bike Belles Walking Book Group

York Bike Belles run a monthly walking group, talking about books. 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.

  • location: meet outside York Explore, Museum Street. Return to starting point is optional
  • time: 11.00am
  • duration: 1.5 miles, 1 hour walk plus a coffee stop

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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.

  • location: meet at Yorkshire Museum
  • time: 1.30pm
  • duration: 1 mile, 1 hour

Movemates Wellbeing Walk

A group walk aimed towards people who prefer not to walk too far or too fast, with plenty of opportunity to sit and chat along the way.

  • location: meet at Clifton Green, next to Cut & Go Barbers
  • time: 1.30pm
  • duration: 1 mile, 1 hour

Email: york@movemates.org.uk or telephone: 01904 373017 to book.

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Urban River Foss Walk

A look at the wildlife and history of the River Foss as it passes through the city centre, ending at The Blue Bridge. There will be some steps.

  • location: meet beside the River Foss on Foss Islands Road at the junction with Peaseholme Green and Layerthorpe
  • time: 10:30am
  • duration: 1 mile, 1 hour 30 minutes

Book a place on the Urban River Foss Walk online.

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 - specify when you book). Bring a packed lunch, drinks and suitable footwear and clothing for the weather.

Walk organised by Open Country.

  • location: meet for the minibus at York Railway Station
  • time: 10.00am
  • duration: 5 miles, 6 hours

To book your place by telephone: 01423 507227 or email: info@opencountry.org.uk.

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Rawcliffe Lake Walk

A walk around Rawcliffe Lake looking at the wildlife and scenery along the route. The route is surfaced without steps and is wheelchair accessible. Organised by iTravel York (City of York Council).

To reach the lake take bus 6 going towards Clifton Moor and get off at the Lakeside Primary School bus stop, which is adjacent to the lake.

  • location: meet at the entrance to Rawcliffe Lake on Oakdale Drive (near to Lakeside Primary School)
  • time: 10:30am
  • duration: 1 mile, 1 hour 30 minutes

Nordic Walk for all - cancelled

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A walk through 1000 trees

Discover the 1000 UK varieties of trees in the Modern section of York Cemetery with Friends of York Cemetery. Donations welcome. Telephone: 01904 610578 for more information.

  • location: meet at Harriet Centre, York Cemetery
  • time: 2.00pm
  • duration: 1.5 miles, 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours

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