Exeter gets ready to put its best foot forward
By Community Correspondent
Exeter is getting ready to put its best foot forward, with the city's first ever Walking Festival taking place from 12 to 20 September.
Organised by Wellbeing Exeter, the nine-day festival will invite people to discover the city on foot, with everything from gentle group walks and themed routes to walking sports, foraging and community events.
There will be opportunities to explore Exeter's history and green spaces, follow riverside trails and discover neighbourhoods from a different perspective — with walks designed to welcome people of different ages and abilities.
Organisers hope the festival will show just how easy it can be to get active while also bringing people together and encouraging more sustainable ways to travel around the city.
Paul Mouland from Wellbeing Exeter said Exeter was particularly well suited to a festival celebrating walking.
“Exeter is blessed with an abundance of great outdoor space, and we are looking forward to seeing people of all ages and abilities get involved in this fun event,” he said.
The festival will also bring together organisations from across the city, giving people the chance to discover activities and groups they might not otherwise come across.
The week will culminate in The Great West Walk, organised by Exeter City Community Trust.
And the walking doesn't stop there.
Just a week later, on Saturday 26 September, people will have another chance to pull on their walking shoes for the Exeter Chiefs Foundation Charity Sponsored Walk.
The 12km route takes in sections of Exeter's Green Circle before finishing at Sandy Park — where participants will be rewarded with a pasty and a pint, as well as a free ticket to watch the first Premiership game of the season that afternoon.
This year's walk also has an important message behind its distance.
St Petrock's is the main charity sponsor for the first time, and the route is 12km because that is the distance an average homeless person walks each day.
The event offers a chance to enjoy a walk through Exeter while helping raise awareness and support for people experiencing homelessness in the city.
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So whether you're looking for a gentle stroll, a chance to meet new people, an excuse to explore somewhere you've never walked before — or simply a good reason to get your trainers on — September is shaping up to be a very good month for walking in Exeter.
The full Exeter Walking Festival programme and booking details are available through Wellbeing Exeter, while information and registration for the Exeter Chiefs Foundation Charity Sponsored Walk can be found through the Exeter Chiefs Foundation.
