The first ever Dartmoor Walking Festival in 2016 was a great success and the very positive feedback really supported the idea of it becoming an annual event which is absolutely fabulous.
Therefore Moorland Guides have now organised the 2017 event which will be held on the similar week at the end of August into September. The dates will be from Saturday 26th August to Sunday 3rd September inclusive which means that this will be the last bank holiday week of the summer.
Gleaning information from last year’s event we will be putting on another very varied event with as many events as possible and a number of organisations have already committed their support again this year. We will have a variety of walks for all abilities, accessible events as last year and also taster sessions in other outdoor activities.
The Ramblers, National Trust and other walking providers such as “Spirit of Adventure” are keen to support the festival and full details will again be in a program which be both online on the www.dartmoorwalkingfestival.co.uk website as well as a paper printed program.
Last year we raised over £1000 for the British Heart Foundation in their final year of running their annual moorland challenge. This year we will be raising funds for a really important charity – the Search and Rescue Dogs of Dartmoor who do so much to support the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Teams in all quarters of the moor.
The week will be very clearly marketed as “Dartmoor on your Doorstep” with the chosen time of the year again being the last week of the summer holiday encompassing the August Bank Holiday weekend to start it off and ending in the first week of September. This will hopefully allow our visitors to stay on just the extra week to enjoy all that Dartmoor had to offer, but to also encourage our locals to come out onto the moors before the children go back to school and learn about the Dartmoor which is there on their doorsteps every day of the year.
We will be putting on several events each day during the nine-day festival ranging from modest guided strolls and children’s rambles to full day walks and ambitious challenges! There really will be something for everyone.
The Dartmoor National Park are fully supporting the week with Ranger-led walks as well as archaeological visits and events and we are delighted to also have the support of those who live and work on Dartmoor within the Dartmoor Commoner’s Council.
Our aim was to have at least four events each day during the nine-day festival, but that has been far-exceeded so there really is something for everybody.
The Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team is also supporting the week and if you have ever wondered what they do out in the dark when searching for missing walkers then come and join them on an evening exercise to find out more!
The week is only limited by your imagination so come along, come and explore Dartmoor on your Doorstep and find out more about this incredibly special place.
In the meantime keep an eye on the website at www.dartmoorwalkingfestival.co.uk and the organisers at www.moorlandguides.co.uk for more information.
Simon Dell
Moorland Guides
Tele 07845 176870
Email enquiries@moorlandguides.co.uk
