Sheffield Walking Festival
Strap on your boots and explore Sheffield on foot!
Taking place over ten days each September, Sheffield Walking Festival presents a whole host of enjoyable walks for a range of abilities, with plenty to see and discover along the way.
The festival celebrates all sides of Sheffield with routes of varying lengths and themes. You can explore the city’s varied heritage and fascinating suburbs on urban strolls or venture out to Sheffield's dramatic borders that overlap with the stunning Peak District National Park for something more challenging.
This year the festival will take place 8 - 17 September 2023 and will once again run alongside Heritage Open Days. Led by knowledgeable and experienced walk leaders, all the walks are free to attend, but you must be registered.
The 2023 walks programme is listed below, you'll need to click through to your chosen walk and then register your place via Eventbrite on the booking link in each listing.
Sheffield Walking Festival is organised by the Sheffield Walking Forum in conjunction with Welcome to Sheffield and brings together a host of local outdoor communities and national organisations, such as the National Trust, Peak District National Park Authority, Ramblers Association, Heritage Open Days and Walkers Are Welcome.
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Walk event programme 2023
Sheffield Old Town - Echoes of the Past
Friday 8 September: Learn more about Sheffield’s fascinating industrial heritage, on an urban stroll starting from Sheffield Cathedral.
The Norfolk Heritage Trail
Friday 8 September: Walk Sheffield’s most popular historical trail in the company of its creator.
7 Halls in 7 Miles
Friday 8 September: A circular countryside walk from Totley, visiting seven historic halls of Sheffield and North East Derbyshire.
Niagara to the Bridge of Uitred – a Gem of the Upper Don Trail
Friday 8 September: A walk along a section of the Upper Don Trail to Oughtibridge.
Scrumping in Handsworth
Saturday 9 September: Visit four nature reserves and an abandoned orchard around the parish of Handsworth.
Sheffield: A Civilised Place
Saturday 9 September: An easy-going two-mile city centre discovery trail exploring how engineering has developed the city of Sheffield.
Pretty Estate, Common, Fields, Woods & River
Sunday 10 September: A circular walk with members of the Good Companions walking group, from Hillsborough to Oughtibridge, via Loxley Common.
Liz Hanks ‘Land’ - A Musical Audio Walk
Sunday 10 September: The most ambitious walk the festival has ever put on, combining a walk with music and commentary from a smart phone app. Led by the artist.
Sheffield Street Art
Sunday 10 September: Visit an outdoor gallery of paintings and murals in Kelham Island and Neepsend.
Sheffield Home of Football Walking Tour
Sunday 10 September: Explore some of the highlights of Sheffield’s unique football heritage on this guided walk.
A Load of Old Halls
Monday 11 September: A tour exploring the surprising wealth of history around some of the old buildings in North Sheffield.
A Section of the Inner City Round Walk
Monday 11 September: Walk a section of the revamped Inner City Round Walk, exploring the green spaces around Sheffield Manor Lodge.
In Search of the Hidden Porter Brook
Monday 11 September: Follow the emerging Porter Brook Trail, starting from the hidden confluence with the River Sheaf below Platform 5 of Sheffield Railway Station.
The Ancient Woodlands of the Gleadless Valley
Tuesday 12 September: A circular walk through beautiful ancient woodland.
A Short History of Professional Theatre in Sheffield
Tuesday 12 September: A city centre walk, visiting the sites of Sheffield's theatrical history, including surviving venues, as well as the buildings of former theatres and concert halls.
Heritage Walk in the Loxley Valley
Wednesday 13 September: An easy-going circular walk in the Loxley Valley, looking at local history and heritage points of interest along the way.
A Historical Pub Crawl Around Castlegate
Wednesday 13 September: A pub crawl without drinks.
Free Social Walk with the National Trust
Wednesday 13 September: Explore the history and wildlife of Longshaw with National Trust walk leaders.
Highs and Lows of Bradfield
Thursday 14 September: An exploration of the countryside and reservoirs around the parish of Bradfield, on Sheffield's wild western side.
Dore & Totley Delights via the Back Doors
Wednesday 13 September: A varied walk of about 10 miles through the open countryside in and around Dore & Totley.
Sheffield Old Town - Echoes of the Past
Thursday 14 September: Learn more about Sheffield’s fascinating industrial heritage, on an urban stroll starting from Sheffield Cathedral.
From Tip to Tail – the next phase of the Upper Don Trail
Thursday 14 September: Explore the next planned route of the Upper Don Trail and the Trans Pennine Trail on a journey of contrasts.
Parkwood Springs - from Deer Park to Country Park
Thursday 14 September: A walk around Parkwood Springs, originally a medieval deer park, now a 150 hectare green space, which the ongoing masterplan sets out make into "Our Country Park In The City.”
Tales of City Centre Music Halls
Thursday 14 September: A short linear walk around West Bar visiting the historical sites of Sheffield's long gone music halls.
Longshaw Viewpoints
Friday 15 September: A walk in the Peak National Park starting from the Longshaw Estate.
Step Out from Totley to Holmesfield's Historic Houses
Friday 15 September: A circular walk with stunning views in the southern suburbs, visiting three historic manor houses along the way.
Oughtibridge and Worrall
Saturday 16 September: A hilly walk exploring the countryside out towards Stocksbridge.
Following the River Porter
Saturday 16 September: A walk along one of Sheffield's five rivers, following it from leafy suburbs into the city centre.
Sheffield's Waterfront - Past, Present and Future
Saturday 16 September, 12pm: A guided tour of the canal basin in partnership with the Castlegate Festival.
The Sheffield Round Walk
Sunday 17 September: The full challenge of the 15 mile Sheffield Round Walk through the varying greenspaces of the city's south western suburbs.
A Stroll Around Stannington
Sunday 17 September: Situated on high ground between the Loxley and Rivelin Valleys, Stannington is one of the most popular areas for walking in the city.
Sheffield Street Art
Sunday 17 September: Visit an outdoor gallery of paintings and murals in Kelham Island and Neepsend.
Sheffield Castle - Site History and the Future
Sunday 17 September, 12pm: A short tour round the site of Sheffield Castle as part of the Castlegate Festival.
