The 2020 Eastbourne Walking Festival takes a different path...

In light of the changes to government guidelines surrounding social gatherings, the Eastbourne Walking Festival has been reinvented into a celebration of self-discovery. Whilst all of the 70+ guided walks were cancelled, we are still promoting and encouraging people to take part in their own walks, in their own time and at their own pace.

We acknowledge that physical activity plays a vital role right now, so although we could not provide guided walks this year, we have put together a number of self-guided walks that you could undertake in your own time should you wish to do so. If you are not considered a vulnerable individual with underlying health conditions, and feel comfortable enough to follow these routes, then this may be of interest to you. Eastbourne Walking Festival encourages you to remain active when you can, but only if adhering to the new guidelines and restrictions put in place by the government. If you are in doubt about what these are, you can view them here.

Although our guided walks didn't happen this year, the Beat The Street game remains an active part of this year's walking opportunities. The seven week game encourages you to walk in your own time, on your own or with a friend. Pick up a card from one of the distribution points, register online, and head to as many beat boxes as you can. For more information on Beat The Street, click here.

We look forward to welcoming back our dedicated walkers and walk leaders again from 17 - 26 September 2021

Eastbourne Walking Festival is a ten day celebration of the great outdoors. The event acts as a springboard to promoting the health and wellbeing benefits of discovering walking as a way of life. This event is carefully curated to provide something for everyone despite your age or mobility and is designed to introduce and inspire visitors and residents of Eastbourne to the incredible trails, paths, and stories of discovery throughout this Victorian town that is nestled right at the gateway to the South Downs National Park. The Walking Festival pulls together knowledgeable volunteers and industry experts to put on a programme of walks and talks and is supported by numerous fringe events that complement the ten day offering. Sadly, due to COVID-19 and government restrictions on social gatherings, these are not able to take place this year, and instead we are promoting a number of self-guided walks that you can do in your own time. The festival aims to promote engagement in appreciation and conservation of the natural world from plant life, animal life and marine whilst improving the health and wellbeing of participants in the short term and the long.