Walkers are Welcome Group

Following the success of our first walking festival last year, the Walkers are Welcome team are organising a Boots and Steam walking festival, Friday 8 to Sunday 10 April inclusive, with even more walks to choose from.

Starting on Friday 8 April, you will have a choice of a guided town walk and a 5 mile walk looking at the industrial history of Pickering. In the evening, you can discover the secrets of the local countryside under cover of darkness.  Don’t forget to bring a torch and spare batteries, and we’ll get you back to town in time for a pint.

On both Saturday 9 April and Sunday10 April, there’s a choice of many walks ranging in distance from 2.5 miles to 15 miles.  On both days two of these walks will include rides on the North Yorkshire Moors Steam railway.  Other walks will be using a mini bus, and there are also some circular walks from Pickering.

In addition, there will be some special themed walks throughout the weekend including “Forgotten railways south of Pickering”, a photography walk and a nature walk.

Our leaders are all volunteers and include National Park rangers, North Yorkshire County Council rangers, plus members of our three local walking groups.

East Ironworks, Rosedale

On Saturday evening, take your boots off and come and join us in the Whistler Room at the Memorial Hall, for an evening’s entertainment with local folk and acoustic singers and musicians.  All profits from this will be donated to St Catherine’s Hospice.

Detailed information and booking forms are available from the Tourist Information Centre and Trailblazer Outdoors, and can also be found on our website at www.pickeringwaw.btck.co.uk.   Pickering Tourist Information Centre will be handling all bookings, and they can be contacted at 0800 854047 or 01751 473791.

We would like to thank our sponsor, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, without whom we would have great difficulty staging this event.  We also thank our other supporters, who include Black Swan Hotel, Bramwood Guesthouse, Flintofts Ironmongers, Pickering Town Council, Pickering Tourist Information Centre and Trailblazer Outdoors.

The Pickering Walkers are Welcome website (www.pickeringwaw.btck.co.uk) is updated regularly with what the local group is doing, and there is also information on the national website (www.walkersarewelcome.org.uk).  And of course, you can also call us on
01751 477325 or 077 5280 1488 for further information.

For you safety and comfort, numbers on all walks will be limited, so please don’t miss out – book early.  There will be something for everyone, from short, special interest walks to a 15 mile linear challenge walk.

Come and join us!