High Weald Walking Festival 2025: Post-Event Round-up
28 October 2025
What a fantastic time we had at this year’s High Weald Walking Festival – huge thanks to everyone who came out to explore this historic landscape with us!
Walkers from across the Southeast and beyond learned about the area’s rich history and archaeology, listened to poetry inspired by the landscape, enjoyed sweeping vistas and tranquil ancient woodland – and even made some new friends along the way.
Festival Highlights and Statistics
- Volunteer leaders from a range of organisations hosted more than 600 people.
- The Festival included 58 walks, our highest number of walks since the Festival began in 2018.
- Walks took place from Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 September.
- Despite weather warnings for wind and torrential downpours at the start, walkers turned out regardless and mostly managed to dodge the showers to be rewarded with magnificent views of our medieval landscape.
Share Your Feedback
If you came out for a walk and haven’t already completed our feedback form, please do let us know how you got on using our short online feedback form. It will help us plan an even better event for next year:
Special Thanks to Our Walk Leaders
Thanks also go to the many organisations and individuals who gave their time to lead a walk this year; we really couldn’t do it without you:
- Ashdown Forest Conservators
- Battle Health Walks
- West Sussex County Council at Buchan Country Park
- East Sussex Health Walks (TCV)
- Forestry England at Bedgebury Pinetum
- Groundwork South at Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve
- Hop Pickers’ Line Heritage Group
- Jemma Borg
- Kent High Weald Partnership
- Kent Wildlife Trust
- Maidstone Ramblers
- Michael Blencowe
- RSPB – Broadwater Warren
- Sussex Wildlife Trust
- Tenterden & District Local History Society
- Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
- West Kent Walking Group
- William Robinson Gravetye Charity
- Worth Abbey Estate
See You in 2026!
Dates for next year
We’re delighted to announce that next year’s festival will take place from Saturday 12th to Sunday 20th September 2026.
Please put the dates in your diary – we’d love to see you there!
Thanks again from The High Weald Walking Festival Team (High Weald Walkers, Battle Ramblers, Mid Sussex Ramblers, Rother Ramblers and the High Weald National Landscape Partnership) and see you in 2026!
About the High Weald Walking Festival
- The High Weald Walking Festival offers FREE guided and self-guided walks for all, every September.
- Whether you’re a newbie, looking to graduate from health walks or a seasoned hiker, there’s a walk for you.
- Now in its 8th year, the event is a collaboration between several local branches of the Ramblers and the High Weald National Landscape Partnership.
- The Festival aims to help walkers of all abilities explore and learn about the historic and beautiful High Weald landscape.
- Participants are led by experienced and knowledgeable guides from a range of organisations with a passion for the countryside.
