Eastbourne Walking Festival returns with socially-distanced events

Eastbourne Walking Festival is back this year packed with socially distanced events.
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The popular event will see more than 70 free walks around our beautiful countryside from September 18-27.

Keen ramblers can enjoy a spot of mindfulness with specialist wellbeing walks, as well as Nordic walking, historical outings, and even tours of dew ponds and zebra crossings.

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Following Ramblers Association and government advice, walks of up to 30 people can take place, making the festival an ideal and safe outdoor event.

Eastbourne Beat the Street and Walking Festival are back (photo by Peter Cripps) SUS-200409-102518001Eastbourne Beat the Street and Walking Festival are back (photo by Peter Cripps) SUS-200409-102518001
Eastbourne Beat the Street and Walking Festival are back (photo by Peter Cripps) SUS-200409-102518001

As well as limiting numbers to 30, walk leaders are receiving additional training on leading walks safely to comply with current government guidelines.

From the gruesome history of Dr Bodkin Adams in the Meads-based walk ‘Where the Downs meet the sea’ to the development of Victorian Eastbourne, Terminus Road and the archaeology of the South Downs, there is something to stimulate the mind of every budding historian.

Follow in the footsteps of Roman soldiers and smugglers in the Ancient Peelings Lane walk at Pevensey, uncover the ‘Norway’ area of Eastbourne, the Old Coach Road to Firle or discover the site of the Second World War Friston Aerodrome and the lost village of Exceat in a challenging walk from East Dean to the Cuckmere Valley.

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Eastbourne’s Heritage Manager will be revealing the shaping of the Downs over 5,000 years, while Eastbourne Downland Group highlight sustainable foraging of ‘food for free’ from nature, and ‘The Coach by the Sea’ Kirsty Peckham brings Mindful Walking to feed the soul.

For some spiritual wellbeing, Polegate and Eastbourne Ramblers will be taking walkers on a pilgrimage to six downland churches and the Seven Sisters Challenge awaits from the Cuckmere to Eastbourne.

Launching on September 18 with the return of ‘Beat the Street’, residents and school children are also encouraged to put their best foot forward and explore the streets of Eastbourne, recording each journey by tapping one of the many ‘Beat Boxes’ located on lampposts around the town.

Eastbourne council tourism boss Councillor Margaret Bannister said, “In a year of cancellations, it is encouraging to see so many walkers and walk leaders really embracing this event.

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“With such a strong programme, this really is the perfect opportunity to discover something you did not know about Eastbourne, or simply continue to improve your fitness or mental wellbeing by enjoying some of our most treasured outdoor surroundings.

“I would urge everyone to book well in advance, with numbers limited and most walks being free, many walks look set to fill up well before the event.”

To book visit www.eastbournewalkingfestival.com

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