Autumn Footprints Amber Valley & Erewash Walking Festival

Set in the heart of picturesque Derbyshire, the Autumn Footprints Walking Festival takes place from Saturday 11th to Sunday 26th September 2021.

This Walking Festival offers a range of 29 guided free walks over 16 days, and has proved to be very popular with both inexperienced and experienced walkers. The walks, led by volunteers and staff from over 20 organisations, will take place in Amber Valley and Erewash. These two areas are well known for their natural beauty, superb scenery, industrial heritage and attractive towns and villages.

The Walking Festival will begin on Saturday 11th September 2021 with the first walk of the festival at Shipley Country Park Visitor Centre. All walks during the festival are booking only – so please remember to book your place.

All walks are free of charge, and will take place in areas of local heritage and natural history interest, taking walkers alongside rivers and canals as well as through towns and villages. The walks are of varying lengths and gradient, ranging in length from one mile to ten miles, offering something for everyone no matter what their interests or abilities.

Please see www.autumnfootprints.co.uk for details of all the walks, and to book your place.

This ever popular festival is jointly organised by Erewash Borough Council; Amber Valley Borough Council; Derbyshire County Council, several parish councils, community groups and Groundwork.

Some of the walks taking place are:

• Short Heritage walks include – In the Footsteps of the Rebels of 1817 [Swanwick] (4.5 miles) on Sat 11^th Sept at 2pm,  In the Footsteps of the Rebels of 1817 [Alfreton] (3 miles) on Sun 12^th Sept at 2pm,  The History of  Long Eaton in 20 Buildings (3 miles) on Tues 14^th at 10am and In the Footsteps of the Rebels of 1817 [Ripley] (4 miles) on Wed 22^nd September 10.30am.
• Family Sensory Walk on Sat 18^th Sept at 10.30am at Shipley Country Park.
• Health Walks include Shipley Hall (2.5 miles) on Tues 14^th at 2pm and Whiteley’s Plantation on Tues 21^st at 2pm (2.75 miles).
• Extend your Woodland knowledge with Know your Trees in Risley on Sun 19th at 2pm and The Young People’s Forest on Sat 25th Sept at 11am.
• Mid-Range Country walks include – Duffield Church Car Park (4.5 miles) on Mon 13^th Sept at 10am, Risley- Ockbrook Circular (6 miles) on Wed 15^th Sept at 10.30am, Lewis Wilson Memorial Walk (6 miles) on Thurs 16^th Sept at 10.30am, South Wingfield and Pentrich Revolution Walk (5 miles) on Sat 18^th Sept at 10am, Around Crich Stand (5.25 miles) on 21^st Sept at 10am and Codnor Park Reservoir (5.7 miles) on Fri 24^th Sept at 10am.
• Longer Country walks include – Three Morleys and the Mound (8.5 miles) on Sun 12^th at 10.30am, Ilkeston Shipley & Mapperley (8.5 miles) on Mon 13th at 10am, Shining Cliff to Wyver Lane, (7.5 miles) on Fri 16^th at 10am, Golden Valley Ramble (8 miles) on Sun 19^th Sept at 10.am, Lea Dethick & Holloway (7.8 miles) on Sun 20^th Sept at 10am, By Stanton By Dale (8 miles) on Thurs 23^rd Sept at 10am, Hills & Canal (9 miles) on Sat 25^th Sept at 10am and Draycott Ockbrook & Hopwell (7miles) on Sun 26^th Sept at 10.30am.
• Why not have a go at Nordic Walking? NordicTaster sessions are on Thurs 23rd and Sat 25th Sept.