A Walk is Never Just a Walk

Throughout the Brecks Outdoor Festival 2025, we hosted 28 walks, covering a total of 47.6 miles. Around 300 of you joined us on these walks meaning that, together, we took over 26 million steps in the Brecks!

But a walk isn’t just about getting your steps in, it’s about getting to know the landscape, building a connection with your local area or exploring somewhere new and, in the Brecks Outdoor Festival, we try to make a walk even more interesting by incorporating themes, new skills and knowledgeable guides. Here are some of our highlights from the walks:

• Thirteen adults and fifteen children joined us for woodland story walks at Brandon Country Park. Most people’s favourite parts were collecting beech nuts while hearing the tale about the ancient beech and discovering the tricksy fairies (or ferishers) of the woods!
• Heading out at sunset, we explored the darkness at West Stow Country Park, with stories of stars and ancient people, close encounters with bats and owls and creating flaming torches out of birch bark.
• Learning about the people who lived in the landscape before us is easier when you are immersed in the place already. On a range of history-themed walks we discovered all kinds of true stories about how people lived in the past, from the industries that relied on the rivers, to the secret plans against a German invasion in World War Two, and the ancient by-ways that have criss-crossed the Brecks for thousands of years.
• Artistic inspiration can be found everywhere in nature and we made the most of that with two sketchbook strolls. We drew everything from bindweed and nettles, to elderberries and alder leaves.
• Learning about the creatures other than humans that share our planet is an essential part of walking in nature. We hosted multiple nature-based walks and discovered the kinds of creatures you can see all over the UK, like banded demoiselle damselflies, wild trout and hares, to Brecks specialists like the sickle medick flower, stone curlews and even pool frogs!
• We spent some time exploring urban greenspaces in the Brecks too, taking sociable wellbeing walks in Brandon town. It was great to explore all the hidden pockets of nature in the town, from wooded alleys, to small parks, the orchard and the riverside and to see how they can all be connected together in a single route.

“It has been a wonderful way to slow down and be mindful and present in the wonder of our everyday environment”

“I loved being able to get something down on paper. I will have the confidence to do this now more often on my own.”

“It was very interesting to have landmarkers pointed out that I otherwise would have missed. I discovered a new area to walk that I did not know about.”

“This was an excellent, entertaining, packed with facts walk. Great fun too.”

“I now have some lovely drawings to take home and inspire my family.”