Friday 17 June 2011

“Walk and be happy, walk and be healthy” – Charles Dickens

The 'Islands of Barrow and Furness Peninsula Walking Festival' programme dates announced.

The Sunday Times on 21st June 2009 declared this Festival one of the best 8 Walking Festivals in the UK. The Festival runs from the 1st July until 31st July and will start with a Love Barrow Walk personally led by the Mayor of Barrow-in-Furness, Councillor John Murphy, and will include a personal introduction and tour of Barrow Town Hall. The full programme of walks is set out below:

1st July Love Barrow Walk 1pm Barrow Town Hall
2nd July Cistercian Way 12noon Rose Garden, Ulverston
2nd July Beach clean Earnse Bay 10-12noon
3rd July Walney Walk plus Widows Crossing 1pm Dock Museum
Meet at North Scale 4pm to explore the beasts of Walney Channel
5th July Barrow – Foxfield long coastal walk. Barrow station 10.30am
7th July Walney North End Sunset walk 6.45pm
8th July A walk from Furness Abbey (Greenway) 6pm
9th July Dalton Walk Meet Tudor Square 1pm
10th July Haematite Heritage Walk 1pm Wax Lyrical Lindal
14th July Walney North End Sunset walk 6.45pm
15th July Biggar Village Walk 5.30pm
16th July Barrow’s Wildside Ormsgill Quarry, How Tun Woods 2pm
16th July 1pm – 4pm Intro to North Walney Nature Reserve
17th July Barrow’s Wildside South Walney Nature Reserve 10.30am
17th July Morecambe Bay Stroll 1 pm Leece Tarn
21st July Walney North End Sunset walk 6.45pm
23rd July Piel Walk 10.30am Snab Point explore the Heritage of Piel and Sheep Islands, Piel Castle and The Ship Inn with John Murphy
24th July Piel Walk and 11am Snab Point A guided walk peppered with interesting stories and facts led by John Murphy. Art Gene want to gather your favourite anecdotes about this magical isle.
24th July Family Wildlife Safari North Walney 1–4pm
24th July Barrow’s Wildside Owl Prowl Abbotswood time 9pm
28th July Creatures of the Estuary Sandscale Car Park 2pm –4pm
28th July Walney North End Sunset walk 6.45pm
29th July Local Heritage of Furness Walk Meet Furness Abbey Amphitheatre 6pm
30th July Barrow’s Wildside Extended Westfield Trail 12noon
30th July Bat Walk 8.45pm Barrow Park
31st July Wildlife Walk Sandscale 11am–3pm

Copies of the Walking Festival leaflet can be downloaded at

Mrs. Ann Taylforth, Barrow Town Centre and Festivals Manager commented “This is the eighth Walking Festival we have organised and it has proved very successful. Every year we try to find something a little different to add to the Festival programme as well as the well loved favourites. This year we are joining with the Barrow Wildside Project being run by Cumbria Wildlife Trust and introducing an Owl Prowl and exploring the wildlife of How Tun Woods. There is something for everyone, from Walks across to Piel island, to an evening Bat Walk with Westmorland and Furness Bat Group, children’s beachcombing at Sandscale Haws and a Get on Track Walk with the Outthere project.

All walks are being led by qualified walking guides and we are delighted to be working in collaboration with SeaChange, Feet First in Furness, Cumbria County Council, Westmorland and Furness Bat Group, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the National Trust. Walking Festival leaflets will be available from Barrow Tourist Information Centre, outlets across South Cumbria and are featured in the What’s on in South Lakeland Guide. Details of all walks are available on line at www.barrowtourism.co.uk

Councillor John Murphy, Mayor of Barrow commented “The Furness Peninsula is a wonderful area of the country with stunning heritage and charming, picturesque walks. I urge everyone to come and explore with me the coastal fringes and byways of this wonderful area”

The Islands of Barrow and Peninsulas Walking Festival is a five week festival of walks against the stunning backdrop of the Furness Peninsula and featuring the islands of Barrow and is a Barrow-in-Furness Sea Change Cultural Event. Follow ancient trails, greenways and coastal paths exploring the natural and built history of this south western corner of Cumbria.

For further information contact Mrs. Ann Taylforth, Barrow Town Centre and Festivals Manager on 01229 876389 or walking Guides John Murphy on 01229 473746 or Richard Scott on 823144.

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