John Woodcock MP to launch the Islands of Barrow and Furness Peninsula Walking Festival with the Mayor of Barrow-in-Furness

John Woodcock, MP for Barrow and Furness will join Councillor John Murphy, The Mayor of Barrow-in-Furness, to formally launch the Islands of Barrow and Furness Peninsula Walking Festival 2011 with the inaugural Love Barrow Walk on Friday, 1st July, 2011.

The Love Barrow Walk will be led by the Mayor and will include a personal introduction and tour of Barrow Town Hall. Everyone wishing to participate on this walk are asked to meet on the Courtyard at the rear of Barrow Town Hall at 1 pm. The walk will explore the heritage of the St. George’s area, one of the oldest parts of the Town.

The Festival runs from the 1st July until 31st July and the first week includes a variety of walks across the Borough:

1st July Love Barrow Walk 1pm Barrow Town Hall

2nd July Cistercian Way 12noon Rose Garden, Ulverston

2nd July Beach clean Earnse Bay 10-12 noon

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

A leaflet detailing the full Walking Festival programme can be downloaded at

http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/pdf/BBC_Walking_2011.pdf   or picked up from Barrow Tourist Information Centre and other distribution points across Cumbria.

The Sunday Times on 21st June 2009 declared this festival one of the best eight walking festivals in the 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 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.

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