Date published: 2025-08-07 | Category: Bathscape, Bathscape Walking Festival, Delivering for local residents, Events, Walking Festival
Bath’s unique landscape and the importance of the green spaces to the city and its heritage, are the focus of this years Bathscape Walking Festival, which runs from Saturday 6 September to Sunday 21 September.
The programme for the festival, now in its eighth year, includes more than 50 events for families, groups and solo walkers, the majority of which are free.
Several walks are new to this year’s programme: a five mile walk around some of the historic sites of central Bath led by Alison Wherry-Alimo wholly in British Sign Language, which takes place from 1pm on Saturday 27 September; an accessible sensory exploration of Henrietta Park from 11am on 7 September; and a 3-hour immersive experience with local artist and Bathscape walk leader Karen Woodfield that blends walking and photography, that starts at 2pm on 20 September from Odd Down sport field.
To celebrate the 80-year anniversary of Bath’s twinning with the Dutch city of Alkmaar, the twinning association is joining the National Trust to lead a scenic walk from the city centre to Bathford. There will be a picnic stop during the four and a half hour walk, which takes place on 11 September.
The landscape surrounding Bath was a key location for the development of the Picturesque movement in the late 18th and early 19th century and Dr Amy Frost leads a walk revealing how Jane Austen and William Beckford explored the ideas in fiction and reality on 6 and 12 September.
Councillor Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Sustainable Bath and North East Somerset, said: “The Bathscape Walking Festival is a great opportunity to explore the landscape both in and around the city and alongside the perennial favourites - the bat walks and urban tree walks, several events this year offer an opportunity to reflect on how the landscape has shaped Bath in the past and how it can be looked after in the future. With more than 50 walks, most free, everyone is sure to find something of interest.”
Returning favourite walks include bat walks in Kensington Meadows on 12 and Weston on 20 of September, and the 20-mile Circuit of Bath Walk for Julian House, which takes place on the 21 September. A shuttle bus runs between check points for people who don’t want to walk the full distance.
There is a chance to raise money for Parkinson’s UK on a 5-mile route around the Bath Spa campus on 6 September. Tickets for the walk are £12 per adult. Walkers taking part in the BigBanes100k can use the festival to clock up some extra miles on behalf of Mentoring Plus and Off the Record.
Keen walkers can join a 10k trek along the scenic Bath River Line from Newbridge Park to Stambridge in Batheaston on 10 September; a 6 mile walk through the Hidden Hamlets of the Woolley Valley on 7 September or a 5.5-mile walk following the Somerset Canal from Paulton basin to Dunkerton on 13 September.
People are also encouraged to sign up for events taking place as part of the Walkers are Welcome groups in Somer Valley and Keynsham (7 September and Sunday 21 September) and Bradford-on-Avon Walking Festival (6 and 7 September).
Continuing the theme, Bathscape Reflections: Shaping a Landscape, a one-day conference will be held at the Guildhall on Tuesday 23 September, 12pm to 6.30pm. Throughout the day a series of interactive sessions and speakers will be asking the audience to think about what the future holds for the city’s landscape. Tickets are free, but booking on Eventbrite is required.
The full walking festival programme, booking information and self-guided activities can be found on the Bathscape website or contact Bathscape on 01225 477265 or by email at info@bathscape.co.uk. Some walks are not suitable for dogs, but assistance dogs are welcome on all walks. The full programme gives more information.
Bathscape is also one of the supporters involved in the Forest of Imagination that takes place at Entry Hill, on the edge of Bath, from Tuesday 23 September to Sunday 5 October. The greens on the former golf course will become the site of imaginative, nature-based installations co-designed with artists, schools, families and the local community.
ENDS