People are being encouraged to pull on their boots for a special challenge taking place during this year's Wolverhampton Walking Festival.

The Walking for Health Challenge Trail will be held on Saturday 20 May, with residents invited to tackle either a Silver (4 miles), Gold (7 miles) or Platinum (12 miles) route.

All the trails start at WV Active Aldersley, Hugh Porter Way, Aldersley, at 9.30am, and are way marked and marshalled.

The Challenge Trail is just one of more than 30 free walks taking place during the seventh annual Wolverhampton Walking Festival, which is organised by the City of Wolverhampton Council's Healthy Lifestyles Service and takes place from Saturday 13 May until Sunday 21 May.

Ros Jervis, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Director of Public Health, said: "The Walking for Health Challenge Trail is a fantastic opportunity to get out and about and put your fitness to the test over distances of 4, 7 or 12 miles while exploring parts of Wolverhampton you may not be familiar with."

Entry to the Challenge Trail is free, though participants are invited to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation if they wish. Places are limited to 300, and so pre booking is necessary. For an entry form please call 01902 553838 or visit Type=articles;Articleid=10647;Title=Walking Festival;. Please note that no entries will be taken on the day.

Ros added: "The Challenge Trail is the biggest event in this year's Walking Festival and a real highlight, but if you cannot make it don't worry as there are dozens of other fantastic walks, long and short, to take part in - and with walks for people of all ages and abilities, there's sure to be something for everyone."

The 8 day Wolverhampton Walking Festival programme is as follows:

Saturday 13 May:

  • Bushbury Health Walk, moderate 90 minute walk over Bushbury Hill and around Northycote Farm, 10am, meet at St Mary's Church Hall
  • Bantock Park Tree Trail, easy 2 hour walk and history talk, 1pm, meet at the car park
  • Perfect Paths of Perton, difficult 5 mile walk, 2pm, meet at Perton Civic Centre car park

Sunday 14 May:

  • Figure of Eight Walk, difficult 10 mile walk to Penn and Bradmore using hidden pathways and green ways, 10am, meet at Broad Street Canal Basin
  • West Park History Walk, easy 2 hour walk around Wolverhampton's premier park, 2pm, meet at Southgate Lodge

Monday 15 May:

  • First World War Memorial Walk, 90 minute moderate walk and talk around the City's memorials, 10am, meet at the Civic Centre
  • Pattingham Circular, difficult 7 mile walk around the village, 10am, meet at Pattingham Village Hall
  • West Park Timed Health Walk, complete at your own pace or have a go at a timed mile, 10.15am, meet at the shelter, Devon Road entrance
  • Wednesfield Park and King George V Playing Fields Health Walk, moderate 60 minute walk around the park, 2pm, meet at Wednesfield Library

Tuesday 16 May:

  • Worfield to Ackleton, difficult 8 mile walk through stunning countryside, 10am, meet at Worfield Village Hall
  • Bantock Park Health Walk, easy 1 mile walk around the park, 10.30am, meet at the café
  • West Park Toddle Waddle health walk, easy 1 mile walk for parents and carers with babies and toddlers in buggies, slings or toddling - older siblings also welcome, 11.30am, meet at the Albert Road entrance
  • Ramble on the Reserve, moderate 3 hour ranger led ramble around Smestow Valley Nature Reserve, 12.30pm, meet at the car park

Wednesday 17 May:

  • Pendeford Natural History and Wildlife Walk, moderate 2 hour ranger led walk around Pendeford Mill Nature Reserve, 10am, meet at the car park
  • East Park Timed Health Walk - complete at your own pace or have a go at a timed mile, 10.30am, meet at the changing rooms
  • Deaf Walk, West Park, easy, deaf friendly health walk with BSL walk leaders, 12pm, meet at the café
  • Heritage Health Walk, moderate 90 minute exploration of Jeffcock Road cemetery, 2pm, meet at Bantock Park café
  • Fordhouses Health Walk, moderate 90 minute health walk including a short refreshment break at Northycote Farm café, 2pm, meet at the Moreton Arms pub
  • Castlecroft Rail and Canal Routes, difficult 5 mile ramble along the Staffordshire Railway Walk and canal tow path, 6.45pm, meet at the Firs Inn

Thursday 18 May:

  • Birds of the Valley, moderate 2 hour ranger led walk around Smestow Valley Nature Reserve, 9am, meet at the former railway station
  • Northycote Farm Health Walk, moderate 60 minute walk around the nature reserve, 10.30am, meet at the café
  • Culture Walk, moderate 90 minute walk and talk around Wolverhampton Art Gallery and the City Archives, 11am and 2pm, meet at Wolverhampton Art Gallery
  • Aldersley Health Walk, moderate 90 minute walk up the 21 Locks route to Broad Street basin and back, 6pm, meet at WV Active Aldersley

Friday 19 May:

  • Highgate Hike, difficult 5 mile walk around Highgate Common and beyond, 10am, meet at Birch Coppice car park
  • Pendeford Health Walk, moderate 3 mile walk around the green spaces of Pendeford, 10.30am, meet at Oasis Community Café
  • Nordic Walking session at West Park, moderate 1 hour taster sessions, 10.30am and 12pm, meet at Southgate Lodge.

Saturday 20 May:

  • Walking for Health Challenge Trail, moderate and difficult 4, 7 or 12 mile trails, 9.30am, meet at WV Active Aldersley, pre booking essential
  • East Park History Walk, easy 2 hour tour of the historic park, 1pm, meet at the Pavilion
  • Perfect Paths of Perton, difficult 5 mile walk, 2pm, meet at Perton Civic Centre car park

Sunday 21 May:

  • Over Orton, difficult 8 mile circular walk along the canal and former railway line, 10am, meet at the former Wombourne Railway Station car park
  • West Park Health Walk, easy walk around the park, 10.30am, meet at the café

As well as the walks, a special 30 minute Outdoor Gym Class will take place at West Park every day from Monday 15 May to Friday 19 May at 10.45am. To get involved, meet at the shelter near the Devon Road entrance.

All the walks are free, though some must be pre booked. For more information, please visit the Wolverhampton Walking Festival Type=articles;Articleid=10647;Title=Website;, or call 01902 553838.

  • released: Tuesday 9 May, 2017