Dorset WALX Festival 2024

Join WALX Dorset for a week of walking in Dorset - come for a day, a few days, the whole week or just the weekend. A low cost pass will secure you booking rights to 3 walks a day. Walks include the Purbeck favourites plus iconic Dorset walks including:- Cerne Abbas Giant, Golden Cap, Colmers Hill and more.
In 2024 the event will run over 7 days starting on Monday 9th September and a day pass secures you three walks or workshops a day ( at a nominal charge). Walks are available to view NOW on the schedule page and will be open for bookings in Summer 2024 with earlybird pass holders being the first to select their choices!

Get Your Festival pass
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Buy a Festival Pass

You can choose your Pass to maximise your time in Dorset. Whether you are just coming for one day of walks, want to participate in the 16 mile Challenge or fill your week with great walks & workshops, simply choose a pass for that day and you will gain access to the activities as soon as they go live.
Once you have bought your Pass, we will send notification when you can start book your walks & workshops which you can read about below

Check out the schedule as we add the walks and workshops.
View the 2024 Schedule

There are walks for all levels

The WALX HQ festival team are busy planning new walks and workshops for 2024 but you can rest assured that all of the most popular iconic favourites will be made available on each of the days to give everybody a chance to experience the best

Our iconic walks

Choose from a variety of walks each day

Walks this year include some of the best in Dorset as well as Purbeck – themed walks, half day walks, smugglers routes, wildlife walks, history walks and even walking with Alpacas! Explore cider farms, Ancient holloways, Hill Forts, Thomas hardy routes, Tudor houses, secret gardens and everything that walking in Dorset can provide!

You can choose up to 3 walks per day and we venture across Dorset with a gentle or more vigorous option in each area. You may want an all day walk or prefer to to do some of the shorter walks. If you join us for the week we will help you plan an amazing experience at the right level for YOU!

 

Come and Try, Learn, improve and enjoy!

Workshops are a great way to find out how walking can provides results at all levels. Get a feel for the WALX way of mixing walking with fitness, health and fun!

Workshops and Presentations

Choose from daily practical and educational sessions.

The WALX expert team, Instructors from around the UK and our guest partners are all on hand to deliver workshops  on FRIDAY 13th and SATURDAY 14th Sept. – We will have a WALX discovery session for those curious about what we get up to around the UK and specific sessions for current instructors, rehabilitation specialists and anyone who wants to get more out of walking!! Come and try  fsmovey workshops, foraging, pole walking, walking for rehabilitation, stretching workshops and yoga walking… to name but a few!

 

Note - Priority Booking. The earlier you buy the pass the sooner you will be invited to select your favourite walks and workshops!

Festival Passes

The HUB is the centre of festival fun.

Its a great place to meet up with others, browse and enjoy the food & music on Friday & Saturday – the Saturday music night is legendary!

Come and enjoy the fun

Register, Relax, Eat, Drink, Shop, Learn and Dance!

The Festival Hub is nestled in the stunning Purbeck Hills near Swanage and conveniently close to the main tourism car parks AND the Steam railway. We operate a huge amount of out and back walks from the HUB and there are toilets, refreshments, retail stalls, workshops and presentations on the Friday and Saturday plus a not to be missed Saturday Supper music night with our favourite band the Transitions.

Enter for either challenge distance and.......

Enjoy a brilliant day of walking in the best scenery ever! Finish at the challenge HUB in with support from our challenge team plus a T shirt & medal

Challenge yourself!

The 16 Mile Purbeck Challenges

Join us for the WALX 16 mile challenge hike on the 14th September on a legendary route for enthusiasts from around the world.

Supported en route by our marshalls, every finisher gets a medal but this event is not all about speed or racing so feel free to take part as a group or to go it alone. Whether you do it for charity or just as a great day out – you will see the best scenery ever and feel a great sense of achievement as you celebrate at the end

Local info and Partners

Local Info

There is plenty of accommodation locally from campsites and shepherd huts to luxury Hotels on the Beach. The  Festival HUB where the HQ team will be based, is at HARMANS CROSS VILLAGE HALL but walks are all over Dorset this year so choose accommodation from Wareham and Bere Regis area to be close to main road links.

Visit Dorset
Planet Purbeck

We try to make our festival as sustainable as possible and are delighted to support the Planet Purbeck event that is running on the same weekend. It promotes sustainable tourism and encourages those who live in the wonderful place to help protect its unique habitats.

Planet Purbeck
Partners

Our Partners include RSPB Arne, The Blue Pool, Forestry England, Dorset Cider and a range of amazing local organisations and businesses.

From farms, attractions and tea shops to country parks and foragers – we all work together to promote the area we love!

Dorset Partners
The Team

The Festival is run by the WALX HQ Team and a band of amazing volunteer HOSTs. Mainly from the local WALX Dorset group but also other groups across the UK, they lead walks, answer questions, backmark and SMILE a lot!

WALX Dorset
The Purbeck WALX festival is an annual event organised by the WALX HQ team
View the Purbeck Group Page

Sponsors

Grubs

Grubs have been headline sponsor of  our event for three years and their super robust yet mega-comfy shoes can be seen all over Purbeck during the weekend. Come and try a pair and hear about the amazing heritage of the brand.

Grubs
Leaping Fish

A truly local eco friendly company who help us keep our feet in great condition with their foot rub but also help us relax with their amazing candles, soaps and other delicious products. Enjoy the sweet aroma in the retail marquee

Leaping Fish
GenallocX

GenallocX will be on hand to explain why hydrolysed collagen is an important nutritional supplement for those who are active and want to remain so. Speak to Instructors who use the product too

Genallocx
Botanic Protect

Purbeck is ‘tick country’ so our partners Botanic Protect and Lyme Disease UK will alos be on hand to help you BE TICK AWARE and discover products that can prevent getting bitten

Lyme Disease UK

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Testimonials

Brilliant challenge walk

Completing the 16 mile Challenge at the WALX festival in Purbeck, Dorset  was a rewarding experience,well worth the effort of the ups and downs,to experience both stunning views of the coastline and also physical and mental wellbeing. By taking part in the challenge you will be motivated to keep the training going,increase your fitness and subsequently reap physical and mental rewards.

Sarah

I have not danced like that for years

The festival in 21 was the best ever - after all the Lockdown and worries of the previous months, it felt great to be with others and yet feel safe. The walks, workshops and hosts were amazing and when the band started i just could not stay seated on my hay bale! I have not danced or had so much fun for years - it was so natural and relaxed...superb and not to be missed

Emma , 57

WORKING