The 2023 Nailsworth Walking Festival Program
28th May - 11 June 2023

Last seen in 2018, the Nailsworth Walking Festival is back for another year . There are 18 exciting walks for all ages, interests and abilities to discover local history, nature, culture and much more. The printed program will be out in mid-April and available at the tourist information centre and elsewhere. All walks have limited place, so it's important to book in advance. Please follow the Book Online link next to each walk.

1. The Forgotten Watering Holes	Book
Sun 28 May 2pm 3 miles, 2 hours
A joint Nailsworth Festival and NHP walk around the town, finding the sites of 24 watering holes which are no longer there. Led by Brian Middleditch who has a wealth of knowledge about the town and its history. Cost: £4. Booking is essential. Dogs: Yes. Info: John Miles on 07711 161734. Start: Nailsworth Library, GL6 0DU.
2. Nailsworth to the Sea
Mon 29 May 8am 12 miles,10 hours
A day’s walk if you fancy a good hike to the sea (well the Severn, it’s tidal!). We’ll wind our way to Coaley Peak, then down over the edge and on to explore the canal and the amazing boat graveyard with the sound of screeching oystercatchers flying low over the sandbanks. Bring a packed lunch, sturdy footwear and suitable clothing. Booking is essential. Dogs: Yes. Cost: £5. Info: Jo Hofman 07753 228942. Start: Nailsworth Library, GL6 0DU.
3. Walk4Health	Book
Tue 30 May 2:00 pm 2 miles, 1 hour
Walk4Health is a regular organised walk to encourage people to embrace the outdoors for many reasons. Managed by Councils nationwide, the Walk4Health scheme started some 16 years ago and is steadily growing in the Stroud area with 10 or so regular walks - see www.strollinginstrouddistrict.org. Free. No need to book. Dogs: No. Info: Marilyn Miles on 07801 558931. Start: Nailsworth Library, GL6 0DU.
4. Herbal Foraging Walk	Book
Wed 31 May 6pm 2 miles, 2 hours
Caroline Sheldrick is a Medical Herbalist who has practised in Nailsworth since 2003. Caroline will help walkers identify some native medicinal plants and share information on both traditional and current uses of locally growing herbs. Cost: £5. Booking is essential. Dogs: No. Info: cjsheldrick@gmail.com. Start: King George V Playing Field, GL6 0HT
5. Playground Adventure	Book
Thu 1 June 10am 1 mile, 2 hours
Explore the playgrounds of Nailsworth on this pushchair-friendly walk. Finishing at King George V playing fields, we will play cooperative games with a free ice cream treat at the end. You can even look after the planet by collecting rubbish on the way! Free. Booking is essential. Dogs: No. Info: Marilyn Miles on 07801 558931. Start: Miles Marling Playing Fields, GL6 0NP.
6. Story Walk	Book
Thu 1 June 7pm 3 miles, 2 hours
Walk the paths of Woodchester’s hidden valley, whilst listening to the beautiful story of the Nixie of the Millpond with professional storyteller Hannah Moore. It’s a fairytale of promises, enchantments, love, loss and the magic of dreams. Cost: £5. Booking is essential. Dogs: Yes. Info: Jo Hofman on 07753 228942. Start: Woodchester Priory, RC Church, St Mary’s Hill, Woodchester, GL5 5HP.
7. Geocaching	Book
Fri 2 June 2pm 3 miles, 3 hours
Geocaching is an international treasure hunt game using GPS to find geocaches. This walk is a good introduction for those who have never done geocaching before and good fun for both adults, young people and children. There are 150 caches hidden within 2 miles of Nailsworth, so lots more to discover once you know how! You will be given full instructions. If you have a smart phone please bring it, ideally with the Geocaching app and account loaded (it’s free). Children should be accompanied by an adult. Cost: Free. Booking is essential. Dogs: Yes. Info: Paul Hofman 07977 228973. Start: Avening Church, GL8 8ND.
8. Walk to Stroud Farmers Market	Book
Sat 3 June 8:15am 5 miles, 2.5 hours
Let’s walk to Stroud Farmers’ Market - a wonderful walk over the tops. Starting in the cool morning air, we’ll walk onto the common with its expansive views. On then to the canal and into the bustling market for a hot drink, surrounded by the abundance of food, music and colour. Return by bus. Cost: Free. Booking essential. Dogs: No. Info: Jo Hofman on 07753 228942. Start: Nailsworth Library, GL6 0DU.
9. Low Carbon Homes Walk	Book
Sat 3 June 3pm 3 miles, 3 hours
If you’re trying to reduce your energy bills but don’t know where to start the conversation, then join us on this circular walk through Nailsworth. We’ll discover some practical solutions people have undertaken in their homes to reduce their carbon footprint. The walk will end in a Climate Café hosted by Nailsworth CAN (Climate Action Network). Free. Booking is essential. Dogs: No. Info: Paul Hofman on 07977 228973. Start: Nailsworth Library, GL6 0DU.
10. Roman Picnic Walk	Book
Sun 4 June 11:30am 3 miles, 4 hours
What culinary delights did we get from the Romans? We’ll walk from Nailsworth to North Woodchester for a Roman picnic at the Roman Villa & Orpheus Mosaic site. If your tastebuds pick up at the sound of chicken meatballs in hydrogaram, melon with mint dressing, roast lamb with coriander or pine nut and honey pudding, then this walk is for you. Bring own drinks. Togas are optional! Cost: £15. Booking is essential. Dogs: No. Info: Nifa Putnam on 07710 679759. Start: Egypt Mill, GL6 0AE.
11. Walking Book Club	Book
Tue 6 June 6pm 2 miles, 2 hours
A book club with a difference! Having read Little Wing by Freya North, we’ll talk about it with fellow walkers while strolling through the woods. It’s a beautifully woven story with three rich characters whose very separate lives connect, as secrets unravel from the dark past. It is a deeply evocative book, delving into the power of place, people and communities, embedded in the landscape. The Yellow Lighted Bookshop kindly offers a 10% discount. Free. Booking is essential. Dogs: Yes. Info: Paul Hofman on 07977 228973. Start: The Bear of Rodborough, GL5 5DE.
12. Longer Walk for Health	Book
Wed 7 June 10am 5 miles, 3 hours
Once a month a group of walkers meet at Nailsworth Library to walk a circular route of about 5 miles. These complement the weekly shorter walk4health. The pace is unhurried but there may be stiles and muddy paths so wear suitable clothing including footwear. There is a break halfway, so bring snack and drink. Free. Booking is essential. Dogs: No. Info: Marilyn Miles on 07801 558931. Start: Nailsworth Library, GL6 0DU.
13. Poetry Walk	Book
Fri 9 June 2pm 3.5 miles, 3 hours
Poet and filmmaker Pip Heywood takes you on a leisurely walk through the Horsley Woods, stopping from time to time to read from his landscape poems. Home for tea, we will watch his film The Walk (40 minutes), which retraces our footsteps through the seasons, with ice, snow, spring and summer. Cost: £5. Booking is essential. Dogs: No. Info: Jo Hofman on 07753 228942 . Start: Horsley Community Shop, GL6 0PT.
14. Mindful Photography	Book
Fri 9 June 6pm 1.5 miles, 2.5 hours
What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare - W H Davies. Walk and capture those moments with your camera or phone. Let’s walk and stand and stare and notice things that pass us by. Short walk with lots of stops, returning to the Quaker Meeting House for refreshments and a chance here to share, if you want, a few of your favourite shots on a screen. Cost: £4. Booking is essential. Dogs: No. Info: Nifa Putnam on 07710 679759. Start: Quaker Meeting House, GL6 0RA.
15. Dementia Friendly Sensory Walk	Book
Sat 10 June 10:30am 1 mile 2 hours
Join us for a gentle walk along the beautiful Ruskin valley focusing on our senses of smell, hearing and touch in appreciating the natural world. Mike Kelly and colleagues who are visually impaired will lead this walk. It is suitable for people affected by dementia and their carers, and anyone who would like to get out of doors and have a gentle meander in the company of others. There will be a chance to stop for coffee, cake and a chat. Wheelchair friendly. Free. Booking is essential. Dogs: No. Info: Ros Mulhall on 07967176630. Start: outside Three Storeys cafe, GL6 0JE.
16. Digging for Gold	Book
Sat 10 June 10:30am 2 miles, 2 hours
Spend time in the fields around Horsley and you are likely to hear the yaff, yaff, before you see the caller, a green and yellow flash swooping low for the nearest wood. The green woodpecker (yaffle) feeds in ant hills in old pastures and sometimes lawns. Like other woodpeckers, it nests in tree holes. Yaffles are much more than green - think ‘parrot’ - green, red, yellow and black. In Horsley, this beautiful bird is a flagship species. Join us to explore its world of grasslands, sheep, anthills and woodlands. Cost: £5. Booking is essential. Dogs: No. Info: Jo Hofman on 07753 228942. Start: Horsley Community Shop, GL6 0PT.
17. Mills, Pigs, Floods and Chapels	Book
Sat 10 Jun 2:30pm 3 miles 3 hours
A walk to Shortwood and Newmarket led by local historian Ian Mackintosh looking at the impact of industrial, religious and agricultural change on the landscape and settlements. This is a joint walk with the Stroudwater Textile Trust. Cost: £5. Booking is essential. Dogs: Yes. Info: Marilyn Miles on 07801 558931. Start: Nailsworth Library, GL6 0DU.
18. Footprints	Book
Sun 11 Jun 10am 2 miles, 6 hours
Spend the morning walking and gathering images, textures and words. Along the way there will be an opportunity to do some simple printing and mark-making. In the afternoon you’ll make a book, playfully working with the prints and impressions we have gathered during the walk. Cost: £20. Booking is essential. Dogs: No. Info: Jo Hofman on 07753 228942. Start: The Washpool, Wormwood Hill, GL6 0PL.