Reading Walks Festival 2025 programme announced

14th March 2025

Reading Walks Festival | 10-18 May 2025

REDA is excited to announce the programme for the 2025 Reading Walks Festival. This year’s programme, which takes place between 10-18 May, is more diverse than ever and includes 49 walks in and around Reading plus two bike rides and a talk.

Each walk in the Reading Walks Festival is led by a local volunteer and is designed to bring to life the stories, heritage, wildlife and landscapes of Reading and the surrounding countryside.

The focus of the festival is as much about telling the stories of Reading as walking for its own pleasure, but there will be some walks for exercise as well as social walks and many walks that will tell you something new about Reading.

The festival features walks for all abilities, ranging in length from a one-hour wellbeing stroll to a two-day pilgrimage and there are also walks that are family friendly and wheelchair accessible in the programme.

The 2025 Reading Walks Festival programme is very diverse with the majority of the walks being new for 2025. Look out for new walks focusing on the Kendrick Conservation Area or the wonderful trees of Redlands in East Reading, Reading’s literary connections in the town centre, amble through Caversham or walk in George Orwell’s footsteps north of the river, learn about bats, wildflowers or Reading’s nature reserves or venture further afield to Silchester, Pangbourne, Shiplake or into South Oxfordshire to explore the lovely countryside around Reading.

Many of the walks were fully booked last year so we have also brought back some of last year’s favourites for people who weren’t able to enjoy them in 2024. They include a two-day pilgrimage walk along the St James’ Way, a chance to explore the University’s two Reading campuses, forest bathing at MERL, a green health walk in south Reading, finding out about Reading’s Napoleonic War Danish POWs, as well as following in the footsteps of Jane Austen during the author’s 250^th anniversary year.

Alex Brannen, Reading Walks Festival organiser, said: “Reading is best explored on foot. The scale, diversity and extraordinary heritage of the town makes it an ideal base for a walks festival and we are delighted to be able to share 52 walks, talks and bike rides as part of the 2025 Reading Walks Festival.

“Our aim is to introduce people to Reading’s urban heritage and culture as well as showcase the diversity of the local wildlife and natural landscapes within and beyond the town.

“All our walks are different. Some will be more talking than walking to help you learn more about a subject; some will be social occasions - just walking and chatting - and others will be more about just enjoying the walk for its own sake. You don’t need to be a keen walker to take part. The guided walks can be as short as an hour or as long as 2 days for the more serious walker.”

The walks link into the public transport system with information provided on bus routes and train access to start/finish points. In 2024, over 70% of Reading Walks Festival walkers reached the starting point without the need for a car.

The Festival is supported by GWR as the Official Transport Partner of the Reading Walks Festival 2025 and many of our walks start at a railway station.  

Most walks cost just £3, with some having a higher cost and a few are free. Last year, many walks booked up quickly so we advise booking early to avoid disappointment.

Bookings open on 14 March at readingwalksfestival.org. A printed programme is available from libraries, Reading Museum, Reading Station and other pick up points in Reading or download the digital programme here.