Northumberland National Park is marking a major milestone in 2026 as it celebrates 70 years since becoming a designated National Park. To commemorate the anniversary, the National Park Authority is hosting a special 70th Anniversary Walking Festival, announced during National Walking Month, an annual event that promotes walking as a fantastic way to improve physical and mental health outdoors while connecting communities.

For seven decades, walking has been central to how visitors and local communities experience Northumberland National Park. The anniversary festival invites people to be part of that ongoing story, offering opportunities to explore the Park at a slower pace while discovering its rich natural, cultural and historical heritage.

Walking in the National Park offers more than just a route from start to finish. From open moorlands and peaceful valleys to ancient tracks and lesser-known corners, the landscape reveals stories of wildlife, geology and the people who have shaped it over time. Each walk offers a chance to spend time outdoors, reconnect with nature and experience the Park from a fresh perspective.

Walking has always been one of the most rewarding ways to experience the National Park. As we celebrate 70 years, this festival is about bringing people together to enjoy the landscape, learn its stories and appreciate the volunteers and communities who have helped care for this special place for generations. It’s especially fitting to celebrate this during National Walking Month, which highlights just how powerful walking can be for both wellbeing and community connection.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, a hand-picked programme of special guided walks has been developed to showcase the very best of the National Park. Routes have been carefully selected to provide memorable scenery and engaging insights, covering topics such as local history, wildlife, geology and traditional land use.

All walks within the festival are led by knowledgeable volunteer walk leaders, whose enthusiasm and experience help bring the landscape to life and create an engaging, shared experience for participants.

Chris Lloyd, who has volunteered for Northumberland National Park for many years and leads many of the Park’s guided walks, said:
“I’ve been leading guided walks for about five years now, and I do it because I love being out in the Cheviot Hills and sharing that experience with others. The National Park is such a special place, the landscape is incredible, and there’s so much history, geology and wildlife to discover.

“For me, it’s about offering more than just a walk. I enjoy bringing the area to life with stories and fun facts that go back thousands of years, and it’s really rewarding to help people achieve things they didn’t think they could, like getting up a mountain and wanting to do it all over again.”

The festival programme has been designed to suit a wide range of interests and abilities. With walks varying in length, difficulty and location, there is something for everyone. From gentle, supported introductory walks, wellbeing-focused walks and history-led experiences, to longer routes for more experienced walkers.

Families enjoying Walltown Country Park

Some highlights from the Walking Festival include:
Short Walks to the Wall - supported walks around 1km from Walltown the Park's most accessible outdoor site, running during half-term and other holidays
Walk to Wellbeing: Woodlands and Waterfalls
Walk in Their Shoes: Barrowburn Haymeadows and Murder Cleugh, exploring local history
Climb the Cheviot - a more challenging route to the highest peak in the Cheviot Hills

Whether participants are seasoned walkers, first-time visitors or those looking to rediscover Northumberland National Park in a new way, the 70th Anniversary Walking Festival offers a unique opportunity to get outdoors and celebrate 70 years of walking in one of England’s most inspiring landscapes.

Further details about the Walking Festival are available on the 70th Anniversary Walking Festival webpage.

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