Guildford Walkfest 2024 Launched With Muddy Boots Walking Group

Published on: 2 Sep, 2024
Updated on: 2 Sep, 2024

The official launch of the 2024 Guildford Walkfest took place on Monday, September 2, at QE Park Baptist Church and Centre, Railton Road, Stoughton.

It was hosted by the Muddy Boots walking group who base themselves there, and the church’s minister, the Revd Kate Whiting, also attended the launch.

The Mayor Guildford, Sallie Barker, cuts a ribbon to launch 2024’s Guildford Walkfest.

After the traditional coffee and refreshments, the Mayor of Guildford, Sallie Barker, said a few words and then cut the ribbon to get proceedings under way.

The Muddy Boots group is a thriving organisation. It is run by volunteers Jeanette and John Cattermole who walk regularly on Whitmoor Common.

One of the Muddy Boots walks on the launch of Walkfest pauses by the pond on Whitmoor Common, Worplesdon.

At the launch, as on a typical Monday, it runs two walks, one for longer distance faster-paced walkers plus a shorter more leisurely one.

Cakes at the 2024 Guildford Walkfest launch held at QE Park Baptist Church and Centre.

Guildford Walkfest co-ordinator Kenneth Bare said: “Most impressive was that both walk groups arrived back at the centre within about five minutes of each other, even though they had taken totally different routes.

“It must have been the smell of the coffee and the cakes awaiting them!

“Although we had been invited by the QE Park Centre to hold the launch there, we were conscious that the building is used as a church on Sundays – and this year September 1 being a Sunday we decided to have a ‘soft launch’ on Sunday, and the Surrey Hills Society stepped in to host a walk around the ancient yew trees at Newlands Corner.

The first Guildford Walkfest walk of 2024 at Newlands Corner led by the Surrey Hills Society. Walkfest co-ordinator Kenneth Bare is pictured front row, far left.

“Although Newlands Corner is well known as a view point, only a small minority of visitors head out behind the visitor centre to explore the yew woods on the top of the hill.

“They are a wonderful sight and definitely worth investigating. Some are claimed to be amongst the oldest in Europe – possibly up to 2000 years old (yes, that it not a typo, two thousand years!) To help protect the roots, a boardwalk has been installed so that one can see them up close without causing damage to these special trees.

Walkers check out the historic yew trees on Newlands Corner.

“Having walked around the woods, we came out onto the sunny slopes of Newlands Corner and wandered back to the car park – and, yes, more refreshment options.”

It’s already becoming clear that Guildford Walkfest is about more than just getting from start to finish. There is a strong social element – lots of chat between walkers along the way, nuggets of information from knowledgeable walk leaders and, just to reinforce the point, after walk eating, drinking and socialising.

You can be part of this month-long festival of walking by checking out www.guildfordwalkfest.co.uk and booking yourselves onto some of the many walks scheduled throughout September.