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 do one challenging walk 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 2025 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 and off the tourist trail – themed walks, half day walks, smugglers routes, wildlife walks, history walks and more! Explore cider farms, Ancient holloways, Hill Forts, Thomas hardy routes, beach and cliff tops plus 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 and on each day. 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!
Note - Priority Booking. The earlier you buy the pass the sooner you will be invited to select your favourite walks and workshops!
Festival Passes
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 SATURDAY 20th 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 walking well workshops, foraging, pole walking, walking for rehabilitation, stretching workshops and yoga to name but a few!
The HUB is the centre of festival fun.
Its a great place to meet up with others, browse and enjoy the hot supper & music on Saturday
Come and enjoy the fun
Visit our shop and join us for a boogie!
NEW for 2025 – We now have a retail store in Wareham where the HQ team are on hand to showcase our products and deal with any festival enquiries. With great transport links its pretty much on the way to most of the walks and central to the area too. For the Saturday night party we have a BBQ at Wareham Golf club with our usual popular band. Those with a Saturday pass get to access everything, including the party and will see options for food in their booking profiles. Festival T shirts can be pre ordered for collection at the WALX shop too.
Book the toughest walk of the week!
Enjoy a brilliant day of walking in the best scenery ever which does not hold back on hills, steps and wilderness paths. Check in with HQ at the end and get your name on the challenge leaderboard ( plus a treat or two)
Challenge yourself!
The 16 Mile Purbeck Challenges
Join us for our ultimate challenge hike walk on the Saturday 20th – a circular led walk which covers the toughest hills around a 15 mile route with the best views in Dorset.
This year the walk is not supported by marshalls or signage but we do provide a route and tracking so you can go at your own pace with support from HQ. The event is not all about speed or racing so feel free to take part as a group or to go it alone by blasting past the leader ( who will walk at a purposeful pace) or follow the route at your own leisurely pace. 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 and earn the right to wear the WALX Challenge T shirt !
Local info and Partners
Local Info
There is plenty of accommodation locally from campsites and shepherd huts to luxury Hotels on the Beach. The HQ team will be based at our store in WAREHAM but walks are all over Dorset this year so choose accommodation from Wareham, Swanage and Bere Regis area to be close to main road links.
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!
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!
The WALX festival is an annual event organised by the WALX HQ team and WALX Dorset
View the WALX DORSET Group PageTestimonials
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.
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