Highlights of the 2024 Ironbridge Gorge Walking Festival

Well that's a wrap for our 2024 Festival and we were well blessed with the weather. it couldn't have been any better after months of recces in the most treacherous and wet, muddy conditions! It has been another fantastic festival and it wouldn't be possible without the fabulous people who walked with us, our walk leaders and their co-leaders and our organising committee. Nearly 400 of you walked with us and we had 865 bookings, we covered over 8,500 miles which means we could have got to Patagonia in the Tierra del Fuego - the Land of Fire and enjoyed walking in the gorges there. How fitting with the industrial heritage of our own wonderful gorge and their very own blast furnaces. 

Click on Photos to see highlights from the 2024 Festival.

This year we awarded a 100 miles medal to our youngest ever walker Aiden aged 13, who was supported every step of the way by his fantastic Mum, Carla!  How good is that? And we had 4 awards for our Cartman Challenge Medal for 150 miles and over. The medals were presented by our former Chairman, Neil Cartman who founded the tradition of having long walks of 20(ish!) miles on the Festival and the ability to get a 100 miles medal over the shortest time of the two weekends, including Bank Holiday Monday. Here is Neil, with the first recipients Bob, Deb, Martin and Lynn. However, no matter what mileage people completed with us, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts as you make this Festival so special. We're looking forward to our 20th Anniversary Festival already. Bookings open on 1st March 2025.

Photos from Georgina, Darren, and Lynn