Walk Exeter. Connect Communities. Support Wellbeing.
Join us on Sunday 20 September for a guided walking challenge around Exeter’s Green Circle. Discover hidden green spaces, meet like-minded people, and raise funds to support health and wellbeing across our city.
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Event Details
📅 Sunday 20 September 2026
📍 Start & Finish: St James Park, Exeter
🕐 Start Time: 9am
🥾 Guided Green Circle Walk
💷 £10 Entry Fee
❤️ £35 Fundraising Target
What is The Great West Walk?
The Great West Walk is a community walking challenge designed to bring people together through movement, nature and wellbeing.
Starting and finishing at St James Park, participants will journey around Exeter’s Green Circle route, visiting communities, green spaces and local landmarks along the way.
Whether you’re an experienced walker, looking to improve your wellbeing, or simply wanting to enjoy a day outdoors with others, The Great West Walk is open to everyone.
Led by experienced walk leaders and supported by volunteers throughout the route, the event offers a welcoming and inclusive environment where participants can walk at a pace that suits them while raising funds for local wellbeing initiatives.
What to expect on the Route
The Great West Walk follows Exeter’s Green Circle, a 14-mile (20km) circular route that showcases the very best of the city’s green spaces, communities and countryside.
Throughout the day you’ll experience a mixture of:
🌳 Valley parks and nature reserves
🌿 Woodland and countryside trails
🏘️ Residential neighbourhoods
🚶 Pavements and shared pathways
🌉 Scenic viewpoints across Exeter
The varied route is one of the highlights of the event and offers a unique opportunity to discover parts of Exeter many people never usually visit.
Guided Walking Groups
To ensure everyone enjoys the challenge, participants will walk in guided groups led by experienced staff and volunteers.
Groups will be organised by pace, allowing walkers to choose a speed that feels comfortable for them. Regular stops at checkpoints provide opportunities to rest, refuel and socialise throughout the day.
We want The Great West Walk to be as inclusive as possible.
Prior to the event we’ll carry out detailed accessibility checks across the entire route.
Where required, guided groups may be directed along alternative routes to avoid steep gradients or unsuitable terrain.
If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact us before registering so we can discuss how best to support your participation.
What's Included?
☕ Hot drinks at checkpoints
🍌 Snacks throughout the route
🚶 Guided support from walk leaders
🦺 Fully marshalled event
❤️ Fundraising support
🎉 Finish line celebration
Small note:
Participants should bring their own packed lunch, water bottle and any additional refreshments they may require.
FAQS
A: 14 miles
A: Yes. Friends and family can join the same paced walking group where possible.
A: Participants are encouraged to raise at least £35 to support local wellbeing initiatives.
A: This walk is ideal if you:
✅ Enjoy being outdoors
✅ Can comfortably walk for several hours with regular breaks
✅ Are happy walking over mixed terrain
✅ Want to take on a personal challenge in a friendly, supportive environment
You don’t need to be an experienced hiker. Our guided walking groups are designed to support walkers of different abilities and encourage everyone to complete the challenge at a pace that suits them.
A: The published route is planned in advance, but minor alterations may be necessary following accessibility assessments, adverse weather or other safety considerations.
Our priority is to provide the safest and most enjoyable experience possible. If any changes are required, all registered participants will be informed before the event.
A: Absolutely. Guided pace groups ensure walkers can participate at a comfortable speed.
A: St James Park, Stadium Way. Home of Exeter City Football Club.
A: Yes, dogs on a leash are allowed.
The Great West Walk will go ahead in most weather conditions, so we recommend dressing appropriately for the forecast and wearing suitable footwear.
In the lead-up to the event, the route will be inspected to assess ground conditions. If sections of the route become unsafe due to excessive mud, flooding or other hazards, we may introduce alternative routes to ensure the safety of all participants. Any changes will be communicated in advance wherever possible.
A: The route includes a number of road crossings. Participants should remain vigilant at all times and follow the guidance of their walk leaders.
Event staff and volunteers will be present at key locations where required to help manage crossings, but walkers are responsible for taking care when crossing roads and following the Highway Code.
A: Yes. The Green Circle includes several hills and gradients, particularly in the Redhills and Exwick areas.
Where appropriate, guided groups may be directed along lower-gradient alternative routes to improve accessibility and ensure everyone can enjoy the event at a comfortable pace.