Guide to the National Forest Walking Festival from Burton

Every year, outdoor enthusiasts, casual ramblers, and seasoned hikers gather across the Midlands for the annual National Forest Walking Festival. Spanning 200 square miles across Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire, The National Forest represents one of the United Kingdom’s boldest environmental transformations, turning historic industrial landscapes into thriving, interconnected woodlands. Burton upon Trent sits proudly at the western edge of this green canopy, making it an exceptional starting point for anyone looking to explore the festival’s diverse programme of guided treks, nature walks, and heritage trails.

Whether you want to wander along peaceful riverbanks, discover ancient woodland, or conquer multi-mile cross-country routes, Burton upon Trent offers prime access. After days spent out on the paths, Three Queens Hotel provides a welcoming, dependable base right in the heart of town.

What is the National Forest Walking Festival?

The National Forest Walking Festival is a fortnight-long celebration designed to showcase the stunning landscapes, biodiversity, and cultural heritage of the area. Featuring dozens of walks suited to various fitness levels, the festival offers everything from gentle two-mile historical strolls to rigorous 12-mile cross-country circuits led by knowledgeable volunteer guides and local rangers.

Highlights of the festival typically include:

• Nordic walking sessions: Taster classes and scenic tracks focusing on technique and full-body fitness.
• Wildlife and ecology tours: Guided rambles through young forests, nature reserves, and wetlands to spot kingfishers, deer, and rare wildflowers.
• Industrial and brewing heritage walks: Urban and semi-rural trails exploring Burton’s brewing past, canal infrastructure, and railway landmarks.
• Family-friendly nature trails: Gentle, engaging walks packed with scavenger hunts and outdoor learning experiences.

Top Walks and Trails Around Burton upon Trent

You do not have to travel far from Burton to join festival events or take on self-guided walks along popular routes. Here are some of the finest trail locations nearby:

The Trent Washlands and Stapenhill Gardens

Starting just moments from Burton town centre, the Trent Washlands provide a peaceful corridor of meadows, floodplains, and wetland habitats tracing the River Trent. Cross the iconic Ferry Bridge over to Stapenhill Gardens, celebrated for its ornamental flowerbeds and the famous stone swan sculpture. This flat, picturesque route is ideal for an evening stroll or a relaxed warm-up walk.

Branston Water Park

Located just south of Burton, Branston Water Park occupies a former gravel pit that has naturally evolved into a premier nature reserve. Circumnavigate the main lake along well-maintained paths, explore the reed beds, and watch for waterfowl from designated bird hides. It is an accessible, family-friendly circuit that frequently hosts festival events.

Rosliston Forestry Centre

A short drive into the countryside brings you to Rosliston Forestry Centre, a core hub of the National Forest. Here you will find miles of marked trails winding through mixed woodlands, meadows, and fishing lakes. The centre offers diverse activities including orienteering routes and guided woodland nature walks that delve into the ongoing reforesting of the region.

Battlestead Hill and the Trent Valley Way

For more elevation and panoramic views, follow sections of the Trent Valley Way towards Battlestead Hill near Tatenhill. Rich in local legend and surrounded by mature trees, this route offers undulating terrain and rewarding vistas across the Trent Valley, making it a firm favourite among intermediate walkers.

Dining and Refuelling in Burton upon Trent

A full day on the trails builds an appetite, and Burton upon Trent provides an extensive dining scene just minutes away. From traditional coaching inns serving hearty pub classics to independent international restaurants, the town centre offers plenty of choice. Stroll five minutes from Three Queens Hotel into the heart of Burton to enjoy wood-fired pizzerias, classic British bistros, artisan burger houses, and authentic curry houses.

As the brewing capital of the UK, Burton is also home to historic real ale pubs where you can sample regionally crafted beers, cask ales, and craft ciders. Relaxing with a cold pint in a local tavern is the ultimate way to recount the day’s walking achievements.

Your Comfortable Base: Three Queens Hotel

When packing your hiking gear for the festival, booking the right accommodation is essential. Situated on Bridge Street, Three Queens Hotel & Lodge places you within easy reach of regional walking hubs and just a five-minute stroll from Burton’s shopping, dining, and evening entertainment. Burton train station is just one mile away, and motorists enjoy quick connections via the A38 corridor alongside complimentary on-site parking.

Explore our wide selection of comfortable guest rooms, designed to suit solo ramblers, couples, walking clubs, and families alike. Our room options include:

• Single and Standard Double rooms for solo hikers and couples
• Standard Twin and Executive Twin rooms, ideal for walking partners
• Executive Doubles, Family rooms, and Quadruple rooms for larger groups
• A spacious Mews Apartment and a romantic four-poster Suite

Every bedroom features an en-suite private bathroom with complimentary toiletries, perfect for a refreshing hot shower after muddy woodland treks. Rooms also include a flat-screen TV with Freeview and radio, in-room tea and coffee making facilities to jump-start your morning, a hairdryer, direct dial phone, and free WiFi to download route maps and GPS tracks.

To keep your walking kit fresh across multiple days of hiking, the hotel provides a convenient 24-hour dry cleaning and laundry service, alongside daily housekeeping. Our reception desk is open daily from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm, supported by an overnight night porter between 10:00 pm and 8:00 am, ensuring assistance whenever you arrive back from your outdoor adventures.

Plan Your Walking Festival Break Today

Whether you are tackling the full festival calendar or planning a weekend ramble across Staffordshire’s newest forests, Burton upon Trent offers scenery, heritage, and unmatched convenience. Ready to hit the trails? Book your stay at Three Queens Hotel today and secure your accommodation for the National Forest Walking Festival.

Planning a visit? Book your stay at Three Queens Hotel & Lodge.