Free Walks, Wheelchairs Welcome and a Spitfire Surprise: Eastleigh's Big Summer Festival Returns
Over 40 free routes, a theatre spectacular at Lakeside Country Park, and not a single excuse to stay on the sofa — Eastleigh's Walking and Wheeling Festival is back and bigger than ever.
Eastleigh Borough Council has teamed up with the Walk, Wheel, Cycle Trust for the second year running to bring residents a jam-packed summer of free outdoor exploration — and this time, they've gone bigger, bolder and more accessible than ever before. The 2026 Walking and Wheeling Festival runs from Thursday 17 August to 13 September, offering over 40 free routes across the borough designed for walkers, wheelchair users and anyone with a mobility aid. If you've ever wanted an excuse to actually explore where you live, this is it.
What's the Festival All About?
The idea is simple but brilliant: get people moving under their own steam, discovering their local area in ways they never have before. Routes span a huge range of themes, lengths, locations and access needs — so whether you fancy a gentle stroll through nature or something a bit more adventurous, there's genuinely something for everyone. Expert route leaders will weave in history, art, nature and photography to keep things interesting every step of the way.
The majority of routes require booking in advance and places are limited, so dragging your feet on this one could mean missing out entirely.
A Theatre Team, a Spitfire and Two Big Events
The festival isn't just about putting one foot in front of the other. It opens and closes with a special bookend event called 'Spitfire Street', created by the team at The Point Theatre. The launch event takes place at Lakeside Country Park on 17 August, with the closing event heading to Boorley Park on 13 September — both billed as family-friendly occasions.
It's the kind of creative touch that turns a walking festival into something genuinely worth marking in the diary. And if you need any more convincing, Cabinet Member for Health Cllr Tonia Craig has called it 'bigger and better than ever' — with over ten more routes added compared to last year.
Who Is It For?
This is where the festival really stands out. The routes are explicitly designed to be inclusive, catering to foot travellers, wheelchair users and those using mobility aids alike. The organisers have gone out of their way to ensure that access needs are considered across the board — meaning this isn't one of those events that waves the inclusive flag while quietly leaving half the community behind.
Local organisations, artists and volunteers have all chipped in to put the programme together, giving it a genuinely community-led feel that bigger, glossier events often struggle to match.
How Is It Funded?
The project is funded by Hampshire County Council and sits under the broader WalkTogether and CycleTogether Eastleigh initiative, which runs until 2028. That means this festival isn't a one-off flash in the pan — it's part of a sustained push to get residents across the borough moving more and connecting with their communities.
With backing locked in through to 2028, next year's edition is already looking likely.
What Happens Next?
The festival kicks off on Thursday 17 August at Lakeside Country Park with the 'Spitfire Street' launch event — perfect for families looking for a day out with a difference. Routes will need to be booked in advance, so the advice from organisers is clear: don't leave it too late. Full details of routes and how to book are available through Eastleigh Borough Council and the Walk, Wheel, Cycle Trust. Whether you're lacing up your trainers or charging your mobility scooter, the summer of 2026 just got a lot more interesting.