The 45th International Waendel Walk brought thousands of walkers to Wellingborough for another successful weekend of fitness, friendship and community spirit. Held from 8–10 May 2026, the annual event once again proved to be one of the town’s most recognised traditions, attracting visitors from across the UK and overseas.
Organised with support from Wellingborough Town Council, the event celebrated walking for all ages and abilities. Participants were able to choose from routes ranging from 5km to 42km, allowing families, casual walkers and experienced hikers to take part. Several of the shorter walks were also designed to be accessible for wheelchair users, mobility scooters and pushchairs, helping to make the event inclusive for everyone.
The walks began and finished at the Castle Theatre, which became the centre of activity throughout the weekend. Alongside the walking routes, visitors enjoyed live entertainment, food stalls, community groups and a lively festival atmosphere across the town. Organisers described the 2026 event as one of the biggest and most successful yet, with thousands of participants and volunteers helping to create a memorable occasion.
The route we took was the 15km route which would lead us out of Wellingborough, along the Embankment to the Chester House Estate where we stopped for our first pit stop.
After that it was back down the River Nene to Wellingborough and out to Great Doddington where we would climb the hills to stop of the second check point.
Next it was onto Wilby and our final checkpoint before we headed back to the start, completing our walk in around 3 hours and clocking up an incredible 24,000 steps!
One of the most special aspects of the Waendel Walk remained its international status. Wellingborough continued to be the only town in the UK to host an event recognised by the International Marching League (IML), giving the weekend a unique place in British walking culture.
More than just a walking event, the Waendel Walk highlighted community pride, healthy living and the beauty of Northamptonshire’s countryside. As walkers completed the 45th edition of the event, the weekend once again demonstrated why the Waendel Walk remained such an important part of Wellingborough’s identity and a highlight of the local calendar.
