Rivers are at the heart of many of our towns, cities and countryside landscapes. They shape the places we live, support wildlife, and offer people somewhere to walk, wheel, cycle, volunteer, spend time with family, and connect with nature close to home.
That is why the Government has committed to creating nine new National River Walks – one in each region of England – as part of wider action to improve responsible access to nature.
What National River Walks will do
The aim is simple: to help more people enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of being outdoors, while supporting nature recovery, local communities and businesses along our rivers.
National River Walks will improve access to river corridors and help more people experience the nature, heritage and wildlife on their doorstep.
Celebrating the first route
We have already taken the first step with the completion of the Mersey Valley Way, the first new National River Walk.
The 21km route follows the River Mersey through Stockport, Manchester and Trafford, connecting communities with the green and blue spaces on their doorstep.
Work on the route has improved multi-user access, signage and waymarking along the path and on the water itself, while supporting community engagement, local volunteering and nature recovery along the river corridor.
The Mersey Valley Way shows what National River Walks can deliver: better access to nature, improved routes for local people and visitors, stronger connections between communities and their rivers, and opportunities to support wildlife and water environments.
It also shows the importance of local partnerships. Successful river routes depend on collaboration between local authorities, environmental organisations, access groups, community organisations and the people who know and use these places every day.
Help shape the next National River Walks
We will soon launch a competition inviting proposals for the locations of the next four National River Walks.
We want to hear from organisations and partnerships with strong ideas for river routes that can improve access, support nature recovery and bring benefits to local communities.
This will include proposals from local authorities, environmental organisations, access groups, community organisations and other local partners.
We are particularly interested in routes that can bring people closer to nature where access is currently limited, help communities enjoy their local rivers, and support wider environmental improvements.
Join our stakeholder information sessions
If you are interested in applying for a grant to deliver one of the next four river walks, come along to one of our information sessions on:
More than a line on a map
National River Walks are not just about lines on a map.
They are about helping people feel connected to the nature around them – whether that is a family walk at the weekend, a greener route to work, a chance to volunteer, or a new way to discover the wildlife and heritage of a local river.
The Mersey Valley Way is the first step. The next National River Walks will help more communities across England enjoy the rivers on their doorstep.
For any further questions, contact the team via the River Walks mailbox at: riverwalks@defra.gov.uk.
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