A scenic sponsored walk returns to Welwyn Garden City next month in aid of Isabel Hospice.

On Sunday, May 19, volunteer fundraising group, The Friends of Isabel Fundraising Committee will host The Circular Walk.

This scenic stroll through Welwyn Garden City’s countryside views and many of the town’s historical points of interest will raise funds for local palliative care charity, Isabel Hospice.

The walk will kick off from the event’s central hub based at Digswell Playing Fields at 10am, but the organisers say walkers are welcome to join the route at their nearest entry point.

Gillian O’Gorman, of the Friends of Isabel Fundraising Committee, said: “This is our second year of running the walk, it is a circular route round the town taking in Brocket Hall, the Digswell Viaduct, Panshanger Airfield, Tewinbury nature reserve and Sherrardspark Wood.

“There is a festival like atmosphere at Digswell Playing Fields. It was wonderful to see all the families relaxing after the walk enjoying tea and cakes last year.”

The route, predominantly on public footpaths, is suitable for sturdy prams and pushchairs, and will be fully signposted and marshalled. Dogs are also welcome on the walk. 

All walkers will pass through Digswell Playing Fields, where there will be refreshments available.

There will also be a halfway refreshment stop offering drinks and snacks at Hatfield and Crusaders Cricket Club's ground at Ascots Lane. 

Entry is £10 per person, and walkers are also encouraged to try and raise £50 in sponsorship for Isabel Hospice.

To sign up to take part in the walk at isabelhospice.org.uk/events, for further enquires please email jac.squire@isabelhospice.org.uk.

In addition to the main 12.5-mile walk, there will also be a short 2-3 mile, fun, family scavenger-hunt walk.

This will test participants' powers of observation whilst they enjoy a scenic walk through the local nature reserve, embracing the sights and wildlife Welwyn Garden City has to offer. A prize will be available for every child who participates.

All ages are encouraged to take part in the Circular Walk around WGC. Gillian said: “Last year our youngest walkers were eight and 11 years old and we had walkers well into their 70s!”

The event last year raised an impressive £4,600 in aid of Isabel Hospice.

This amount could help pay for 164 hours of specialist nursing care in the In-Patient Unit relieving someone’s pain or ensuring they feel safe and supported.