Local Flavour: The Waendel Walk

Daily Prompt: Write a piece about a typically “local” experience from where you come from as though it’s an entry in a travel guide.

I love this, what a great opportunity to document the main even in my current home town in the UK: Wellingborough and the International Waendel Walk

The history of the Waendel Walk

The International Waendel Walk was started in 1979 as a one day event offering two walks: 43km and 29km. 479 people signed up to walk, 355 of those trying the 43km walk. 

By 1981 it was a two day event and by 1984 a swimming even was also added. 1983 saw Britain becoming the 17th member of the IVV (International Volkssport Verband) an International Federation of popular sports. This saw the Waendel walk grow into a Europe-wide attraction, and nowadays thousands and thousands of walkers from all across Europe descend on Wellingborough to take part in the annual International Waendel Walk annually each May. 

The history of the name

The walk was originally called the Wellingborough walk. A local historian found that the name Wellingborough was a corruption of Waendel’s Burgh, as documented in the Doomsday book. Waendel was a Saxon warlord and Waendel’s Burgh was the stronghold of the Waendel’s people. The Waendel Walk awards are medals based on Saxon symbols. 

Waendel Walk 2013

The 34th International Waendel walk will take place on the weekend of Friday 10th – Sunday 12th May 2013. With walking, swimming and cycling routes now on offer, there is something for everyone. 

Take a look at the Waendel Walk website for further details.