Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, is walking 150 miles across the region, following a path she hopes to formalise as The Loop.
This active travel route will weave together cities, towns, waterways, and countryside into one connected journey that is designed to boost the visitor economy, celebrate local identity, and promote healthier and greener ways of getting around.
This is the first time a walking route has been designed to connect the entire East Midlands. Whilst it’s not an official route yet, the project aims to spark bigger investment, as the Mayor looks at the infrastructure along ‘The Loop’ to see what needs to be done to make the trail permanent and well-marked in the future.
The Loop is about more than just walking – it is a big part of the Mayor’s plan to boost tourism, support local high streets and businesses, and encourage active travel like walking and cycling. It is also a way to bring the people of the East Midlands together, by celebrating what makes each part of the region unique.
The walking – and cycling – trail follows a network of historic waterways and existing public paths, connecting lesser-known locations and high streets that stand to benefit from increased footfall.
As part of a major digital campaign, Mayor Claire is walking and cycling the entire route, meeting with local residents, community leaders, and everyday heroes. She will use these conversations to highlight local issues, explore what is working, and share her vision for the future.
Starting in Buxton, Mayor Claire began her journey, taking public footpaths and walking trails from Buxton to Miller's Dale. She was joined by members of the Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust, Transport Design International Greenway, and the Buxton Town Team to talk about active travels routes, sustainable transport projects, and the visitor economy in Buxton.
Mayor Claire continues her journey from Miller's Dale to Monsal Head, where she is joined by Emma Simpson from Rural Action Derbyshire to talk about rural poverty, transport, and supporting local village communities.
On the third leg of The Loop, Mayor Claire walked from Monsal Head to Eyam, meeting with Godfrey Francis from Peak District Mosaic Group along the way.
Mayor Claire continues her journey of The Loop going from Eyam to Chatsworth. From Eyam to Froggatt Edge, she is joined by Alice from the National Trust.
Mayor Claire was joined by EMCCA CEO Amy Harhoff, other EMCCA Colleagues, and The Chesterfield Canal Trust as she walked from Chesterfield to Staveley.
Mayor Claire walks from Clowne to Creswell Crags with a group from Just Good Friends. At Creswell Crags, she meets with Sally Gillborn, CEO of North Notts BID, and George Buchanan, director of Creswell Crags.
Mayor Claire journeys from Welbeck to Clumber Park, with representatives from active travel charity Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, formerly known as Sustrans.
Mayor Claire walks from Clumber Park to Bevercotes, with travel vlogger The Nott'm Lass.
Mayor Claire pedals from High Marnham to Markham, with the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust.
Mayor Claire walks along the Trent Vale Trail, with members of the Nottinghamshire Ramblers' Association, to Besthorpe Nature Reserve.
Mayor Claire is joined by Pride of Britain finalist John Bell, founder of charity Walking 4 Hope, as she walks from Besthorpe Nature Reserve to Holme.
Mayor Claire Ward is joined by Natalia Postlethwaite, director of You Can Do Sport, to walk from Holme to Kelham on her latest stage of The Loop.
The Mayor is joined by Daisy Dady, from Rainworth-based The Social Action Hub, for a walk alongside the River Trent between Averham and Fiskerton on the latest leg of The Loop.
For the latest stage of The Loop, Mayor Claire is joined by members of Nottingham's The Pythian Club, which provides "sustainable and unique programmes to support young people with the ultimate goal of helping to reduce youth violence and drive community cohesion".
For the latest leg of The Loop, Mayor Claire was joined by Catherine Hughes, chief executive officer of British Nordic Walking.
Members of East Midlands sustainable travel charity RideWise accompanied the Mayor on her latest leg of The Loop. .
The Mayor was joined by Nottinghamshire Live local democracy reporter Joseph Connolly and members of University Radio Nottingham for her latest leg of The Loop, from Victoria Embankment in Nottingham to Attenborough Nature Reserve.
Mayor Claire was joined by representatives from the Canal & River Trust and its Let's Fish initiative for the latest leg of her Loop walk around the East Midlands.
Tara Barlow, from clean air campaigning organisation Mums from Lungs, joined the Mayor for the latest stage of The Loop.
Mayor Claire was joined by Derek Latham, from the Derwent Valley Trust, on her latest leg of The Loop, walking from the Museum of Making in Derby city centre to Little Eaton.
Travel and tourism students from Mansfield's West Nottinghamshire College joined Mayor Claire to walk between Little Eaton and Belper.
Mayor Claire was joined by Graham Bennett, chief executive officer of the National Tramway Museum at Crich, for something different on her latest leg of The Loop, as they boarded a train for a trip on the Derwent Valley Line.