The Big Walk 2026 - FAQs

My question is about signing up

What do I get for signing up?

By booking your place at the Big Walk, you will receive:

• Entry to the Big Walk 2026 on Friday 3 July 2026 - this includes access to route cards and briefing notes in the run up to the event and support on the day
• Your Big Walk 2026 fundraising t-shirt and medal
• Lunch & snacks along the route
• A hot meal and celebratory drink at The Edge finish line
• A place on the coach to the start of the event

How do we sign up as a team?

All walkers will need to pay individually. You can then set up your JustGiving page as a team. 

Can my partner/friend sign up to the Big Walk if they aren’t from the University?

Yes! The walk is open to anyone, so we’d love for your partner/friend to join you on the walk.

Can I sign up if I am not a member of staff, student or alum (former student)?

Yes! Anyone can take part in the walk regardless of their association with the University.

I haven’t received a confirmation email!

We aim to get a confirmation email out to all walkers within five working days of your booking. If you have an urgent query please contact the Big Walk team at giving@sheffield.ac.uk or 0114 222 5598.

When is the booking deadline?

Bookings close at 11.59pm on 29 May 2026. Book soon to avoid disappointment!

My question is about payment

How long are the early bird tickets for sale?

The early bird price of £35 will be available until the 31st of March. After that tickets will be £40. 

Where can I pay for my entry?

Please pay via the online booking form here: Buy my place at the Big Walk 2026.

Can I pay for someone else’s place?

No, as the payment is linked to the sign up sheet, all walkers will need to pay for their own entry.

I haven’t received confirmation of my payment.

You should receive an email from our online booking form confirming that you have paid for your Big Walk place automatically after you've paid.

If you haven't received this email within two hours of payment, please get in touch with the Big Walk team at giving@sheffield.ac.uk and we will be able to check if it's gone through on our system. Please note we'll only be able to reply within working hours, Monday to Friday. 

I can’t take part in the walk any more. Can I get a refund?

Unfortunately we're unable to issue any refunds for entry into the Big Walk. You're able to pass on your entry to someone else - however, this must be done before 29 May 2026, and you must email us to let us know that you've passed on your place.

Any funds left in our account at the end of August 2026 will be donated to lung disease research at the University of Sheffield. 

What does my entry fee include?

Your fee will cover some really important aspects of the Big Walk. This includes, but is not limited to: provision of refreshments along the route, your Big Walk t-shirt, transport to the start of the event, professional first aid provision along the route, and hire for venues to use as marshal points.

My question is about the day - General

What if I can’t complete the route?

We hope that all of our participants will aim to complete their chosen route. On the day, if you become injured or are unable to continue the Walk, our marshals will be able to take care of you and if appropriate organise transport to take you back to the University.

I originally said I don’t want transport but now my plans have changed. Can I still get the organised transport?

Where possible please do try and let us know (giving@sheffield.ac.uk) at least two weeks in advance of the Walk. However, we do understand that things may change at short notice, so if circumstances change at the last minute we'll try to accommodate you. 

If your plans change and you no longer need transport, you must let us know so that we have an accurate figure for transport. 

What should I bring with me?

We'll send a full list of the equipment you'll need in our final instructions two weeks before the event. Here's an idea of what you are likely to need: 

• Day sack (lined with a plastic bag)
• Water bottle with at least 1 to 2 litres of water (more if especially hot)
• Sunscreen and hat
• Waterproof jacket and trousers for a wet forecast.
• Spare warm top
• Comfortable walking boots / shoes - there are some steep ascents and hard terrain, so bear this in mind when choosing your footwear
• Pair of spare socks
• Personal First Aid kit
• Mobile phone
• Food/snacks

Optional items if you have them:

• OS Map sheets of the area
• Walking poles

Can I bring my dog with me?

No - unfortunately, dogs aren't permitted on either route.

I've signed up to walk/run but now I would like to run/walk. Is that okay?

You can walk or run your chosen route, but please do try and let us know (giving@sheffield.ac.uk) by 29 May 2026 at the latest.

We permit individuals who do a combination of running and walking, although please note that there will be limited resources available for any runners along the route.

Will there be points to refill my water along the way?

Please start the walk with two litres of water and have the capacity to carry two litres with you along the route in a refillable water bottle. Most marshal points will have facilities available for you to refill your bottles.

Will there be snacks and food offered on the route?

We'll be providing energy snacks along the way, but we encourage you to bring your own snacks for personal preference, and hunger may strike at a point between marshal stops. We'll also be providing something larger at lunchtime and dinner at The Edge, with more details on this to come soon.

What should I wear on the day?

You should wear something comfortable and breathable, and be prepared for all weather! You'll be getting a Big Walk t-shirt, which will be a sweat-wicking sports material, so bear that in mind when planning what to wear.

Where will the toilets be on the route?

Check out the route maps below for the toilet stops along the route. For the Big Walk 2026, we've tried our best to offer as many toilet breaks and refreshments stops as possible.

20 mile

30 mile

Can we drop off a bag along the route?

Unfortunately we don't offer a bag drop-off service.

Will there be any cows along the route?

More information to come soon.

Where is there available car parking on campus?

We strongly encourage you to make your way to campus by public transport as you may find it difficult to drive home afterwards. If you'd like to travel by car, there are parking spaces available at the Durham Road Q-Park near the Octagon.

What prayer facilities will there be?

There'll be a prayer room available at the finish line at The Edge. We'll signpost this on the day, and you can also ask a member of the team to direct you.

20-mile route questions

What are the arrangements for transport to the start line?

We'll be organising transport in the form of coaches from the University of Sheffield (Octagon centre on Western Bank). 

Can I make my own way to the start line?

You're more than welcome to make your own way to the start line. Please arrive with plenty of time to get registered before the walk starts at 9:15am. 

What's the total elevation on the route?

The total ascent is 596m - that's almost 6 times the height of the Arts Tower!

30-mile route questions

What are the arrangements for transport to the start line?

We'll be organising transport in the form of coaches from the University of Sheffield (Octagon centre on Western Bank). 

Can I make my own way to the start line?

You're more than welcome to make your own way to the start line. Please arrive with plenty of time to get registered before the walk starts at 8:15am.

Can I swap to the 20 mile route instead?

In the lead-up to the Walk you can swap from the 30 to the 20 mile route, but please try to let us know by 29 May 2026 by emailing giving@sheffield.ac.uk.

What is the total elevation on the route?

In total it is 842m - that's almost 11 times the height of the Arts Tower!

My question is about training

Are there any training walks set up?

Yes! Our fantastic route planner, Big Walk Will, has put some training walks together for you to get Big Walk ready. Use these walks and find others on the internet and get training!

Why not organise between yourselves to go for a training walk one day a week after work, or at the weekend?

Where can I see the written instructions for the route?

Maps and route cards can be found on the Big Walk itinerary page. If you 'road-test' any of the route cards, please let us know any feedback you have! This will help us to make them easy to follow for everyone on the day. 

My question is about fundraising

How do I set up my JustGiving page?

Please find our Just Giving page set-up instructions for Big Walk 2026 here: JustGiving instructions

How do I create a team on JustGiving?

First of all, the team captain needs to create their fundraising page, using the instructions above.

From the team captain's fundraising page, select ‘Create a Team’. Fill your team page with your team's story and motivations, then share your team page with your friends for them to join.

Remember to set your target based on the number of people in your team. i.e. £400 for two team members, £800 for four, £1,200 for 6 members, etc.

I'd like hard copies of the sponsorship form. Where can I find these?

If you'd prefer to collect funds using a hard copy sponsorship form, you're more than welcome to. On the last pages of our Big Walk fundraising guide, you'll find a sponsorship form that you can print and share with your supporters. Send your sponsorship form to Campaigns and Alumni Relations Rotunda, Firth Court, Sheffield, S10 2TN or send it via email to  giving@sheffield.ac.uk.

When you've collected all donations using the hard copy, please pay this by using our online donation page (please write your name and ‘Big Walk 2026’).

I want to run an event for my fundraising - how do I go about this?

That’s great - take a look at our Big Walk fundraising guide for ideas if you’re stuck.

If you’d like any posters for your event then let us know, and we’ll see what we can do to help. Do try to let us know as far in advance as possible.

What if I don’t raise the minimum total?

We encourage you to put in as much effort as you can to fundraise - our Big Walk fundraising guide contains more information about how to do so.

If you've put efforts into raising offline/online and don’t raise the full £200 then that isn't a problem, we'd just like you to try and raise as much as you can.

How can I pay in offline (cash or cheques) fundraising?

You can either pay this in by using our online donation page (please write your name and ‘Big Walk 2026’ in the comments bar), or by sending us a cheque made payable to 'University of Sheffield' to The Rotunda, Firth Court.

Please refrain from paying this in yourself on JustGiving, as these donations will be subject to fees and we will not receive the whole donation.

I’m in a team - how much do we need to raise?

Please multiply £200 by the number of people in your team to get a fundraising target, e.g. £1,200 for a team of 6, £2,000 for a team of 10 etc.

Can I get gift aid from offline donations? 

Yes. Where possible you can use the sponsorship form available in our Big Walk fundraising guide so that we get Gift Aid details for your eligible donors. Please make sure to include the full address for both you (the fundraiser) and your eligible donors.

My question is about volunteering

How can I volunteer for the Big Walk?

First of all, thank you! We will be updating the webpage soon and a you'll be able to pick up a volunteer shift.

Can I choose my role and the times I volunteer?

Yes - the form we are using for 2026 will allow you to choose which role you would prefer, in the location and at the times that best suits you. If you require a certain role for personal reasons, e.g. mobility then please do let us know to give you priority for that role.

Can I use my own car? 

If you're a member of staff and will technically be 'at work' on the day, your car will need to be covered under business insurance. It is the car user/owner's responsibility to put this business insurance into place with their insurance provider. Please ensure you are fully ensured on the day of the event.

My question isn’t listed above

I can’t make the Big Walk but I’d still like to fundraise and do an event

That’s great! Please email the Giving team at giving@sheffield.ac.uk if you’d like more ideas - let us know your plans so that we can support you, provide you with a fundraising tin/bucket, and help promote your event!

Check out our tips on how to set up your own event or challenge, and you can also check out our Big Walk fundraising guide.

If I work at the University do I need to take annual leave for the Big Walk?

There is an agreement in place at the University that, at the discretion of your line manager, you can have the day to do the Big Walk or to volunteer to help on the day without using your annual leave.

Please make sure that you do discuss it with your line manager!

My question still isn’t listed!

Please email giving@sheffield.ac.uk and we will do our best to help you with your question.