10th September 2025
Saltmarsh Coast Walking Festival evening entertainment just announced, featuring journalist and television presenter Julia Bradbury and social media sensation ‘Man About Country’.
Not only has the festival been named as one of “Britain’s Best” by BBC Countryfile, but it also has a star-studded line up of evening entertainment!
Julia is one of Britain’s best-loved TV presenters and journalists, celebrated for her work on BBC Countryfile and her inspiring walking documentaries. She is the co-founder with her sister Gina of The Outdoor Guide and The Outdoor Guide Foundation. The Foundation equips schools with outdoor kit and guidance and is a passionate advocate for making the natural world accessible to everyone.
Join renowned TV presenter and author Julia Bradbury for an uplifting fireside chat hosted by Wanderlust magazine and the Saltmarsh Coast Walking Festival in Maldon. Julia will share inspiring insights from her new book, Hack Yourself Healthy, a journey sparked by her own breast cancer diagnosis that has taken her from Antarctica to the Himalayas, Cornwall to Yorkshire.
Along the way, Julia has tested everything from sleep science and biohacking to nutrition and holistic medicine, uncovering practical, science-backed strategies to help optimise body, mind and spirit. At the heart of it all is her passion for walking, nature, and the joy of moving outdoors, powerful tools that we can all use to boost our wellbeing every day.
Julia will be joined by Elliot Wellsteed-Crook, Publisher and Chief Operating Officer of Wanderlust Magazine, the UK’s leading independent travel magazine, which champions a distinctive brand of travel journalism centred on authenticity, sustainability, and-off-the-beaten-track experiences.
But that isn’t all, the festival has a whole programme of evening entertainment with eight events throughout the duration of the festival.
James Lawrence, otherwise known as ‘Man About Country’ said: “I’ve been leading walks for over 5 years, and I tell stories around campfires, amongst trees and on phone screens. I’m spreading the word that you don’t need to go abroad to find paradise; you don’t need expensive gear to go walking; you don’t need to do things ‘the way it’s always been done.”
James will be leading a fully booked story-telling walk around Goldhanger, as well as participating in an evening talk on ‘The Essex Ways’ with a Q&A session.
Cllr Richard Siddall, Leader of Maldon District Council said: “We are proud that BBC Countryfile has just named our Festival as one of ‘Britain’s Best Walking Festivals’ which follows on from the ‘Observer’ newspaper highlighting it as one of the ten best walking festivals in 2024.
“This event continues to provide visitors and residents with the perfect opportunity to explore the beauty and charm of our corner of Essex and to have such big names shining a light on our district and help us to share this with others is absolutely wonderful.”
People can register their interest in receiving regular updates on the 2025 Saltmarsh Coast Walking Festival and book their places on all the guided walks and evening entertainment at: https://www.saltmarshcoastwalkingfestival.co.uk/
The Saltmarsh Coast Walking Festival has received £10,000 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.