Rivers Special Programme
In order to complete this special programme you will need to walk 15 different BWF registered walks where the route either goes along a River-side path or goes on a bridge across a river. A PT/ NT/LDW/MDW may be used once per calendar year but the same river cannot be used more than 3 times across the 15 stamps. Where a river name is repeated in the UK e.g. River Avon but is unique and unconnected, then these can be used 3 times for each unique river with the additional descriptive ie Bristol Avon, Shakespeare’s Avon, Salisbury Avon. Main and Series events can be used once per stamp number/year.
The IVV stamps entered in the special programme record book must have either a 2025 or 2026 or 2027 date. Only BWF (GB) IVV Stamps will be accepted.
This special programme is for Rivers only – it does not include canals, streams, becks. If a river and canal are combined then this can be used as it is designated as a river. The route must go on a river-side path for at least 50metres or a bridge over the river itself; a walk on a road near a river would not count. Rivers outside of the UK would also not count.
Main and Series events plus Permanent Trails (PT’s) (Year Round Events) as well as National Trails (NT) and Long/Medium Distance Walks (LDW/MDW) can be used.
Entry and redemption is possible by email. The entry fee of £7.00 includes a Woven Cloth Badge and Certificate on completion of 15 walks/stamps and includes UK postage to send the badge/certificate on redemption.
The entry form is available on this page in Word and PDF Format.
Entry will be open from 1st November 2024 and through 2025, 2026 and 2027 via post or online/email.
The Entry form is available in Word format here
The Entry form is available in PDF format here
A Supplementary card sheet is available here – if you are not wishing to send your complete booklet away – the cards are formatted on an A4 sheet – please cut to size where shown.
If submitting via post, please enclose an A5 Stamped Self Addressed envelope for the return of your record book and send to BWF SP, Helen Elliott, 11 St Ives Close, Macclesfield, Cheshire. SK10 3JX. Please note, more than 2 record books will require a “large” stamp due to the thickness. (8 record books ie 4 walkers x both special programmes will need a large over 100g stamp)
Online/Email entry: To minimise postage costs, you can enter via email/bank transfer payment – your record book will be emailed to you – to print off yourself. It is designed as an A4 sheet, printed on both sides, which is folded down to an A6 booklet. Send the form by email to projects@bwf-ivv.org.uk
A page with a list of Permanent Trails, Series Events, Main Events, National Trails and Long/Medium Distance Walks has been added to the Special Programme menu on the BWF website. Clubs will be requested to advise the BWF if their routes pass along or over a River. This list is offered as a place to start your walking adventure in discovering the various rivers we have in the UK. If you come upon an event that is not on the list, use it and then let us know so we can add it to the list projects@bwf-ivv.org.uk.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The FAQ’s will be added to over time. It is not intended to replace information already on this page or on the entry form. If you do have any questions that are not answered on this page or the entry form then please email projects@bwf-ivv.org.uk
- I wish to enter both the Rivers and Royal Connection Programmes – can I do one bank payment. Yes – please use the payment reference information shown at the base of the entry form. (If entering for multiple persons, 1 payment can be made using a lead surname).
- How quickly will I receive my record book? All the BWF National Committee are volunteers, we aim to process your entry within 2 weeks. We are expecting a higher volume of entries in November when the entry process opens, so your patience is appreciated.
- I’m entering from overseas – what are the costs to enter. Please contact projects@bwf-ivv.org.uk and a cost will be calculated for you depending on your location and number of entries to cover postage of your award. Entry via the online/email process is recommended.
- I’ve not got access to a UK bank account to pay – are there any other options. Please contact projects@bwf-ivv.org.uk and alternative currency payments options will be advised.
- How do I print my own record book. The record book is an A4 double-sided sheet. If you print 1 side and then pop the sheet of paper back into your printer to print the other side. We recommend using a stiff paper or light card for durability and please print in colour if possible (it is fine if it is only in black & white). Once printed the record book can be folded down to the A6 size.
- A number of walks by rivers (eg Windsor Jubilee Trail ) could be considered to qualify for both River and Royal Connection challenges. It is along the Thames and passes Windsor castle so presumably someone could submit and get both record booklets stamped at the same time for just one walk. Yes the walk stamp can be used in both record books from a single walk.
- It says 15 different BWF registered walks yet it says you can do a PT each year? Yes that is correct as the year block will be changed each year, so for example PT94 in 2025 is a different stamp to PT94 in 2026 and 2027, due to the year block being different.
- Can I walk 5 PTs in year one all crossing a different river to each other and then walk them all again in year two and three as that would be three times for each river. Yes if you walk 5 different PTs in 2025 which all cross a different river, you can walk all 5 again in 2026 and 2027 and achieve the 15.
- Can a river be crossed three times in a year if it is crossed using 3 different PTs? Yes, the same river can be used 3x in a single year using 3 different pts. That river of course cannot be used again as you have claimed the maximum 3x.
- Do I complete the record book with the date and name of the river. Yes the walker should complete the record book before sending it to the walk organiser to add the IVV stamp. It is recommended, especially when seeking multiple stamps from the same walk organiser, that you include a note to advise which “space” to stamp.