Remember Together. Walk for Care... On Saturday 16 May 2026, we'll stride out at Nightwalk, to remember those we love and change the lives of others.
Bideford Rugby Club (choose a 3-mile route to Instow or a 10-mile route to Barnstaple)
Saturday 16th May 2026
Early Bird discount:
Bideford > Instow - £20
Bideford > Barnstaple - £25
Everyone over 11 years, who wants to walk in memory
At Nightwalk 2026, we're going to walk for those we love, and we're going to raise funds for vital local care. Everyone deserves care and compassion at the end of life. Let’s make that happen.
Join 1,000 others taking on this sponsored trek to remember someone special. Along the moonlit Tarka Trail, there'll be a series of beautiful interactive memory stations, as well as lights, music and other surprises.
Starting at Bideford Rugby Club, you can choose your preferred distance:
We're walking because there's an urgent demand for North Devon Hospice's care. More people need support than ever before, and you can make sure they don't have to face a life-limiting illness like cancer alone.
Your registration fee just covers the cost of staging such a special event. So when signing up, you will choose your own sponsorship target (or donation amount), to fund vital care either at the hospice or in people’s own homes.
Your registration fee only covers the cost of staging such a special event. It is your sponsorship (or donations) which will help North Devon Hospice provide the urgent care needed right now.
When registering, you'll choose your sponsorship target (or donation amount), depending on the kind of support you would like to fund.
We've tried our best to make Nightwalk accessible for all. There will be a shortened, fully accessible route from Bideford to Instow. If you have limited mobility, please contact the Fundraising Team with any questions at eventadmin@northdevonhospice.org.uk.
We're pleased to welcome anyone 11+ to experience the joy of Nightwalk! All those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult who walks with them at the event. Please note, a maximum of three under-18s are permitted to walk with each adult.
Ensure someone’s pain is controlled, with a visit from our Clinical Nurse Specialists, bringing relief and contentment to patients in their own home
Give someone their mobility back, with physiotherapy for a patient on our Bedded Unit, so they can live well through their illness
Provide urgent care in someone’s final days through our Hospice to Home team, giving the dignity and comfort we'd all wish for when symptoms become severe
A great target for a Nightwalk team. You could help someone stop feeling isolated with their illness, and help them realise they're not facing this journey alone.
The sponsorship raised by Nightwalkers like you will help care for local people, ensuring that their final days are filled with dignity and peace, free from pain (the registration fee just covers the cost of staging the event).
Good news! When registering for Nightwalk, you will automatically be set up an online fundraising page! It'll even have the fundraising target you chose, so everyone can see how their donation will help provide specific care from North Devon Hospice to local people.
We'll send you the link to your page, and all you have to do is share it on your social media, WhatsApp or email. Friends, family and colleagues can easily sponsor you and help you reach your target. You'll get there in no time!
When registering, we'll also send you your own Nightwalk Fundraising Pack, with plenty of hints and tips to make it easy to hit your target.
If you'd rather have a paper sponsor form, you can download one here. Print it off, then pass it round your workplace or social groups, it’ll soon fill up! Every pound raised by Nightwalkers like you will help ensure that local people facing the end of their life, or the loss of a loved one, do not have to do it alone. Thank you.
All you need to know about Nightwalk 2026
Your registration fee only covers the cost of staging such a special event. Your sponsorship is what helps the hospice meet the urgent need for local care. When registering, you'll be able to choose your fundraising target, depending on what kind of care you'd like to help fund.
Your own fundraising page will also be set up for you automatically, and the link will be sent to you. Share this page with family and friends on email, social media or WhatsApp. You'll quickly hit your target!
If you'd prefer to make a donation instead of raising sponsorship, that's fine too and very much appreciated.
However, you reach your chosen target, this will make the world of difference to a family in North Devon who is currently facing a life-limiting illness like cancer and relies on the hospice for care and support.
Anyone aged 11+ can sign up for Nightwalk. Those aged 11-17 must take part with an accompanying adult who is also registered for Nightwalk, and we ask that there is at least one adult to every three children aged 11-17.
Nightwalk is about walking to remember. We will stride out together, in honour of those who are special to us. On your Nightwalk t-shirt, you can write the name of a loved one who you are walking for.
Throughout the night there will be some special interactive memory stations, as well as plenty of fun and entertainment.
Our lively event village will officially open at 6:00pm. All walkers must be registered and in the event village no later than 7:00pm in readiness to start setting off from the start line at 7.30pm.
We’re excited to be gathering all Nightwalkers at a single start point at Bideford Rugby Club. The atmosphere at the start line will be bubbling, with live music, a fun warm up, event village, stage, glow-up station and more.
Our lively event village will officially open at 6:00pm. All walkers must be registered and in the event village no later than 7:00pm in readiness to start setting off from the start line at 7.30pm.
Together, as a spectacular parade of glowing colours and unstoppable spirit, walkers will make their way along Bideford Quay and out onto the Tarka Trail where an array of interactive and immersive entertainment awaits!
There are two routes available. We’ll all start at Bideford Rugby Club, and you can choose the three-mile route finishing at Instow Yacht Club, or the 10-mile route finishing at Barnstaple Rugy Club. The shorter route should take an hour, with the longer one more like three and a half hours (although it could be faster or slower depending on each group’s walking pace).
Nightwalk is an exciting outdoor evening event, and weather conditions can change quickly. While we absolutely encourage you to let your spirit shine by dressing bright and bold, please also come prepared for the elements.
👟 Comfortable, waterproof footwear
🧥 Layers and weather-appropriate clothing — it can get chilly later in the evening
💧 Plenty of water and snacks to keep your energy up
🔦 A torch — just in case
📱 A fully charged mobile phone
Let’s keep it safe, fun, and fabulous!
There is ample parking, and drop-off points available in Bideford, with car parks located at Riverbank, Pill Road and Chanters Road. All car parks are public and may incur charges. Any vehicles are left at your own risk.
Many participants find it easiest to get dropped off at the start and collected at the end by a friend or family member. Parking is very limited at Barnstaple Rugby Club but pick up will be available from the football club car park next door.
We’ve tried our best to make Nightwalk accessible for all. The route is largely flat and step-free. If you have limited mobility or require a wheelchair or mobility scooter and have any questions about the route, don't hesitate to get in touch with the Fundraising Team at eventadmin@northdevonhospice.org.uk.
Upon registration, all walkers will be issued with a numbered bib which is to be worn at all times whilst taking part. This bib contains a chip which will activate as soon as you cross the start line. This ensures all walkers can be tracked whilst out on the course. You must cross the finish line at your designated finish location to deregister.
If you need to leave the course at any time during the walk, please notify the nearest marshall or member of staff. This is so we can keep a track of who is and isn’t on the course and is for your own, and everyone’s safety.
At the end of the night, if any walkers are unaccounted for, in the first instance we will contact you via telephone. If we cannot reach you via phone, then we will send a member of staff to visit your home address. If we are still unable to reach you, we will have to notify the police!
So please do make sure you always keep your bib on you, cross your designated finish line, or if you need to leave the course for any reason, make sure to let a marshall know.
Yes, at the end of the walk (whether you finish at Instow Yacht Club or Barnstaple Rugby Club), Stagecoach buses will return walkers back to Bideford Rugby Club. The buses will start running from 8.30pm from Instow and 10.30pm from Barnstaple. There may be a short wait for buses however with two double deckers running all night, you shouldn't be waiting long!
Nightwalk takes place along public roadways and footpaths at night. All participants take part at their own risk, however we will do everything we can to make sure you have a safe and enjoyable experience whilst participating.
We have marshalls stationed at designated locations along the whole course, who will be clearly visible in high-vis vests and with brightly lit glow sticks. Our marshalls are volunteers, who give their time freely and are their for your safety so please be respectful and follow any instructions they may give.
All marshalls will have direct contact to our First Aid provider and Event HQ so can get additional help in the event of an emergency. First Aid will be supplied by CGC Safety who will have trained medical professionals available both on bike, by ambulance and on foot.
In addition to this, we will also have backmarker marshalls who will walk behind the last walker/s until the finish line. They will do their best to make sure no one deviates off the course however if you do decide to leave the course, and do not let one of our marshalls know, then you will be deemed deregistered and no longer covered by our event.
Toilets are situated at Bideford Rugby Club, Instow Yacht Club, Yelland Quay, Fremington Quay and Barnstaple Rugby Club. Please do not get tempted to use a bush along the route! Stick to the toilets provided!
Yes, friends and family are very welcome to come along so they too can enjoy the atmosphere of the event village and cheer you off on the start line. We simply ask for a small donation of £2 from all adults entering Bideford Rugby Club. Under 16's free.
All Nightwalker get a special event t-shirt, these will be available for collection at registration at the event village. You will not be able to swap sizes on the night as we have ordered stock based on the size you have pre-ordered. We will have a very limited number of extra t-shirts which can be purchased on the night.
In the event village at Bideford Rugby Club, there will be hot and cold food available to purchase from a selection of catering vans. The rugby club bar will also be open to purchase soft and alcoholic drinks.
There will be a refreshment station located near Westleigh as well as at Fremington Quay. These refreshments are complimentary and have been kindly donated.
At the finish lines, there will also be food and drink available to purchase.
Yes. Men are welcome to take part in Nightwalk, or volunteer their help on the night (please get in touch if you'd like to lend your support).
Because Nightwalk takes place mainly in the dark, even the best-behaved dogs could cause a hazard. So, we kindly ask not to bring dogs along. Dogs will not be allowed into the event village at Bideford Rugby Club.
Absolutely! We need a small army of volunteers to make Nightwalk possible. So if you would like to help out, or know someone who would, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.
A very special thank you to Barnstaple Rugby Club, Bideford Rugby Club and Instow Yacht Club for hosting the event, and to Stagecoach for ensuring a safe journey home for our participants.
Without our fantastic sponsors, we simply couldn't stage such an awesome event. Thank you to all the local companies who have shown their support by sponsoring or offering gifts in kind, it really does make a difference to local people.
We can't wait to see you all on Saturday 17th May!
Thanks to our amazing sponsors
