East Midlands Airport Opens Revamped Autumn Walking Route to Mark 60th Anniversary
East Midlands Airport has stepped into autumn with a fresh new look for its popular walking trail after a £60,000 upgrade celebrating the airport’s 60th anniversary.
The investment has transformed the six-mile perimeter route, making it a scenic escape for both aviation fans and countryside walkers.
The loop skirts the airport’s boundaries, offering striking views of the Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire landscapes while connecting visitors to wider country paths and vantage spots.
Backed by the EMA Community Fund’s independent committee, the funding aims to enhance public access while blending the buzz of aviation with the calm of rural England.
Cllr Angus Sowter, of EMA’s Community Fund Committee and Castle Donington Parish Council, said: “[The project] not only shows the commitment of EMA to mitigate the intrusion of an international airport into the rural scene but the perimeter walk, with its views over the Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire countryside, also illustrates how air, road and rail come together in one of the most vibrant logistics areas in the UK.”
The improvements are striking. New information boards now dot key points of the trail, sharing snippets of local history, wildlife facts and aviation highlights.
Wayfinder fingerposts and gateway signs have been added to guide walkers, while surface upgrades make the route more accessible in all seasons.
A long stretch of hedgerow will also be reinstated this November, strengthening the trail’s natural charm.
One of the route’s well-loved art pieces, Stepping Stones, has found a new home near the central ponds in the southern section, adding a splash of creativity to the leafy walk.
Freshly designed entry signs, crafted by Derby students in alternative education, now welcome visitors at the main access points.
Sections prone to flooding, particularly near the East Midlands Aeropark, have been reinforced with seventy tonnes of stone, ensuring year-round use.
Colleen Hempson, East Midlands Airport’s community engagement manager, who oversaw the works, said: “It’s been great to be able to mark our 60th anniversary with long-lasting improvements to the Airport Trail, which is well loved by local ramblers, dog walkers and aviation enthusiasts.
The new signage and information boards make a real difference and hopefully will encourage more people to make use of the trail in the years to come.”
With its mix of rural scenery, aviation activity, and improved facilities, the upgraded East Midlands Airport trail offers a refreshing autumn outing for locals and visitors alike, a fitting tribute to six decades of the region’s busiest international gateway.
