Six countries, six walking routes, 1,000 participants and more than 30 associations and local partners. Over the course of a year, HIKE4ALL brought them together around a shared goal of making walking and outdoor activities accessible to everyone. The project partners celebrated their achievements at the final conference on 5–6 November 2026 in Troyes, France, along the Templars’ Route.
Hosted by the Templars Heritage Route European Federation (ThREF), the event brought together project partners from France, Italy, Norway, the Czech Republic, Spain and Türkiye, alongside local organisations, public authorities and university from Master 1 and 2 of Cultural Heritage of the University of Troyes. Together, they reflected on how walking can support physical and mental well-being, strengthen social connections and foster a sense of belonging. The conference was opened at the Aube Convention Center by Valery Denis, ThREF president, followed by Michel Simon, President of the Grand-Est Regional Committee of the French Hiking Federation (FFRP) and Francesco Ferrari, President of the European Association of the Via Francigena (EAVF).
The first session started with an introduction to the HIKE4ALL project by Project Coordinator Elena Dubinina. Representatives from each participating route — the Via Francigena, St. Olav Ways, the European Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Camino Lebaniego, the St Paul Trail and the Templars Route — then presented the results of their local activities, sharing the experience gained, lessons learned and key takeaways from their inclusive hiking events.
Local speakers brought on-the-ground experience to the discussion. Pierre Soyer presented the work of Handisport de l’Aube, from wheelchair basketball and tandem cycling to hiking with Joëlette all-terrain wheelchairs. Peggie Papa spoke about accompanying Arsène in a Joëlette during the 100 km de Millau and shared her experience of the Marathon des Sables. The event also welcomed Nathan Suana, a fitness coach and content creator whose work in adapted physical activity helps people with disabilities build confidence through sport.
On 6 November, the programme moved outdoors to the Forêt d’Orient Regional Nature Park. Participants explored the Palais du Roi Chêne trail on guided or self-guided walks and took part in adapted outdoor activities and disability awareness workshops. Across its six routes, HIKE4ALL worked with people with physical, visual and intellectual disabilities and supported initiatives involving people in detention and people recovering from addiction, to highlight the importance of designing inclusive experiences together with participants, with the support of local communities and organisations. The journey towards inclusion does not end with HIKE4ALL. The project has sparked ideas, built connections and deepened our understanding of what accessible walking can look like. The next step is to build on this experience together, creating more opportunities for everyone to enjoy our walking routes.
[Photo credits: ThREF]