The highlight of the festival was the 40th anniversary ceremony on 26 September, by Tonbridge Castle where the Wealdway crosses the Medway bridge in the centre of the town. The Mayor of Tonbridge, Councillor Roger Roud, told the story of the Wealdway and its significance to Tonbridge and the surrounding area. Later, the Mayor joined one of three walks which set off from Tonbridge Castle after the ceremony. Malcolm McDonnell, member of the Ramblers’ Board of Trustees, spoke about the importance of protecting public rights of way and thanked local Ramblers members for their contributions to maintaining the extensive footpath network in Kent and East Sussex.
A special visitor at the Tonbridge ceremony was Brian Buttifant, 84, of Kemsing. Brian was one of 500 walkers from the UK and Europe at the official opening of the Wealdway at Camp Hill in Ashdown Forest on 27 September 1981. On that day, Brian and fellow members of the Long Distance Walkers Association had set off early to walk the 35 miles along the Wealdway from Eastbourne to Camp Hill, arriving just in time for the opening ceremony. Also present at both the 1981 opening and the 2021 anniversary was Mary Blinks of Tunbridge Wells Rambling Club.