Herefordshire Walking Festival

Final countdown to the 2011 Herefordshire Walking Festival

The 10th annual Herefordshire Walking Festival, from June 18th to 26th, offers more than fifty walks over nine glorious summer days.

And, as in the previous nine years, spaces are filling-up fast, and the ³sold out² signs are starting to appear against some of the walks on this year¹s programme.

Several new walks feature in the 2011 Festival: four of these will help to explore the relationship of Hereford Cathedral and the city¹s evolution; a series of five half-hour lunchtime walks will look at hidden corners of Rotherwas; and a special two-day walk through fields and farms will take participants along the Golden Valley from Hay-on-Wye, to Hereford.

This year¹s featured, long-distance walk explores Offa¹s Dyke ­ which, itself, is celebrating its 40th anniversary as a National Trail this year. Three days of hill walking with stunning views, based around the market town of Kington, have been scheduled for the first weekend of the Festival, which is also being closely linked with the county¹s ³Year of the Orchard² celebrations.

As ever, the 2011 Festival programme offers walkers of all levels the chance to don their boots and to discover the nooks and crannies of Herefordshire¹s rich, rural landscape through a choice of more than 60 guided walks.  But with over 50 walks to choose from, the hardest decision walkers, hikers, ramblers and strollers will face is which of the walks to join.

Some of the walks offer a chance to learn more about Herefordshire¹s archaeology, geology, butterflies, canals, churches and history.  There¹s a walk focusing on ³Calmer Llama Karma²; a chance to walk, and listen to poetry; a family stroll on the Malverns; and even a morning stroll, followed by a tenpin bowling session!

The 2011 Walking Festival programme has been carefully designed to provide something for everyone, and there is a total of 1,400 places available throughout the Festival.  But the success of previous years has helped to put Herefordshire on the top table of Britain¹s many and varied walking festivals, and organisers are warning anyone interested in taking part to book sooner, rather than later.

Widely recognised as one of the best areas of the British Isles for exploring on foot, Herefordshire boasts 2,100 miles of public rights of way, one of the UK¹s top Summer Walking Festivals, and its very own long-distance Herefordshire Trail. All of this is reinforced by the spectacular backdrops of the Malvern Hills, Black Mountains, Mortimer Forest and the Wye Valley.

To view the full programme go to www.visitherefordshire.co.uk and click on the Walking Festival logo on the home page.  From there, it¹s possible to both download the full programme, and book tickets online.  For further information or accommodation brochure, e-mail walking@visitherefordshire.co.uk or telephone 01432 268430.