With more than three quarters of all 1,353 place on the walks scheduled for this year's Herefordshire Walking Festival now sold out, organisers are advising anyone still interested in taking part to step up their pace.
Now seen as one of the biggest and best of all annual walking festivals held within the UK, the Herefordshire event runs from June 16 to 24, and offers a total of 60 different guided walks throughout the county, at all times of the day, and for all abilities.
Bookings have been brisker than ever before and the sold-out signs have started to appear alongside several of the themed walks. But with around 350 places still up for grabs, there are a host of opportunities to go on walks offering "A Cream Tea in the Wye Valley", "Cider With Rosie Lee", "More than Just a View", and "Angels of the Night".
Other examples of walks still available include "Marvellous Meadow Minibeasts" and "Wild Connections" on Saturday, June 16, both of which cost £3 for adults to join, but are free for children. The former will explore the Lugg meadows and the gardens and orchards of Lower House Far, seeking out the 'minibeasts' who make it their home while the latter is a family-friendly town and country trail.
The gloriously named "Hedwigs of Herefordshire" walk on June 24, meanwhile, is a three-mile stroll across the fields prior to a guided tour to meet pygmy goats, Dexter cattle and the world's smallest breed of sheep, miniature horses and donkeys.
The full list of walks can be viewed at http://www.walkingfestival.com/.
Widely regarded these days as one of the best areas of the British Isles for exploring on foot, Herefordshire boasts 2,100 miles of public rights of way, as well as one of the nation's newest long-distance footpaths – the 154-mile Herefordshire Trail which was opened as recently as 2005.
The Walking Festival – sponsored by online and mail-order retailer of discounted branded sports, fashion and lifestyle products, M and M Direct – will also be putting a very strong emphasis on both sustainable tourism and local food and drink at this year's event.
Full details of all of the walks are listed in a comprehensive brochure, and on the dedicated website http://www.walkingfestival.com/; and further information about the event, local accommodation and other attractions can be found at http://www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/
For further information, please contact Jane Lewis, cultural services manager, Visit Herefordshire, telephone 01432 383068, or email jlewis2@herefordshire.gov.uk