Plenty of fun for families at walking festival

This year's Herefordshire Walking Festival includes some special treats for families, including walking with llamas, discovering mini beasts in a meadow and stroking owls and small breed animals.

Running from Saturday, June 14 until Monday, June 22, the festival offers a great opportunity to explore the hidden beauty of Herefordshire.

More Than Just a Walk on Saturday, June 14, from 10am until 1pm, is a two-mile walk around an ancient deer park at Herefordshire College of Technology at Holme Lacy, and offers a chance to see young Hereford calves and new season lambs.

On Saturday, June 14 from 2pm until 4pm, Herefordshire Nature Trust will be leading a Boatmen, Beetles and Butterflies walk in Ross-on-Wye which will take youngsters of all ages on a voyage of discovery to explore the world of the floodplain.

Butterflies of Haugh Wood on Saturday, June 14 from 2pm until 4pm, is two-mile walk in Haugh Wood looking at various species of butterflies with Marytn Davies of Butterfly Conservation.

Saturday, June 14, from 2pm until 5pm, also sees Walking with Llamas, a gentle two-mile amble through the village of Ewyas Harold on to Ewyas Harold common. The minimum recommended age for children on this walk is eight years old.

Families will also be welcome on Marvellous Meadow Minibeasts, a one-mile activity walk exploring the Lugg Meadows and gardens and orchards of Lower House Farm, seeking out the myriad of minibeasts who make this their home. This walk is being held on Sunday, June 15 from 10am until noon.

A children's walk Iron, Rabbits, Fields and Deer is taking place on Saturday, June 21 from 10am until 12.30pm, starting at Stansbatch, and will look at the changing roles which Wapley Hill has played throughout history. Herefordshire Archaeology Service is leading this walk.

On Sunday, June 22 there is a family fun walk at Brockhampton from 10am until 4.30pm. A ranger will lead the walk around the National Trust property's parkland which offers stunning views across the estate.

Sunday, June 22 from 2pm until 5pm sees another chance to walk with llamas at Ewyas Harold. The walk, which is 3.5 miles long, is suitable for children aged over eight years.

Hedwigs in Herefordshire is another ideal walk for families. The three-mile walk at Kington ends with a guided tour to meet pygmy goats, Dexter cattle, miniature horses and the world's smallest breed of sheep.

Herefordshire Walking Festival is sponsored by M&M of Leominster.

For further details and to book tickets log onto http://www.walkingfestival.com/ or telephone the Festival booking office on 01568 797842.