Monmouthshire's
Walking Festival launched
Early details
of Monmouthshire's first full-length walking festival have been released.
The county's
long-distance footpaths, including Offa's Dyke Path National Trail and the Wye
Valley Walk, will form a central part of the ten-day festival, which takes
place from 22nd to 31st October, 2010, with six day-long
hikes following Monmouthshire's boundary from Magor in the south to Llanthony
in the north.
The county's
perimeter displays an amazing breadth of landscape, from the coastal flats of
the Severn Estuary to the Wye Valley Gorge; across the hills to the Black
Mountains, and through the pastoral surroundings of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal.
Other
highlights will include the Usk Valley walk (in three stages) and the two-stage
Three Castles walk, which explores the three border castles of Grosmont,
Skenfrith and White Castle, as well as two new routes around Wentwood and The
Hendre.
Around thirty
walks all over Monmouthshire are expected to be offered, with all ages and
abilities catered for, whilst suggestions for evening entertainment will also
be provided to walkers staying overnight.
In a further
bid to emphasise the beauty of Monmouthshire's green countryside, festival
organisers will be encouraging walkers to leave their cars at home and to
arrive by public transport. Pick-ups and luggage transfers will be available
for staying visitors who arrive and depart by train, whilst the walks programme
will be geographically arranged so that those visitors can take full advantage
of the range of walks available.
The walking
festival is being led by adventa, Monmouthshire's Rural Development Programme,
with support from Monmouthshire County Council's Countryside and Tourism
sections, and follows a successful pilot event which took place in April 2009.
Adventa's
Festival & Events Coordinator, Louise McGuinness, emphasised the importance
of local involvement in the project:
"Local
rambler associations and community groups are already involved in the walking
festival but there are many ways for local people to join in. Walk leaders,
first-aiders and route checkers are all welcome, as are volunteers for
organisation and publicity. Training is available, so do get in touch if you
are interested in getting involved.
"However, as
one of adventa's key drivers is innovation, it is unlikely that we will be able
to organise a second walking festival in the future. It would be a great pity
if such an exciting project lasts for just one year and we are therefore
appealing to individuals or community groups to consider getting involved now,
with a view to taking the project into the future. Support can be given to
interested parties to ensure that this fantastic event continues to attract
visitors to Monmouthshire's countryside in the future."
Until the full walks programme and booking
details are released walkers can check walkinginmonmouthshire.co.uk for
updates. If you are interested in volunteering contact Louise McGuinness at louisemcguinness@monmouthshire.gov.uk,
or telephone 01873 736035.
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