With the Wales Valleys Walking Festival soon approaching (04-19 September), ‘The Valleys – Heart and Soul’ campaign has launched the ‘Valleys Trekker Test’, to help visitors find the most suitable walking route for their ability (and their personality).
Now in its sixth year, the annual festival is a celebration of walking and the breathtaking scenery of The Valleys. Hundreds of visitors are expected to take part in the series of walks which take place at various scenic and cultural locations across The Valleys, including medieval villages, lakes, waterfalls and hidden caves. All walks are free and are led by local enthusiasts, all hoping to encourage more people to get out into the countryside and enjoy The Valleys.
Like the familiar colour grading used on ski slopes, but without a black run in sight, the 29 walking routes are colour coded from an ‘Easy’ green to a ‘Very Strenuous’ red, to reflect the difficulty of the walks.
Along with the ski inspired grading, visitors can also take part in a fun, new quiz, dubbed the ‘Valleys Trekker Test’*, where they will be asked a series of fitness, culture and personal interest related questions, to determine their Valleys character** and suggested walking route. Visitors can take part in the quiz by visiting www.thevalleys.co.uk
Frank Olding, an experienced walk leader from Abertillery, said: “The Festival offers all kinds of routes to suit all abilities, so the colour grading helps to let people know what they’re getting themselves into!
“The routes are also tailored to suit different interests, from the likes of the ‘Cider with Stacey’ route on 07 September, offering a refreshing twist on the rambler experience, to the more challenging ‘Discover Torfaen’s Hidden Gems’ on 05 September , which involves a 15 mile hike through woodlands, a nature reserve and waterfall. This is a well respected event and we have hundreds of visitors coming from across the UK every year to enjoy The Valleys which offers some of the best walking in the UK.”
Kevin Oates, Festival Chairman, said: “The Festival is even bigger and better this year, offering a greater number of walks and in new locations, including Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire.
“The Valleys boasts a wealth of cultural attractions and beautiful landscapes that can be appreciated from many of the walking routes, so the festival really is the perfect way to celebrate all that the area has to offer. Many tourists come to The Valleys because of the great walking on offer here so it is a key element in bringing revenue to the area.
“We hope that visitors enjoy taking the ‘Valleys Trekker Test’, which definitely captures The Valleys’ unique sense of humour, as well as being informative and helpful to visitors at the same time.”
The Festival is part of ‘The Valleys – Heart and Soul of Wales’ campaign, a three year campaign led by partnership organisations from the Western Valleys, Heads of the Valleys and The Valleys Partnership. The aim is to change perceptions of the Valleys and bring long-term economic benefits to the area.
To request a booking form contact [email protected] or call 01443 838632. Visitors can also find Wales Valleys Walking Festival on Facebook.
To take the ‘Valleys Trekker Test’, download a Wales Valleys Walking Festival brochure or to find out more about events in The Valleys, visit thevalleys.co.uk. For the latest updates, follow @LoveTheValleys on Twitter or find Love The Valleys on Facebook.
