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 [email protected], or telephone 01873 736035.
