KINGTON Walking Festival Committee are becoming renowned for holding their meetings in locations which showcase the surrounding landscape.

As preparation for their sixth annual festival in September, members gathered on a hillside overlooking one of the town’s most well-known landmarks, Hergest Court.

The committee have previously had photographs taken during meetings at Hergest Ridge, Bradnor Hill and the Dolyhir Quarry.

This year’s festival between September 21 and 24, boasts several new walks and its first ever cycle event.

The programme is bigger and better than ever with over 40 walks covering history, natural history, geology, industry, pubs, landscape and much more of Kington’s hinterland.

A two day circular walk from Clun with an overnight stay in Bishops Castle is new to the event calendar and an event for the less able bodied called 'Don't Stop Me Now'. In addition to the ever popular Eight Peaks Challenge with the support of Red Kite Fostering, the festival introduces the Three Peaks Challenge.

On September 24, the festival introduces the Walton Wobbler - the first ever cycle event, over about 30 miles, including the high points to the north of Kington with some stiff climbs and descents.

The Offa's Dyke Path National Trail, the Herefordshire Trail, Mortimer Trail from Ludlow, and the Wyche Way from Broadway all pass through (or start/finish) in the town.

Whether you fancy an amble around the mills and weirs of the town, a ramble to the pub (or two) or the challenge of the 30 mile Mortimer Trail over two days, there will be something for all walkers.

If all that makes you hungry, sign up for the new foraging event with author Adele Nozedar and learn about the free food hidden in lanes and hedgerows around the town.

And if you have still got energy to burn there will also be lively music and dancing to Little Rumba.

Kington Walks was established by the Kington Chamber of Trade in 2011 to promote sustainable tourism and to help to preserve Kington's unique atmosphere with support from Herefordshire Council and Kington Town Council. They successfully applied for 'Walkers Are Welcome' status for the town in the same year.

For more information and to book walks, which are already selling quickly visit http://www.kingtonwalks.org.