PARTIES of adventurous locals and visitors will be seeing Herefordshire in a new light - at dawn on Midsummer's Day.

Highlights of the Herefordshire Walking Festival are to include 3am walks to hilltops to see the sunrise on the longest day of the year.

One group will trek from Longtown up to the east ridge of the Black Mountains and another will start out from Eastnor to climb Midsummer Hill.

The newly-published walking festival programme lists 59 walks ranging from half a mile through wood and meadow near Wellington to 17 miles on the hills of the Offa's Dyke trail along the Welsh border.

Some walkers may find it hard to keep going because of a number of gastronomic delights being offered on walks - the festival has a Herefordshire food and drink theme.

Among the temptations along the trail are award-winning ice cream and fruit sorbets, traditional farmhouse fare, cream teas, pub visits, tastings of local produce at a village shop and a three course Sunday lunch at a rural inn famed for food.

A Hereford Times Midsummer Walk of 13.5 miles on the longest day includes a visit to the Monkland Cheese Dairy and foot cooling in the Arrow.

The walking festival, from June 14 to 22, is offering a choice of five walks on weekdays and more at weekends. Walkers from all over the country will be able to get details on the internet.

County tourism officer Jane Lewis said: "Last year's inaugural festival was a great success and we expect this year's to be even bigger and better.

"Half the walks have been planned with a food and drink theme in mind, whilst all the walks offer fantastic opportunities to explore the many delightful corners of Herefordshire."

The free programme is available at tourist information centres or on-line at www.walkingfestival.com

l Leominster Rambling Club, which is taking part in the festival, says it welcomes would-be walkers who want to 'get in training.' The club's new programme includes a bluebell walk in the Forest of Dean and treks around Herefordshire beauty spots at Dorstone, Pudleston, Garway, Shobdon and the Bromyard Downs. Details are available from Dennis Downey on 01568 614411.

l Hereford Times Easter Walk on Page 19