RAMBLERS have set up their own web site to help visitors who come to Herefordshire looking for a good walk.

The full programme of walks arranged by the Herefordshire Group of the Ramblers' Association is now on the Internet and will be regularly updated.

There are also contact numbers and other information about the group aimed at people who are planning walking trips to the county.

Committee member Arthur Rowe, who set up the web site, said: "Recently we have been joined by young walkers from Japan and Portugal.

"They told me they had searched the Internet to try and find out if there were any organised walks locally and had found nothing.

"We decided to put this right. We are now up there on the world wide web for anybody, anywhere, to look us up.

Illustrations

"It helps to promote walking in Herefordshire and is good for tourism and the rural economy. These visiting walkers spend money when they come here."

The new web site also features the booklet 'Our Favourite Herefordshire Walks', which the group published shortly before Christmas.

Publicity officer Harry Pugh said: "The book, which contains 12 walks, has been widely praised, both locally and nationally in the walking press, especially for the illustrations."

The first print run of 1,000 copies was a sell-out. Another 500 have been printed in the hope that visitors will buy them to explore the county.

The web address for the group is:

www.web-xl.com/herefordra