THE annual Kington Walking Festival is taking place from September 15-18 this year.

Since 2012 the festival has offered the chance to explore the frontier lands between the green and asymmetrical hills of Herefordshire and the wild uplands of Mid Wales.

This year’s festival programme offers a wide range of walks for all abilities led by experienced leaders who have a wealth of local knowledge. Many walks focus on a particular specialist subject and vary in length from 2 to 15 miles with a range of heights to climb and descend.

Among the selection of walks planned this year is the Mortimer Trail (Ludlow to Kington) in two stages on Thursday and Friday, September 15-16). On Friday, following a walk around the Rodd, there will be an opportunity to explore Sidney Nolan's studio and view some of his work in Presteigne.

Among the choices on Sunday, Joe Kerr will be recreating a walk taken by the Woolhope Club in 1904 and exploring the life and times of Alfred Watkins, and Kathryn Moore will be leading a walk to sketch the local landscape. The Eight Peaks Challenge will be held once again and in addition a less strenuous Three Peaks version. All this and more within the glorious Herefordshire-Powys landscapes with their stunning views and a few pubs along the way.

In addition to the ever-popular casserole evening on Thursday, Dark Sky Wales will be offering their spectacular planetarium show. On Friday there will be a concert by the Ludlow Town Band and on Saturday there is an opportunity to dance the night away at The Burton with live music from Whiskey River Trio.

A photography competition is being run again in 2022. Click the photography competition button on the website for more details.

For more information, visit https://www.kingtonwalks.org/.