PLANS are already in place for the next Malvern Walking Festival and the organisers are anticipating a sell-out.

The 2019 programme will be the 15th annual event. Supported by Malvern Hills District Council, Elts shoes and other local businesses the Festival was conceived to encourage visitors to Malvern and the same holds true today. There are over 60 walks available this year over the 9 days making it one of the largest walking festivals in southern England.

Add to that, the fact that the Malvern Hills are in an Area of Outstanding Natural beauty and it’s not surprising the Festival is proving so popular, with over a 1000 walks booked in 2018.

There will be a wide variety of walks available in the 2019 Festival so there’s something for everybody regardless of ability or interest. Some of the walks are short and themed including farming, geology, local history, brewing and even a country estate and afternoon tea walk. Some are more challenging. There’s a six day 63 mile Ten Castles trail starting in the Black Mountains and finishing in Ross on Wye ; there’s the Wyche Way going from Kington to Broadway passing through Malvern, plus dozens of other shorter walks ranging from a couple of hours in the morning, afternoon or evening to full days and walks from 1 mile to 18 miles. An 18 mile walks is the Malvern Hills end to end and back and there is a 32 mile walk, Worcestershire Way in a day.

Today walking and walking festivals are proving more and more popular. Bob Baldwin, the Festival Chairman said:“ The 2019 programme benefits from the feed-back from previous years’ Festivals where our walkers tell us exactly what they want and what they’ve enjoyed. We’re confident that with the help of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteer leaders we are offering a programme, with many new walks, that promotes the delights of Worcestershire, Herefordshire & Gloucestershire countryside in general and Malvern in particular. And most walks cost only £4 each."

Full details and bookings are available on malvernwalking.uk or at the Malvern Tourist Information Centre. Alternatively phone 01684 892289.