BOOKINGS for the annual Somer Valley Rediscovered Walking Festival are now open.

Events for the three-day festival from Friday September 11 to Sunday September 13 include bat walks, forest bathing, nature talks, art walks, with the Somer Valley Ramblers leading a huge range of walks for all abilities.

Walks begin on Friday with a Women’s Wild Walk from 10am to 1pm starting at the Haydon Que Club on Kilmersdon Road with a gentle wander into the batch, pausing at the stone circle for a short summer solstice meditation.

A Nature Walk on Haydon Batch takes place from 2pm to 4.30pm with ecologist Poppy, to learn more about the West of England Combined Authority Wildlife Index programme and the wildlife the ecologist has recorded over the summer.

A Bat Walk – Night Flyers of the Somer Valley is planned for Friday evening from 7pm to 9pm in Midsomer Norton Town Park with Steve England using bat detectors to pick up the bats echolocations.

Saturday begins with a Paulton Walk leaving from The Hub Community Library, Paulton at 10.30am walking to the Coal Canal and Paulton Engine. A Nordic Walking Taster at 11am from Midsomer Norton Town Park is an introductory session providing a foundation for Nordic walking with a qualified Nordic walking instructor.

Sunday morning features a Walk and Draw session from 9am to 11am starting from Swallows Cafe, Radstock with a gentle walk up to Waterside Valley and Haydon Batch.

A host of shorter and longer walks take place throughout Sunday beginning with a morning stroller of four miles at 10am and a session of rejuvenating Forest Bathing starting at 11.30am at Waterside Valley in Westfield including mindfulness techniques, breathing exercises, and gentle movement to help you unwind and recharge.

Full details of all walks on offer can be found at the Somer Valley Rediscovered website