After a successful launch last year, the Somer Valley Walking Festival has been expanded in 2017 to take place over a whole weekend (15th to 17th September) and will feature new walks, as well as some old favourites. All the events are free – both local residents and visitors are welcome.

New additions to the programme include an Introduction to the popular new pastime of Geocaching at the Beacon Hall, Peasedown St John, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, 16th September. Geocaching, which involves using a mobile phone to follow clues to a hidden location, will be explained and you can then put the skill into practice in a short walk around the village.

There will also be a Waterways Walk in Midsomer Norton, led by Ken Tatem, starting from the green in front of the Hollies, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, 17th September. Ken was responsible for the flood prevention scheme in the town, and his walk and accompanying talk will seek to answer the question: ‘Will Midsomer Norton Flood Again?’

The Festival will kick off on the evening of Friday, 15th, with a free talk on ‘The Industrial Heritage of the Somer Valley’ by popular local historian, Dennis Chedgy, at Radstock Museum.

On Saturday, 16th, both in the morning and afternoon, there will be short walks of four miles or less starting from venues in Paulton, Midsomer Norton and Westfield.

On Sunday morning, it will be the turn of longer walks of between four and twelve miles, starting at 10 a.m (registration at 9.30 a.m.) at Radstock Working Men’s Club.

All walks will be led by experienced ramblers.

Also on the Sunday morning, there will also be a short Sketching walk around Radstock, led by popular local artist, Frank Reeves, and a repeat of last year’s Family Walk and Treasure Hunt in the form of a walk along the Greenway between Radstock and Midsomer Norton station, which is hosting a steam weekend that day. This walk is self-led and families can start at any time between 10 a.m. and 12 noon.

For more information about dates, times and places, visit the Festival webpage at: http://www.tryactive.org/group_activity/somervalleywalkingfestival