The fourth Quantock Hills Walking Festival - organised by the ‘Walkers are Welcome’ group for Nether Stowey and Over Stowey - will this year extend over five days, from June 8 to 12 and include a challenge walk around the Quantocks and surrounding villages covering fifty miles over four days.

For those who prefer something a little less physically demanding there will be a fossil and flora walk along the coast lead by Geckoella environmental specialists, a history hike along the Castles and Coast Way and a fully accessible Tramper ramble in the Quantocks organised by the Disabled Ramblers, to name just a few of the events planned.

The main sponsors this year will once again be the Quantock Landscape Partnership Scheme, a three-year Heritage Lottery funded project and Somerset Passenger Solutions & Hinkley Point C, who will be providing transport to and from some of the walk start points.

As always, the weekend walks will finish with tea and home-made cakes at St Mary’s Church Centre in Nether Stowey.

Nether Stowey lies at the foot of the Quantock Hills and was home to the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge who found inspiration for his poetry from walking in the nearby hills. Coleridge’s Cottage is owned by the National Trust and is open to the public.

The village makes an ideal base for walking with its village shops, pubs and B&Bs. Full details of all the walks planned and how to book your place can be accessed via the Stowey Walking website: https://www.stoweywalking.co.uk/walking-festival-tickets