A WALKING festival is already a big success, say organisers, with bookings up around 40 per cent on last year’s event.

The third annual Coleford Walking Festival includes two weekends this year, in order to make it more accessible to those who work in the week.

It ends this Sunday (May 19) with walks between now and then around Coleford, the Soudley Valley, Brierley, Bream and Whitecroft, Littledean and Flaxley and The Pludds.

The walks take art, heritage and nature as some of their themes and range from short, easy walks, to a strenuous 12.5-mile walk around Coleford and nearby parishes.

“The festival is going really well so far, and the walks have been well-supported,” said organiser, and Coleford mayor, Nick Penny.

“The weather is absolutely fantastic this year. It’s perfect as it was a bit hot for last year’s walks. Many of the early walks were run in partnership with Foresters’ Forest National Heritage Lottery funded project

“Some of the walks coming up are fully booked, but there are places available on others, so we advise people to book.

“With over 50 per cent of the walks starting outside of the Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm window, we hope we have made the festival more accessible to those working a core week.

“We are really grateful to the many organisations that have come on board to work with us in continuing to build the profile of this now annual Coleford event.

"These organisations include both of the main funders, Forestry England, Barnwood Trust, Sue Middleton and the Foresters’ Forest Heritage Lottery-funded programme, the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Tour Guides, Clare Hamm and many individuals who have kindly agreed to lead walks for us.

“We hope the rest of this third event is a success.”

Full details of the walks and how to book are available online at www.colefordareawalkingfestival.co.uk or by visiting the Tourist Information Centre in Coleford.