A WALKING festival in Dursley has been hailed as a great success.

Held over four days from Thursday to Sunday, October 4 to 7, this year’s programme featured 37 guided walks.

Chris Cherry is chairman of the Dursley Welcomes Walkers committee, which has organised the event since it started back in 2012.

He said: “This is our seventh festival and it included 37 walks - the most walks of any of our festivals yet, along with non-walking social events.

“The festival had a flying start on Wednesday, October 4, with two pre-festival walks in good walking weather.

“Thursday had some good walking and special interest walks, including Cam and the Winterbothams. This popular walk once again had a long waiting list of interested walkers.

“The good walking weather continued on Friday, with a bus walk and visit to Woodchester Mansion, some very happy dogs on the Walkies with Dursley Lions Club.

“Cam’s Historic Graveyards walking heritage tour was very popular, as was a visit to the usually unseen woodland of Owlpen Manor and several other walks.

"There was even a chance for some apple scrumping, and walkers could then press their gathered fruit into apple juice at the Chantry Centre the next day.

“Then Saturday came, very wet and rather hostile, but thankfully not all were beaten and good numbers were recorded for a walk starting from Cam Peak which was attended by 20 visitors from Maesteg who were staying in the area.”

“The sun shone for Sunday’s walks, with the the new Dursley figure of 8 walk very well attended.”

Plans are underway for next year’s festival which will be held from October 2 to 6, 2019.