KEIGHLEY’s first walking festival will bring together 18 groups dedicated to getting people outdoors.

Among those leading walks during the seven-day programme are The Ramblers, Aire And Worth Valley Wanderers, Walking Women, East Riddlesden Walkers, the Aire Rivers Trust and Get Out More.

The 25 events include short strolls in parks, treks alongside canals and rivers, and strenuous rambles in the surrounding countryside.

A leaflet listing all the walks shows detailed contact details for each one, plus how the start points can be reached by public transport.

The festival is being spearheaded by Muppett, the Keighley-based community development worker with Community Action Bradford and District.

He said: “The festival will promote Keighley’s wonderful countryside, introduce an audience to its hidden gems and promote Keighley in a positive light.

“If it proves to be successful and popular it could be an annual event in the Keighley calendar.”

The festival will begin on Monday, September 17 with a walk at Harden Moor and Rycroft led by the Senior Wayfarers. The same day sees a Haworth circular walk led by the Aire and Worth Valley Wanderers.

The Stumblers will host a women-only walk from Parkwood to St Ives and back on September 18, and the same day sees a Silsden circular by Keighley Ramblers, and a self-guided Ramble in the Bramble and Trudge in the Sludge.

Also on September 18 will be an exploration of the industrial heritage of the Worth Valley, a Woodland Wellbeing Walk, and a family botany hunt.

Senior Wayfarers will lead a Penistone Circular via Haworth Moor and Ponden Kirk on September 20, and the same day there will be a bat walk on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and a Riddlesden Circular via West Morton.

There will be another Woodland Wellbeing Walk on September 21, along with a seed-bombing walk from Riddlesden to Cliff Castle, via butley.

A Worth Valley Circular will take in Oakworth, Haworth and Stanbury on September 22.

The same day sees a history and tree walk in Devonshire Park; a walk up Park Wood and down the “Twinds”; an East Morton Circular via Sunnydale; and a parents’ and under-fives’ challenge walk at East Riddlesden Hall.

The festival will end on September 25 with a walk to the new Scout camp at Low Wood, near the former Riddlesden golf course, led by the Big Local play team.

People are being warned that they take care part in the walks at their own risk, and should have comfortable clothing, suitable footwear and waterproof coat.

Email Muppett at muppett@cabad.org.uk or call 01535 665258 for further information.