Meeting in the hills for Kington committee

Everyone knows meetings can be dull and meeting rooms even duller, no matter how exciting your event.

At the meeting on the Twt were committee members Bob North, Mike Kirby, Helen Yeomans, Chairman Barbara Barrett, Bernard Ray, Nigel Sheath, Paul Finch and Val Burden

So one committee have decided to remind themselves about the sumptuous countryside they are promoting – by holding their meetings out in it.

The move out into the hills started as a thinking-outside-the-box idea a couple of years ago for the Kington Walking Festival Committee, but is now an annual tradition as they take to one of the region's more picturesque spots each summer to discuss preparations for the four day autumn event, now in its sixth year.

This year eight members of the committee took their seats with a view on the top of the Twt, at the edge of the Kington, overlooking one of the town’s most well-known landmarks, Hergest Court.

They have previously held meetings at Hergest Ridge, Bradnor Hill and the Dolyhir Quarry.

Excitement about this year’s festival, which boats several new walks and its first ever cycle event, is mounting, after the festival brochure was published this week.

The Offa's Dyke Path National Trail, the Mortimer Trail from Ludlow, the Herefordshire Trail and the Wyche Way from Broadway all pass through the town.

The festival, which takes place from September 21 until 24, has more than 40 themed walks this year covering topics such as history, natural history, geology, industry, pubs and landscape.

Walks cover everything from an amble around the mills and weirs of the town to the challenge of the 30 mile Mortimer Trail over two days.

New this year is a two day circular walk from Clun with an overnight stay in Bishops Castle, the area's own Three Peaks Challenge to add to the longer Eight Peaks version, and an event for the less able bodied called 'Don't Stop Me Now'.

On September 24 the festival also introduces the Walton Wobbler, the first ever cycle event, over about 30 miles, including the high points to the north of Kington with some stiff climbs and descents.

Kington Walks was established by the Kington Chamber of Trade in 2011 to promote sustainable tourism, with support from Herefordshire Council and Kington Town Council. They successfully applied for 'Walkers Are Welcome' status for the town in the same year.

For more information and to book walks, which are already selling quickly visit www.kingtonwalks.org.