Get ready to take a walk on the Wolds side with popular festival

With 113 walks on offer this year, there is plenty to choose from, whether you’re a hard-core walker looking for a challenge or just enjoy a comfortable leg-stretch in good company.

The festival launches on Saturday May 21 at Donington-on-Bain, and ends at the National Trust’s Gunby Estate, Hall and Gardens on Sunday June 5.

“This year’s festival is going to be better than ever with exciting new walks plus old favourites,” said festival organiser Nicki Jarvis.

“The Lincolnshire Wolds is the perfect walking country and we want to share it with as many people as possible.”

Unlike many other walking festivals, most of the Wolds event walks are free, with some requesting a donation for a charitable cause.

“Festival sponsors play an important part in making this possible, alongside the huge investment of time by volunteers who lead festival walks,” added Nicki.

“We really appreciate the investment of local and national businesses which helps make the festival happen.

“For 2016 we once again thank Stourton Estates, along with Webtogs, Wanderlust Camp and Poacher’s Hideaway, Lincolnshire Co-operative Ltd and HF Holidays.”

To help support the festival, walkers are invited to make a donation of £3 or more.

Donations can be made online and by cheque.

Further details of how to make a donation are available on the website and in the festival brochure.

The brochure is now available to pick up in tourist venues and libraries across the county, as well as post offices, pubs and shops throughout the Wolds.

It can also be downloaded from the festival website www.woldswalkingfestival.co.uk.

All the walks have a rating - easy, moderate or energetic - and the brochure also shows which are family friendly, accessible to pushchairs or wheelchairs and lots more information to help you decide which walks are for you.

The Viking Way celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, so the brochure also shows which of the walks involve this 147-mile long-distance footpath.

As well as some tried-and-tested favourites, the 2016 festival includes many great new walks.

Ludford and District Playing Fields Association is launching a new route and walk leaflet, A Walk on the Wild Side, on Sunday May 29 at 10am.

The circular walk of seven miles starts at the village hall and follows part of the Viking Way, exploring the history of the area and gaining the high ground for impressive views.

In a partnership between the Society for Lincolnshire Archaeology and History and Marshchapel Village Hall, archaeologist Tom Lane will introduce you to Medieval Salt-Making in Marshchapel on Tuesday May 31.

In 1595, Elizabeth 1 commissioned a detailed survey of the coastal village of Marshchapel; find out what made this remote settlement so interesting to the monarch.

Family-friendly walks create great opportunities for discovery and fun too.

Join Estuary TV’s Emma Lingard on her Healing Manor History, Watercress and In the Footsteps of Henry Marrows walks throughout the festival.

If you’ve got a competitive streak why not sign up for the Family Orienteering Walk organised by Louth District Scouts on Saturday 4 June.

For those real adventurers, the biggest walk of the festival is The Great Walk - Lincs Wolds Way.

This is the chance to walk the 75-mile circular walk in six manageable stages, with a rest day in between.

Tony Groom, who created this walk, will lead the way at a leisurely pace, stopping at places of interest and viewpoints along the way.

Each day starts at 9.30am at the end point of each day’s walk, with transport to the start.

“It is great if walkers can complete the entire walk, but this is not essential as you book per day,” said Nicki.

The Great Walk costs £6 per day contribution to transport costs.

But it is not all about the daytime, there are two night walks available.

These start from the George and Dragon pub at Hagworthingham, with head torches mandatory.

Check out the festival brochure for full details of these walks and the many more on offer, ranging from one mile to 75 miles, over the 16-day event.