A SOUTH Lakeland town will be putting its best foot forward this summer as it plays host to its first ever walking festival.

Ramblers are being invited to strap on their boots and make a beeline for Kendal in June as the town aims to puts itself on the map for trekkers.

The Kendal Walking Festival will feature 23 walks and events from a strenuous circuit of the Kentmere Horseshoe to a more leisurely ascent of the limestone escarpment of Scout Scar.

Kendal town councillors Andy Blackman, Tom Clare and Richard Sutton are organising the event over the weekend June 2 to 4.

"Kendal is a superb place surrounded by fantastic walking areas, including Lake District National Park and Yorkshire Dales National Park and areas of natural beauty such as Arnside and Silverdale," said Cllr Blackman. "We are so blessed to live in an area such as this, and we just felt that it would be a good idea to try and put Kendal on the map as a great walking destination."

Festival goers can also learn more about Kendal's history with one walk taking in Nobles Rest and Low Fellside visiting some of the town's yards. Another will follow a path along the banks of the River Kent to Hawes Bridge and there is also an opportunity to recreate guide book writer Alfred Wainwright's walk to work at the town hall from his house on Kendal Green.

"We contacted various local organisations who have really risen to the challenge," Cllr Blackman said. "Hopefully this becomes an annual event but it remains to be seen with the success of this first one."

All the walks, apart from those around the town, will be led by experienced members of the various walking clubs in the area who have offered their services voluntarily because of their love of the town, its rural location and an enthusiasm for sharing it with visitors.

The local organisations involved in the festival include the Long Distance Walking Association, South Lakes Walking Club, Kendal Fellwalkers, Kendal Ramblers, the U3A (University of the Third Age) walking group, Kendal Civic Society and The Wainwright society.

Cllr Blackman said: "I would like to thank all of our partner organisations, we couldn't do this without them."

The festival is a non-profit event and any surplus funds will be used towards organising a similar event in the future or donated to a local charity.

For more information, visit visit-kendal.co.uk/discover/outdoors/kendal-walking-festival/

Tickets can be bought online, at www.breweryarts.co.uk/lakes-tickets/category/kendal-walking-festival