ALTON’S annual Walking Festival takes place next week to coincide with the second week of the Easter school holiday and it is expected to be “the best yet”.

But organisers say it is essential to book, with the deadline extended to today (Friday).

Information and booking forms can be obtained from various outlets in the town, including the town hall and the Alton Herald office, or online at alton.gov.uk.

The programme has something for everyone, ranging from long countryside rambles to guided tours of the town where you can learn about Alton’s history and the bloody civil war battle, and informative tree walks in Bushy Leaze and Chawton Park woods.

The programme kicks off on Monday, April 4, with a four-hour, seven-and-a-half mile walk from Bentley to Alton station, taking in scenic countryside through the parish of Binsted, passing Holy Cross Church and Montgomery’s grave, and continuing along the banks of the River Wey. This medium/advanced walk, for those aged eight and over, starts at Alton station, to board the 9.44am train to Bentley (cost of train fare not included).

In the afternoon, there will be a circular South Alton Tree Walk, led by Alton tree warden Jim Dickinson, starting at 2pm from Jubilee Fields car park, and taking approximately three hours to complete a three-mile course. This is a medium walk for people aged eight and older.

On Tuesday, April 5, there will be a six-and-a-half-mile circular walk from Alton Sports Centre, led by Alton Ramblers, starting 9.20am from the lower car park (near the skate park) and taking in Chawton and Farringdon.

While Alton Town Guides will lead a two-mile circular Civil War Walk, starting at 2pm from the Curtis Museum, which will take two hours and is aimed at families with children.

On Wednesday, April 6, there will be a three-mile South Alton Tree Walk, led by Jim Dickinson, starting at 9.30am from Jubilee Fields car park and taking in Chawton Park woods.

In the meantime, there will be a six-and-a-half mile, three-and-a-half hour long circular walk from the sports centre’s lower car park taking in Farringdon and Woodside Farm, and offering an unusual view of Alton.

In the afternoon there will be a four-mile Alton Town Trail, starting 2pm from the Finnimore Pavilion in Anstey Park which is suitable for beginners.

Thursday, April 7, will start at 10am with a two-hour walk led by Dr June Chatfield, chairman of the Northern Wey Trust, and taking a circular route from Alton Community Centre along the river and through Flood Meadows (will suit beginners).

While for the more advanced, there will be a six-mile circular walk through Shalden, meeting 10am at Alton station.

The afternoon will provide another opportunity for families to enjoy a two-mile, two-hour heritage walk around Alton, starting at 2pm at the Curtis Museum.

On Friday, April 8, local historian Jane Hurst will lead a 90-minute history walk around Alton, starting at 10.30am from the Curtis Museum and which will suit beginners.

Activities on Saturday, April 9, will start at 10am with a six-mile circular walk around Binsted, meeting at Binsted recreation ground and expected to take three-and-a-half hours, taking in some surprising views (medium/advanced).

Saturday will also see the first of a series of ghost walks. The children’s walk will start at 6pm outside the town hall in the Market Square and take an hour, with storytelling by Dark Encounters.

The first of two adult ghost walks will start at 7.30pm, again starting from the town hall, with a second walk at 9pm. There is a booking fee of £5 per person.

Sunday, April 10, will be a full day, starting with an 18-mile long-distance walk across Holybourne Down, for experience walkers only. Meet 9am at Anstey Park car park. The walk should take around seven hours at a brisk pace.

At 10am, there will be an opportunity to ‘Go Birding!’, taking in a three-quarters-of-a-mile beginners’ route or a longer four-mile route, starting from Kings Pond car park.

In the meantime, those wanting to walk further can join a six-and-a-half-mile circular walk passing through Hartley Mauditt, via the church and pond and returning via Hangers Way. Meet 10am in the small car park off Wilsom Road.

And there will be a final opportunity for beginners to enjoy a two-mile Alton town heritage walk, led by Alton Town Guides, starting at 11am from the Curtis Museum.

While in the afternoon you can join a two-mile photography walk, led by Alton Camera Club and starting at 2pm from the bandstand in the Public Gardens. Or there is a chance to join a two-mile civil war walking tour led by the town Guides, starting 2pm from the Curtis Museum. Both these walks are suitable for beginners.

The Walking Festival is run by Alton Town Council, which has expressed grateful thanks to Andrew Joy, David Orme, Dean Phillips, Glynis Watts, Edward Brandt, Graham Hill, and Robert Saunders for supporting the initiative via their District Councillor Grant Scheme funds.

Thanks are also extended to the volunteers who have offered to lead the walks.

To book, or for more details, call into the town hall on the Market Square, call Alton Town Council on 01420 83986, or e-mail [email protected].

n The Walking Festival is being supported by Alton Matters, whose members will be running a ‘Welly Boot Hunt’ around the town centre. Forms can be collected at any participating business, identified by an Alton Matter ‘Welly Boot Hunt’ poster in the window which contains a letter needed to complete the competition form. The Wellies are colour coded and have hints to find the next letter. The competition runs until April 11.