HASLEMERE Walking Festival is back by popular demand for a fourth year, is with a programme of new and intriguing adventures – including bats and ghosts – that should appeal to all ages and abilities.

This year’s event at the end of the month offers a choice of walks geared towards both the serious rambler or the gentle ambler.

The festival , which is funded by Haslemere Town Council, is an opportunity for children and adults to discover more about local wildlife and history, while at the same time, enjoying some great views of the town and the beautiful surrounding countryside.

Long and short, easy and challenging, the three-day programme of walks includes night time forays, and extends into the South Downs National Park, through National Trust heathlands and the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

A night-time adventure for families, is the popular bat walk led by Surrey Bat Group at Imbhams Farm. Also on offer is a spooky tour of the town, ‘Ghost Walk: Haunts of Haslemere’, led by Mike O’Neill.

New for this year and aimed at primary school age children is the Wild Learning walk led by experienced Forest School Leaders over Marley Common and organised as a wild scavenger activity hunt.

Walkers can learn more about Haslemere’s rich and colourful history through The Blue Plaque Trail, led by Haslemere Society, and new ways of rambling are on offer to celebrate Ordnance Survey’s ‘National Get Outside Day’, thanks to the Fun Introduction to Nordic Walking around National Trust Swan Barn Farm, led by qualified instructor Andy Webb from Fitter by Far.

Those up for a long-distance challenge, can explore the undulating terrain of the South Downs National Park around Black Down, with a new guided walk that heads out to Lurgashall for lunch at The Noah’s Ark pub – and returns through Fernhurst later in the afternoon

Walkers can also wind their way up and down the pathways on Hindhead Common with the Surrey Hills Society to admire one of the Inspiring Views arts projects, ‘Xylem’ by Sir Walter Bailey, and also learn more about the importance of charcoal in the history of the area.

Visitors to the town are invited to enjoy Escape To the Countryside, a circular eight-mile walk taking in Fernhurst with lunch at The Red Lion pub, and Black Down, which starts and finishes at Haslemere railway station.

Antoinette Francis, from the Haslemere Visitor Information Centre, said: “For the fourth time we have, once again, been given the chance to offer both children and adults the opportunity to explore and discover this charming market town, its amazing history and beautiful surrounding countryside.

“This year, we have another exciting programme of walks, many of which are new to the festival, that will appeal to all ages, abilities and interests, so there really is something for everyone to enjoy.”

The festival runs from Friday, September 28, until Sunday, September 30.

•All Haslemere Walking Festival routes are free and led by experienced and knowledgeable leaders. Booking is essential and numbers are limited.

For full details go to: www.haslemere.com/vic/events. To book go to: www.eventbrite.co.uk