The First Huntly Walking Festival

With the logistical preparation of the first Walking Festival in Huntly, Scotland, this April being near completion, individuals and walking groups are now invited to visit the official website containing the walk-packed weekend organised by the Huntly Development Trust (HDT), Deveron Arts and The Huntly And Area Tourism Action Group (HADTAG).

Starting on the 16 April with a wheelchair walk, the weekend will continue with a walkers ceilidh* on the 17th amongst other activities planned on the Saturday and will culminate in a mass sponsored walk on Sunday in aid of the Huntly Area Cancer Support Group and the North East Wildlife and Animal Rescue Centre (The Arc).

The sponsored event on the 18th aims to encourage walkers, ramblers, nature lovers and keen photographers in Scotland and further afield to come together for a mass sponsored walk to remember.

Upon registration, participants will receive a t-shirt, freebies and get a chance to enter a free photography competition with 3 vouchers redeemable at the Hilltrek Outdoor Clothing shop in Aboyne,  Moreover, they will receive a sponsor sheet to raise funds for a charity or group of their choice.

The first 50 registered individuals will receive a special goodie bag, including a walking badge and a pack of the Ricola natural herb range. Ricola is also currently giving walkers the chance to win a trip to Switzerland to the value of £1300! www.winwithricola.co.uk

Aboyne shop owner and keen outdoor photographer Dave Shand has also offered to give away a £30, £20 and £10 voucher to the owners of the 3 photos that best capture the atmosphere of the mass sponsored walk. This free photo competition is open to every single participant who can register via the link to the website below.

Fully supporting the event are local, national and international sponsors Sangs (Banff) Ltd with their award-winning Deveron Spring range of Scottish Spring Water; Dean's Of Huntly Ltd, home of Scotland's first visitor centre dedicated to shortbread; Aboyne-based unique-outdoor-clothing and equipment business Hilltrek Outdoor Clothing; the GetAbout campaign group (Nestrans, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Robert Gordon University, the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen College, NHS Grampian, The Energy Savings Trust and Dyce Transportation Management Organisation); Ricola, supplier of Swiss Herbal Sweets, "Best Taste Award 2008" winners of the Superior Taste Award of the International Taste & Quality Institute.

For more information please visit the website:

www.huntlywalks.com

Or download the registration form directly at:

www.huntlywalks.com/Registration

*A ceilidh is an Irish or Scottish social gathering with traditional music, dancing, and storytelling.