There are more than 30 walks in and around Richmond and Swaledale organised by the Swaledale Outdoor Club, and the Castle Hill Bookshop and organising committee has arranged talks including Yorkshire Vet Julian Norton; Dixe Wells on ‘Tiny Castles’; Festival reading group on Nuala Ellwood’s Day of the Accident; Cicerone Publishers and ’50 Years of Adventure’; Brian Alderson and ‘The 100 Best Books for Children’; Peter Owen Jones and ‘Everest England’; Rachel Reeves MP and ‘Women of Westminster’; Ed Kluz on ‘Lost House Revisited’; and Chris Mullin and ‘The Friends of Harry Perkins’.

There will also be events specifically for children and a celebration of their writing around the town.

Carol Watson, on behalf of organisers at Castle Hill Bookshop and Swaledale Outdoor Club, said: “We are thrilled to be welcoming our visitors and speakers to this year’s Walking and Book Festival.

“With a range of walks and a variety of speakers, we are sure that everyone will enjoy the Festival.

“Animal lovers will enjoy hearing TV Vet, Julian Norton; those interested in politics will be interested in Rachel Reeves MP and former MP, Chris Mullin.

“Guardian Travel writer Dixe Wills and local artist Ed Kluz are talking about architecture, while Cicerone Publishing and Peter Owen Jones are talking about walking and anyone interested in children’s literature will find Brian Alderson’s afternoon talk absolutely fascinating.

“We can’t wait to enjoy this year’s line-up, and hope both regulars and newcomers to the festival will enjoy it as much as we know we will – but hurry, tickets are selling fast.”

For tickets and a full programme, visit www.booksandboots.org, Castle Hill Bookshop, or 01748-824 243.

Source – The Northern Echo