Whether you can tackle 4 miles or 12 miles there’s a walk for you in the 3rd Carrick Way Walking Festival. It takes place over the weekend of 24th - 27th September with starts in Kirkoswald on Friday, Ballantrae on Saturday, Girvan on Sunday with Straiton’s walk closing the event on Monday.

It’s been said that this is one of the friendliest Festivals around with no concerns about getting record numbers. The organisers would rather have participants enjoying the experience of group walking and hopes they’ll sign up with their local club. They say “We’ve never had anyone say ‘never again’” More often it’s been a request to sign up for next year.

You can sign up in advance by getting a copy of the programme available around the area - or from www.carrickway.co.uk . Signing up on the day is possible but there may be a limit on some of the walks with minibus transport.

There are two walks which the organisers see as really special. The first, on Saturday is the old Lagafater Coach Route from Galloway to Ballantrae. The other, not surprisingly, is the Sunday Annual Girvan to Barr walk which always proves to be the most popular.

If you can’t pick up a programme you can get one by post by e-mailing your address to Drew Moyes at realise@globalnet.co.uk - or telephone 01290 550276.