Put your best foot forward for the West Lancashire Walking Festival and you can learn about local wildlife as well as enjoying tours of the borough’s towns and countryside.

West Lancashire Borough Council Parks and Countryside Ranger Service works alongside walk leaders from different organisations to provide routes that cover as much of West Lancashire as possible. All the walks are free and there is something to suit all abilities, from short themed walks to long-distance rambles.

Councillor Yvonne Gagen, portfolio holder for Leisure, said: “There are some lovely events planned for the West Lancashire Walking Festival so come and join in. You will see some beautiful countryside and parts of the borough you may never have seen before.”

There is no need to book for any of the walks, but please turn up to the meeting point 10 minutes before the walk you are joining is due to start so it can set off on time.

The first walk is an eight-mile circular jaunt around Hunter’s Hill on Saturday 30 July, starting at 10am. The following day (Sunday 31 July) another eight-mile circular walk takes in Lathom and starts from Ruff Wood at 10am.

Gorse Hill Nature Reserve is the venue for a four-mile walk starting at 1pm on Sunday 7 August. You can find out more about the bats living in Coronation Park, Ormskirk, on a two-mile walk there on Saturday 20 August, starting at 8pm. Bats living in Beacon Country Park is the subject of a four-mile walk there on Sunday 28 August at 8.30pm, the final ramble of the festival.
Visit www.westlancs.gov.uk/walkingfestival for the full list of festival walks. You can find out more by calling the rangers on 01695 622794, or emailing beacon.park@westlancs.gov.uk.

Please wear sturdy footwear and clothing to suit the weather and ground conditions for all walks. Dogs are not allowed on the Martin Mere walks, but are welcome on the other walks. In the case of inclement weather please check with the rangers if individual walks are going ahead.

For more information about volunteering opportunities with the Parks and Countryside Ranger Service please email beacon.park@westlancs.gov.uk or phone 01695 622794. You can also follow the Rangers on Twitter @WLBC_Rangers or visit the www.facebook.com/wlbc.rangers.