WALK leaders, local businesses and groups are invited to get involved in this year’s New Forest Walking Festival and submit a walk.

The festival will double in size this year. There will be at least twice as many guided walks over the fortnight from October 18 to November 2, which includes half term.

The Walking Festival was established last year by the New Forest National Park Authority and partners.

All the walks are led by specialist guides and local experts and are free or discounted for those who leave their cars behind and travel by public transport, by bike or on foot.

Now local groups and walk leaders can submit their own walks for the festival by July 18.

Once checked and approved walks will go live at newforestnpa.gov.uk/ walkingfestival from August 1. Some walks will also be featured in a festival leaflet which will be distributed across the local area.

Walks must start and finish near a bus stop or train station (free minibuses can be provided from a transport hub if there’s no other alternative).

If walkers are charged, they should be given a discount of about half the cost as an incentive for travelling by public transport, on bike or on foot to the walk’s starting point.

Walks can be submitted at www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/event/new.

Enquiries should be sent to walking@newforestnpa.gov.uk