THIS year’s Crickhowell Walking Festival gets underway at the end of the month and features 100 walks and events.

The festival is celebrating in its ninth year and is supported by the town’s volunteer and information centre, CRiC which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Elsa Cleminson from CRiC said: “We are delighted that we are now working in close conjunction with other businesses and organisations in town and Crickhowell Adventure have come up trumps with finding the walking festival sponsors The Mountain Boot Company and Sherpa.”

The sponsors are supporting the photographic competition with the prize a pair of Scarpa Delta boots while Crickhowell Adventure is giving away 10 pairs of Lorpen socks each day of the walking festival to the festival participants.

Jane Bradbury from Crickhowell Adventure said: “As a business, the festival means trade. As the festival has grown people have learnt not only about the festival but also Crickhowell, instead of bringing everything they need with them, they wait until they hit town and will make purchases from us.”

The festival gets underway on Saturday, February 27 and runs until Sunday, March 6.

Sherpa Adventure Gear has arranged for Kenton Cool, one of Britain’s leading alpine climbers who has successfully climbed Mount Everest 11 times to lead a walk and talk on Saturday, March 5 in support of the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund.

The first event is a ‘Canal and Castle in song’ on Saturday, February 27.