The 16th South East Cornwall Walking Festival is upon us from September 10 to 16 and kicks off this year with a celebration of the heritage of two of the area’s towns.

As part of the national Heritage Open Days weekend (from September 9), both Saltash and Looe museums will be open for free and organising walks around the respective towns.

In addition, other buildings in the towns will be open, such as Elliott’s Store in Saltash, where you step back to a time before supermarkets, and the Guildhall in Looe where it is hoped to have an exhibition of images taken inside the clock tower.

Festival organiser Mark Camp, manager of Looe Tourist Information Centre, said the idea of the festival is to not just get people out walking, but to get them out enjoying themselves and hopefully meeting up with like-minded people.

‘We are working with local walking groups this year, from the Ramblers to Walkers are Welcome. They run walks all year round, something I often get asked to do but I don’t always have the time.

‘Hopefully, by promoting them during the festival it will raise awareness and raise membership numbers.’

For more information contact Looe TIC on 01503 262072 or go to www. looeguide.co.uk – or take your final chance to pick up the current edition of the Cornish Times today, where we have a full programme.