There are just over two weeks to go to until this year’s White Cliffs Walking Festival.

Organised between August 21-27 by the White Cliffs Ramblers – the branch of the national Ramblers organisation covering south Kent – the festival will feature 32 walks.

These include short walks, long walks, special interest walks and themed walks in the Dover-Deal area, ranging from a two-mile walk looking at Dover’s history and archaeology, to the 32-mile White Cliffs Challenge, starting from St Margaret’s and taking in the entire length of the iconic White Cliffs of Dover.

The festival follows last year’s successful Deal Walking Festival, organised by the White Cliffs Ramblers, when 674 people went on the 28 walks.

Margaret Lubbock, chairman of the White Cliffs Ramblers – who are celebrating their 25th birthday this year - said: “We have expanded the festival to include many more walks in the larger area of the glorious White Cliffs of Dover and surrounding downland countryside.

“The walks will include something for everyone living nearby or holidaying in the area, whether you are a strong walker or looking for a leisurely stroll with the family, perhaps learning about the rich historical heritage of the South Kent coast.

“There are good transport links to Deal and Dover and the majority of the walks’ start locations.”

The walks programme is on a 16-page leaflet being distributed to tourist information centres, libraries, businesses, council offices and other outlets in Dover and Deal. The programme is also on a dedicated website www.whitecliffswalkingfestival.org.uk

The festival will be opened by the Mayor of Deal, Cllr Pam Brivio, herself a member of the White Cliffs Ramblers, at 10.30am on Dover seafront on Thursday August 21, immediately before the first two walks, which both start at 10.45am. These are a five-mile hike going to Dover Castle and the Bleriot monument (marking where the French pilot landed in 1909 after making the first flight across the Channel) and a six-mile trek back to Dover after taking a bus to Capel.

The opening ceremony will also be attended by Kate Ashbrook, national president of The Ramblers, Cllr Deryck Murray, Mayor of Deal, and Cllr Sue Nicholas, chairman of Dover District Council.