Make friends while enjoying a walk through the beautiful Kent countryside.

That’s the message of walking organisation the Ramblers in the run-up to the KM Charity Walk.

The walk takes place on Sunday, June 23, with the Ramblers providing essential support to make sure everything goes smoothly on the day.

There is a choice of 10 and five-mile routes, taking participants from Audley Mote House to Leeds Castle and back, with a barbecue and music courtesy of Kent band Acoustic Tones at the finish.

People can take part either to raise money for their favourite good causes or simply to have a fun day out.

Maidstone Ramblers planned the route, and is providing 25 volunteers to help with signage and marshalling.

Ramblers volunteer Del Cook said: “It’s a really nice walk with a great view, and it’s a good thing to do for charity and a good communal thing to do.

“You’ll meet some nice people on the way, it’s a good day out, and the barbecue at Mote House at the end is a good festive way of finishing the day off.”

The challenge is also supported by headline partner Specsavers, the Kent Wildlife Trust, which will be hosting a scavenger hunt and a crafting workshop at the event, Benenden Hospital Trust, Eurostar, which is giving way a pair of free tickets for a prize draw for fundraisers raising more than £200, Maidstone Riverside Rotary, Simply Ice Cream, the Woodstove Trading Company, the Wellbeing People and Stronger Kent Communities.

Maidstone Ramblers has been involved with the walk since 2012, and Mr Cook added: “As we’re the walking group for Maidstone, it’s appropriate that we can help if we can.

“One of our objectives is to encourage walking, so it’s in line with our charitable aims.”

Those objectives will be boosted by the fact that 30 per cent of the sponsorship money raised will be used to fund the KM Charity Team’s green-travel and road-safety work. The rest will go to the participants’ chosen charities.

The cost of the walk is £11.50 for adults for online bookings, and £15 otherwise. There is a £1.50 discount when using the code KMNews19. Children go free.

See kmcharitywalk.co.uk for bookings and further information.