Spring into the great outdoors with the 2014 series of What’s On walks commemorating the First World War, led by seasoned expert Geoff Rambler

There’s probably not a part of Kent that didn’t witness the horrors associated with the First World War.

Our ports and rail network provided the main routes to get troops, munitions and provisions to and from the front line. People living on the south coast and on high land in Kent would have heard the artillery bombardments of the Western Front and, worst still, parts of Kent had the war brought to their front doors by Zeppelin and Gotha bombing raids.

Geoff Rambler's What’s On walks for 2014 will take readers to the places across the county that formed part of our defensive home front, as well as those that felt the devastating impact of the war.

Geoff will be leading walks – not delivering lectures. He will, though, recount stories of people, places and events linked to the particular places we will pass through. The walks will bring some connection with historical events that will be covered extensively by documentary makers over the next four years.

The walks – that take place on Saturdays throughout the year – will be enjoyed by those who just want to walk, those who are curious about local history and perhaps historians or budding historians, who want some leads that they can follow up.

This weekend's FREE walk is Frontline Folkestone on Saturday, March 29, departing at 10am. It's an eight-mile circular walk from Folkestone Central railway station.

“Our walk will take in what was Shorncliffe Camp railway station and a stop at Shorncliffe Military Cemetery before making our way back to Folkestone," said Geoff.

"We will then make our way to and along the Leas, to follow the route taken by thousands of soldiers and civilians to serve on the Western Front. We will pass the bomb site which saw dozens of civilians killed – an action that probably changed the Government’s whole approach to home defence.”

All the walks are free but there will be a collection at the end for the Royal British Legion – a cause chosen following consultation with people who so generously supported last year’s series of walks.

Geoff Rambler’s real name is Geoff Ettridge but as an accomplished and well-known walking leader, the nickname stuck. Geoff has led walks for over 10 years and has introduced a series of special interest walks for the KM Group in recent years, including the Diamond Jubilee and the 220-year anniversary of Charles Dickens’ birth. The 2014 series of walks, based on the First World War theme, will feature in his upcoming book If Walks Could Talk, due to be published in May. All proceeds will support the Royal British Legion in Kent.