Walking enthusiasts will be able to step back in time later this year by retracing the first outings undertaken by Penrith Ramblers four decades ago.
A small group of walkers launched the Penrith Ramblers in November 1982 and the inaugural walks were held in April 1983.
The group now has 318 members and the 40th anniversary year began with the annual meeting in November and is being celebrated by holding a number of events during the year. It started with a Christmas lunch at the Roundthorn Hotel on December 22.
In 2023, there will be a re-walking of the inaugural walks on April 22, a social at Ousby on March 18, a grand celebration supper in September and the regular walks programme every week. But the highlight of the year will be a walking festival on the weekend of May 20-21.
The festival will be based in Glenridding, offering six walks each day and a buffet and ceilidh on the Saturday evening. It is hoped to attract many non-Ramblers and visitors to the area to join in this event.
More details of this event and others will be published later in the year and all the events and the regular walks programme are on the Penrith Ramblers webpage at: https://www.ramblers.org.uk/penrith
It is hoped that this celebration year will enable the group to return to its pre-Covid strength with more walks each week.
