New South Devon walking festival has been launched for May 2015

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New festival launched in South Devon for shanks' pony

View of Goodrington from the coast path. Photographer Rosie Spooner

A new South Devon Walking Festival has been launched for May.

The Dartmouth Steam Railway, First Great Western and the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership have joined forces to launch the festival which will take place between May 9 and 17.

The festival aims to encourage people to try one or more of the self-guided walks from Paignton, Torquay, and Kingswear stations contained in the Walks from the Riviera Line or the Dartmouth Steam Railway's Railway Walks booklets which are available from local staffed railway stations or online.

Walks on offer range from easy town walks in Torquay and Paignton to more challenging walks down the River Dart or from Paignton to Brixham.

A special free souvenir Walking Passport will be available for those who complete at least one of the walks during the festival. Passports can be picked up from Dartmouth Steam Railway offices in Totnes, Dartmouth, Brixham, Paignton and Torquay and will be stamped to mark completion of the walk.

Celia Minoughan, the partnership's Riviera Line project officer, said: "We are delighted to be working together with the Dartmouth Steam Railway and First Great Western to launch the South Devon Walking Festival. There are great self-guided walks from railway stations and we very much hope this new festival will encourage local people and visitors to go out and try them."

Andrew Pooley, managing director of the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company said: "We are delighted to welcome all walkers and their companions (including four-legged) on our services around South Devon ^ which encompass circular walks, estuary rambles and the South West Coast Path. With a backdrop of Dartmoor National Park and stunning sea panoramas it is difficult to think of a more beautiful area to explore by foot (perhaps combined with our steam trains, river boats and sea voyages)."

Ian Mundy, First Great Western's station manager said: "First Great Western services operate along the iconic and world famous sea wall and through some wonderful scenery throughout Devon. The walking festival is a unique way to take some quality time to explore the many hidden treasures along the route. We have some great value fares and rover tickets to help you discover the area."

The Walks from the Riviera Line booklet was produced as part of the EU^» Interreg IVB Citizens' Rail project, led by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership. Find out more and download copies of the walks booklets from www.therivieraline.com and www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk.