THE full programme for this year's Richmond Walking Festival has been announced.

The event, which will run from Friday, September 21, to Sunday, September 30, has been combined with a book festival.

Authors appearing will include Richmond MP William Hague, who will talk about his favourite walks and books and his own writings, journalist Martin Wainwright, who will introduce people to his new book about his namesake, Alfred Wainwright, and adventurer Sir Chris Bonington, who will give an illustrated talk called I Chose to Climb.

People will get the chance to meet novelists Diane Setterfield, Sarah Bower, Michelle Paver and Jonathan and Shirley Tulloch.

On Friday, September 21, the winners of the Yorkshire Book of the Year competition will be announced.

The festival also offers workshops on how to get books published and will have archive and contemporary films, talks and slideshows, a book quiz, live music and a two-day book fair.

Guided walks in Swaledale and Wensleydale will be on offer every day, over distances ranging from six to 12 miles, as well as shorter town walks with a literary theme.

Festival organisers have arranged farm walks, which will include explanations of how the landscape around Richmond is managed.

Other authors appearing will include Stephen Smith, Chris Firth, Richard Jemison, Nigel Whitfield, Sophie Hannah, Jane Hatcher, Mark Whyman, Rachel Stock and Brian Alderson.

The full programme is available in a 28-page brochure, or at www.richmondwalking.com and www.richmondbookfestival. com

Tickets for the events are available from Castle Hill Bookshop, on 01748-824243, or Richmond Tourist Information Centre, on 01748-850252.