AUTUMN walkers in County Durham may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of majestic red kite.

Durham County Council's season of guided walks includes a ten-mile medium-grade walk in the Derwent Valley where red kite have recently been re-introduced.

Led by Voluntary Countryside Ranger Bill Gallon, the Golden Beeches and Red Kite walk starts at 10am from the Lintzford layby on the A694 on Wednesday, October 20.

The walk is one of more than 65 included in the autumn programme which covers nearly 400 miles of walking.

It begins on Friday, October 1 with a four-mile easy walk visiting Durham Churchyards with Verse in the company of geographer and geologist Maurice Holliday and runs through to December with walks on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Over three months, there is a chance to stride 13 miles from Baybridge Picnic Area, near Blanchland, take photographic walks in Durham City, search for the Ketton Ox from Aycliffe Village Green, take a Daisy Hill Dander from Waldridge Fell, wander ten miles from Wolsingham, or take a 13-mile hike from Middleton-in-Teesdale.

The programme also includes a family Fiends, Fun and Fable Hallowe'en event at Hardwick Park on October 29 and a Countryside Christmas at Broompark Picnic Area, near Stonebridge.

All walks are led by guides with expertise in local history, geology, ecology and industrial archaeology. Copies of the Guided Walks programme are obtainable from libraries and Tourist Information Centres.