EARLY birds and night owls will find something to suit them during the first Swaledale walking festival, which begins next week.

As well as guided daytime walks, the programme includes midnight rambles and early morning bird-watching treks.

Organised by Mick Sheehan, who runs the Altberg outdoor shop in Finkle Street, Richmond, the festival raises money for a number of charities, including the Alzheimer's Disease Society, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, the Army Benevolent Fund, Colburn Barn Owl Project, Swaledale Fell Rescue organisation and the Easby Footpath Campaign.

There is a choice of four walks in Swaledale, all ten to 12 miles, and leisurely circular walks from Richmond, with start times on Saturday and Sunday, September 23 and 24.

Each day also features a bird walk, one at Ellerton ponds nature reserve, near Richmond, and the other at Foxglove covert, Catterick Garrison.

Short midnight rambles to Willance's Leap, above Richmond, and batwatching at the old Richmond racecourse, are also on the programme, complete with hot chocolate.

The weekend also includes the Richmond millennium walk, ten miles from the town, round the back of Jockey Cap clump and back via Aske Hall.

All walks must be booked in advance on (01748) 826922.

The weekend also features entertainment, beginning with a folk concert at the Georgian theatre royal, Richmond, next Friday. Tickets are available from the box office.

Programmes for walks and entertainment are available from the Altberg shop