Scottish Highlands Walks for All, Conservation in action, Wild Boar in Woodland Project, Munros, Corbetts, Music....it must be the 3rd Glen Affric Walking Festival, 2-4 June 2006!

Right in the heart of the Scottish Highlands and with “Conservation in Action” as its theme, the third Glen Affric Walking Festival will take place on Friday 2nd-Sunday 4th June, with the support and participation of Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland, Trees for Life, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Highland Council Ranger Service and two mountain guide companies.

With walks for the young and not so young, for the fittest and the not so energetic, the Festival will feature a total of 13 walks graded easy to moderate to strenuous, all guided by experts. Ten low level walks of 2 ½ hours to 6 hours duration and 3 day-long hill walks will take place in and around Glen Affric National Nature Reserve, in neighbouring Strathfarrar and in the RSPB's own Corrimony Reserve.

The highlight of the low level walks will undoubtedly be that taking walkers to the Wild Boar in Woodland Project currently monitored by Forestry Commission Scotland: a rare occasion to safely observe these large mammals at close range. Wildlife and conservation projects in the primeval Caledonian Pine Forest will also feature prominently.

The three strenuous, high level walks, guided by professional mountain guides and lasting from 7 to 9 hours will take the fitter walkers to some of the area's numerous and spectacular Munros and Corbetts including Sgurr na Lapaich and Affric’s An Socach, and will include some fine ridge walking.

Evening entertainment including live Scottish music will allow walkers to socialise in a relaxed atmosphere after the days’ explorations.

Bookings only for all events.

Full programme of walks, booking forms and local accommodation listings from: Glen Affric Walking Festival, c/o Pierre Lebrun, Shenval, Glenurquhart IV63 6TW, tel/fax: 01456 476 363, e-mail: lebrunshenval@hotmail.com  or see www.glenaffric.info