Canal organisations will be putting their best feet forward to lead a variety of canal-based walks at this year's Stonehouse Walking Festival.

The fifth annual walking festival celebrates the diverse walking routes in the Stonehouse area with a range of free, guided group walks from September 6-15.

Most of this year's walks either highlight the canal or follow the canal towpath for part of the journey.

Canal organisations will lead several walks that showcase the work of the Cotswold Canals Connected partnership.

Ramblers can follow the route of the `Missing Mile' where a new canal will be constructed across open fields and under the M5; learn the history of Stonehouse Ocean; visit the site of a new wetlands area; and take an accessible boat trip.

Cllr Chloe Turner, chair of Stroud District Council environment committee, said: "It's lovely that so many of the festival walks feature the canal, and this reflects its significance to Stonehouse.

"The canal brings significant benefit to local communities, environment, heritage and economy and the canal partners look forward to welcoming people to discover more about it, and find out how they can enjoy the canal all year round."

Canal organisations taking part include Cotswold Canals Connected, Cotswold Canals Trust, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and Cotswold Boatmobility, at the following events:

• Bridge Over the Missing Mile - a seven-mile walk with a stop for lunch at Fromebridge Mill and fruit sampling at Coneygree Community Orchard led by Cotswold Canals Connected project director Chris Mitford-Slade. Saturday, September 7, 10am.
• Ghost Hunters - an immersive history walk for primary school aged children that takes you back in time to meet the ghosts of real people that lived along the Stroudwater Canal. Various times on September 7 & 8.
• Stroudwater Canal Then and Now - an easy 4-6 mile walk to learn about canal history as well as future plans led by Cotswold Canals Trust volunteer, Andrew Franks. Monday, September 9, 2pm.
• Fromebridge to Saul - a 4.5 mile walk to learn how the canal environmental programme is improving the habits, wetlands, and biodiversity along the canal and the vision for the new wetlands area and walks at Fromebridge. Led by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust environment project officer Peter Savage on Sunday, September 15, at 9am.
• Cotswold Boatmobility will provide alternative `walks' on the accessible boat Symphony on September 11 and 14.

For more information about the walks and to register please visit the Stonehouse Walking Festival website.