Sidmouth Walking Festival is rambling back to town and will feature shorter treks for a broader appeal when it arrives in September.

Last year’s inaugural event was billed as a showcase for the Sid Valley and had a great response from tourists and residents alike.

Organiser Norma Self and her team acted on the feedback they received and have drawn up three daily walks of varying lengths.

“We had an excellent response last year,” said Norma. “Quite a few of the walks were full up and everybody thoroughly enjoyed it.”

She and co-organiser Ted Swan amazed town councillor John Dyson last year when their initial idea for the festival prompted him to challenge them to organise it – and they did just that.

The duo are now joined by Jennifer Dixon and William Davey in planning the 2015 festival.

“It appealed to people from outside the area,” said Norma.

“We wanted to bring people to Sidmouth to bring trade and we’ve had a good response from the hotels.”

At this year’s festival, each day will feature a ‘short’ walk of up to five miles, a medium walk of up to nine miles and a long walk of up to 12 miles.

And if group members are not all up to the same challenge, there is flexibility, as each day’s walk sets off from the same starting point.

The festival will also feature a guided town stroll, an arboretum walk, and each of the walks on the final day will conclude with a cream tea.

The festival will return from September 13 to 17, with a chance to meet the guides – all East Devon Ramblers – on September 12.

For bookings or more information, visit the TIC or www.visitsidmouth.co.uk.