Organisers are celebrating staging a bumper 2014 Otley Walking Festival.

This year's event, which crammed in 50 events over its nine days, has been hailed as the "biggest yet" since the festival's Millennium launch.

Everything from short town-based strolls to tough moorland hikes, along with walks based on themes including literature, wildlife, and music, were held between Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 29.

Festival organising committee chairman Ruth Blackwell said: "Catering for all ages and abilities, there really has been something for everyone.

"And for the cultured folk of Otley this festival wasn’t all about boots, sweat and tears as we also supported the Tour de France by giving some of our walks French names.

"Returning by popular demand were many town-based evening events, including The Bat Walk, Follow The Strings with the always lively Otley Ukulele Orchestra, Saturday’s Sociable Saunter, and the unbelievable Despicable Liars.

"Along with favourites like the Six Dales Trail and the Bacon Buttie Walk, there were also opportunities to try some new themed treks like Market to Market, the Baildon Moor History Walk, A Merrybegot Hermit, and Lesser Known

Paths on Otley Chevin.

"Whilst all the walks had interesting features the most common shared aspect must be the amount of cakes eaten!

"Thanks go to the great team of walk leaders who give their time and expertise voluntarily, and to our main financial sponsors - Otley Town Council and Chevin Trek of Otley, and to all the companies and local businesses who donated

prizes for the superb raffle."

The festival concluded last Sunday with its grand finale and prize raffle, held at The Manor House pub.

Planing for next year's event will begin in October - anyone interested in helping should send an e-mail to Ruth at otleywalkingfestival@mail.com or visit the festival office at Chevin Trek, on Gay Lane.