Rutland Walking and Cycling Festival events planned between May 17 and 30

A two-week event will help people to enjoy the great outdoors on two wheels or two feet.

The Rutland Walking and Cycling Festival programme is packed with activities for people to enjoy whatever their fitness level.

This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the Rutland Round - a 65-mile route around the perimeter of Rutland which was created in 2000 by John Williams.

The route will be split into six sections with knowledgeable guides leading a walk each day between Saturday, May 17 and Thursday, May 22.

People can choose to join as many sections as they like with transport available each morning to drive them from the end of the route to the starting point. The routes vary between 9.5 miles and 12.5 miles. All walkers must be dressed appropriately and able to cope with stiles.

The two-week festival also incorporates more than 30 bike rides and walks with the help of Velo Club Rutland, Sigma Sports and the recently-formed Stamford Cycling which was set up by two dads who met on the school run.

Other events include a guided bat walk in Oakham, a family trail, a youth group treasure hunt and an alpaca trail.

Full details of each activity and a booking form are available at www.activerutland.org.uk/walkingandcyclingfestival

The planned events include:

Saturday, May 17

• 9am - Velo Club Saturday Café Plus Ride - 50 miles from Hub and Spoke, Oakham

• 10am - Velo Club Saturday Cafe Ride - 25-30 miles from the Oakham Castle cafe

Sunday, May 18

• 8am - Stamford Cycling’s Rutland Roamer - 30km from Red Lion Square, Stamford

• 8am - Stamford Cycling’s Rutland Challenger - 50km from Red Lion Square, Stamford

• 8.45am - Junior Parkrun at Normanton, Rutland Water

• 10.30am Sigma Sports social ride - 80km

Monday, May 19

• 11am - Walk Together Oakham from St John and St Anne’s common room in South Street, Oakham

Wednesday, May 21

• 2pm-4.30pm - My Bike open shed afternoon. Recycled bikes on offer at Bike Shed, Gate 2, Oakham Enterprise Park

Thursday, May 22

• 4pm-6pm - Free bikes for young people in years 7 to 9 at Oakham Baptist Church, Melton Road

• 6.30pm-8.30pm - Free bikes for young people in year 10 and above at Oakham Baptist Church, Melton Road

• 6.30pm - Velo Club Thursday Evening Ride - 30-35 miles ending at The Grainstore, Oakham

Saturday, May 24

• 9am - Velo Club Saturday Café Plus Ride - 50 miles from Oakham Castle

• 10am - Velo Club Saturday Cafe Ride - 25-30 miles from Hub and Spoke in Oakham

• 9pm - Two-mile guided bat walk at Oakham Canal. Book tickets at www.tickettailor.com/events/oakhamcan algreencorridorproject/1580902?

Sunday, May 25

• 8am - Stamford Cycling’s Rutland Roamer - 30km

• 8am - Stamford Cycling’s Rutland Challenger - 50km

• 8.45am - Junior Parkrun at Normanton, Rutland Water

• 10am - Five-mile guided history walk along Oakham Canal. Starting from Church Street car park in Oakham.

• 10am - Nine-mile walk from Empingham to Whitwell via Fort Henry and Exton. Start at Empingham church.

• 11am - Sigma Sports ride - 40km from South Street, Oakham

Monday, May 26

• 10am - Pickworth to Clipsham - 9.5 miles starting at the church

Tuesday, May 27

• 10am - Manton to Wing - 5 miles with the Rutland Ramblers from the Horse and Jockey, Manton

• 2pm - Braunston circular round - 8 miles with the Rutland Ramblers from the junction of Cedar Street, Church Street and Wood Lane

Wednesday, May 28

• 10am - Harringworth Walking Group - 5 miles from Launde Abbey

• 10am - Barrowden to Morcott - 8 miles from the village green, Barrowden

• 2pm - Walk Together Oakham - 2 miles from Oakham Library

• 6.45pm - Greetham circular route - 4.2 miles starting from Church Lane, Greetham

Thursday, May 29

• 10am - Belton-in-Rutland circular - 9 miles from the A47 layby at the Allexton junction

• 6.30pm - Velo Club evening ride - 30 miles from Rutland Water

• 6.30pm - Walk Together Oakham - 2 miles from Oakham Library

Friday, May 30

• 10am - Langham circular - 4.9 miles from the junction of Well Streety and Orchard Road

• 2pm - Alpaca trail - 5 miles from the junction of Cedar Street, Church Street and Wood Lane in Braunston