With just summer around the corner, so is this year's Slieve Bloom Walking Festival.

This year marks the festival's 29th year in operation, with walks of varying difficulties to take place this weekend.

The good weather this weekend is expected to bring out locals in their masses to take part, starting on Saturday May 3 and ending on Monday May 5th.

The festival offers a choice of woodland walks, riverside and gentle rolling hills of the Slieve Bloom mountains with experienced walk leaders, who will enhance your hike with stories of local history, geology and fauna.

Pictured: A walk through the Slieve Bloom mountains. Photo credit: Slieve Bloom Outdoors

Here is a breakdown of this year's Slieve Bloom Walking Festival:

The walks are graded using A, B (strenuous) and C (moderate) for difficulty. 

Grade A and B walks are for walkers who walk on a regular basis and have a reasonable level of fitness, are properly equipped and have sufficient food and drink to sustain themselves.

A and B walks are in remote wilderness areas of the Slieve Blooms only accessible on foot and rarely frequented by hill walkers.

Capard Woodlands- 6KM 

Grade C walk. Gathering and departing from Clonaslee Community Centre at 10:30am, the walk is expected to take an estimated 2 hours.

Brittas Lake and Woodlands- 8km

Grade B walk. Gathering and departing from Clonaslee Community Centre at 10:30am, the walk is expected to take an estimated 3 hours.

Knockastumpa- 10km

Grade A walk. Gathering and departing from Clonaslee Community Centre at 10:30am, the walk is expected to take an estimated 4 hours. Waterproof boots essential. 

Pictured: The Glenbarrow river in the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Photo credit: Laois Tourism

Sunday, May 4:

Kinnitty Woodlands- 8km

Grade B walk. Gathering and departing from Kinnitty Community Centre at 10:30am, the walk is expected to take an estimated 3 hours.

Paul's Lane / Spink Mountain- 10km

Grade A walk. Gathering and departing from Kinnitty Community Centre at 10:30am, the walk is expected to take an estimated 3 hours. Walking boots essential.

Knockbarron- 6km

Grade C walk. Gathering and departing from Kinnitty Community Centre at 10:30am, the walk is expected to take an estimated 2 hours.

Pictured: The Slieve Bloom Mountains. File photo

Monday, May 5:

Conlawn Hill- 12km

Grade A walk. Gathering and departing from The Deadmans, Ballyfin at 11am, the walk is expected to take an estimated 4 hours. Waterproof boots essential.

The walks cost €8 per person to take part, or €20 including the Festival and Annual subscription. Those interested can also nab a family Festival and Annual subscription for €30.

For anyone who would like to join their hiking friends afterwards, Kinnitty Castle are providing a meal on Sunday, May 4 at 3.30pm. Those dining can avail of a two-course meal - (Main course, Dessert, tea or coffee) for €28, with prebooking essential.

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