Starting at the end of the month, the 14th annual festival will offer visitors and locals 50 walks over a week.

The guided hikes will take place throughout the Moorfoots, Lammermuirs and Cheviot hills, as well as the Yarrow, Ettrick and Tweed valleys.

Different walks are tailored for all ages and abilities and some are based on Border towns.

Evening entertainment will include a traditional song-and- story night, film night, ghost evening, quiz and a ceilidh.

And according to a Scottish Borders Council (SBC) spokesperson: “There are also previously unknown eerie secrets that will be revealed during an exploration of Old Gala House and its gardens which may prove shocking – but only those who attend will find out!”

The festival programme is available from local tourist information offices.

The walks are graded and symbols alongside show whether full hill-walking gear is needed, whether there is transport there or back, and whether hikers should take a packed lunch.

The hikes are being led by the Scottish Borders Hill Walking Club, SBC rangers, Forestry Commission Scotland, Borders Forest Trust, Buccleuch Heritage Trust, Paths to Health, local walking clubs and others.

Distances range from one mile in the Gala Policies to 14 climbing several hills around Galashiels in the Gala Circular Challenge.

Locals will recognise familiar and popular routes such as the Borders Abbeys Way, and the festival makes much of sections of the Southern Upland and St Cuthbert’s Ways. But there are also lesser well-known hikes such as Oxton to Galashiels via the Girthgate, or the Blackhaugh to Stow over Scroof Hill. Firm favourites such as the Three Brethren, Earlston’s Black Hill, Melrose to Galashiels along the River Tweed, and the Eildons are there, and many of the walks, as well as being scenic, have features of historic interest as well.

Evening entertainment will include Sangs and Clatter on Sunday with Hilary Bell and John Nicol, while Wednesday night is ghost night when local social history will be recounted in the Scott Room and grounds of Old Gala House.

Bookings are now being taken for all walks and entertainment.

The festival brochure, maps and booking form are also available online at www.scotborders.gov.uk/ events/22642.html