Pick up your walking festival brochure now!

Frome’s Walking Festival returns on the 9th – 10th of November, and the two days are full to the brim with over 20 walks, all differing in nature, meaning there’s something for everyone. 

They vary from the longer circular walks around Longleat and Orchardleigh estate, to engaging family friendly walks with activity sheets and a quiz!

Frome Town Council has pulled together a handy guide to detail out all the walks, times and information.  The guides are available from the Town Hall, Discover Frome Information Point and cafes throughout town.   

Cllr Richard Ackroyd said, “Whether rambling is your hobby or you simply want to explore a walk in an area you’ve not been before, there’s a host of options available, and our handy guide to the festival details them all.”

All walks leave from outside the Cheese and Grain, where an information point will be placed and help on hand with maps and guidance on completing your chosen walk. Walkers are encouraged to book tickets for each walk in advance to secure your place but many of them are free.  Book online at www.tickettailor.com/events/frometowncouncil

 For more information on all of the walks available, visit www.discoverfrome. co.uk/guided-walks/

Murder Walk will be

 highlight of festival

A walk retracing the steps of an infamous murder is one of the highlights of the festival.

‘The Awful Killing of Sarah Watts’ is based on the 2018 best-selling book of the same name and its route will take in many of the key sites and landmarks mentioned in it. The murder of the 14-year-old, committed in 1851, on an isolated farmhouse in West Woodlands, near Frome, appalled and enthralled Victorian society in equal measure.

But despite the presence of a London detective – a colleague of Inspector Whicher who investigated the later Saville Kent killing in Rode – the case was never solved.

This specially created four-hour walk is being led by one of the co-authors of the book, David Lassman, and is on the final day of the festival, Sunday 10th November.

David – well known to Frome Times readers as one of the authors of our regular  Frome Times Past column – said, “After the success of the book we had lots of inquiries about leading a possible walk. We replied hopefully we might one day. Well, that day has now come!

“Even though it is nearly 170 years since the murder, much of the geography and a number of significant locations are exactly as they were back then.”

As well as visiting the site of Battle Farm, where the killing of Sarah Watts occurred, the walk will also follow what was possibly the murderer’s escape route.

David is a well-known local historian and his research into the town’s notorious and criminal past also informs another of his walks during the festival.

This is ‘Rogues, Rebels and Renegades’, being run by overwhelming popular demand, having sold out twice during its original outing during this year’s Frome Festival.

Other walks David will be leading during the two-day walking extravaganza include a children’s walk, complete with tales of ghosts, flying saucers and Harry Potter.

And the Pubs of Frome, based on the book ‘The Historic Inns of Frome’, written by Mick Davis, who is also the co-author of ‘The Awful Killing of Sarah Watts.’

The festival also has walks by other well-known guides such as Lisa Kenwright, Les Stather, Phil Gryce, Julian Hight and Dave Hamilton.

They cover subjects such as foraging, trees, Saxon Frome, Singers Trail and the history and folklore behind many local place names.