Ramblers from all over Europe will be gathering in Tenerife from 10th to 14th March 2015 for the first Tenerife Walking Festival. Participants will hike along the island's diverse scenery – including coastal paths, volcanic landscapes and ancient forests – and take part in a full programme of exciting activities including stargazing and dramatised tours.

The Festival is aimed at professional hikers who are members of the European Ramblers Association or its national affiliates such as Ramblers, the Long Distance Walkers Association and Mountaineering Ireland. Registration will be available online on www.tenerifewalkingfestival.com from 8th May 2014.

Around 700 ramblers are expected to take part in what will be the first edition of the Tenerife Walking Festival. Based in the northern seafaring town of Puerto de la Cruz, hikers will be able to explore the island during five days of hiking on up to 15 different trails classified into three categories: volcanic, coastal and green tracks.

Some of the areas ramblers will explore include the protected Teide National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and its remarkable volcanic landscape; picturesque coastal towns such as Taganana and San Juan de la Rambla; and the spectacular green laurisilva (ancient laurel forests) of Anaga and Teno Rural Parks. Routes will take up to 5 hours to complete and a professional guide will accompany ramblers along their way. A wide range of activities such as stargazing, dramatised tours and visits to wineries, museums and the Teide Observatory will also be included in the programme.

Organised by the Council of Tenerife (Cabildo) through the Tenerife Tourism Corporation's new brand on adventure sports “Tenerife No Limits”, the Tenerife Walking Festival is supported by the European Ramblers Association (ERA), the Spanish Federation for Mountain and Climbing Sports (FEDME) and the Canary Islands Federation for Mountaineering (FECAMON).

Mr. Carlos Alonso, President of the Council of Tenerife, explains that the festival “is an excellent opportunity to showcase the quality of the island as a hiking destination. The fact that participants will belong to ramblers associations means that, once they go back to their countries, they can share their experience with other members, becoming the best ambassadors for promoting hiking in Tenerife.”

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Notes for Editors:

1. The Tenerife Tourism Corporation is a membership led independent body, supported by the public and private sectors, which markets Tenerife overseas as a tourist destination.
2. For further information on the Tenerife Walking Festival please visit: www.tenerifewalkingfestival.com.
3. For general tourism information on Tenerife please visit: www.webtenerife.co.uk.
4. For media enquiries, please contact Polly Martin or Richard Hume at Hume Whitehead: polly@humewhitehead.co.uk / 0845 498 9985; richard@humewhitehead.co.uk / 0845 498 9981.