AN activity-packed festival is being held to showcase the South Pennines.

More than 100 walks, bike and horse rides and other events are planned.

The fortnight-long South Pennines Park Walk and Ride Festival, which begins on September 7, includes several activities across the Keighley area.

A drop-in artefact hunt takes place at Cliffe Castle on September 8, between 11am and 4pm.

People will be able to enjoy a walk from the Bronte Parsonage Museum, Haworth, on September 12, and sketch or paint the landscape. All abilities are welcome at the 10am to 1pm event. Materials will be provided.

A costumed Roman legionnaire will feature when archaeologist Chris Atkinson leads a family-friendly walk discovering the history of Harden Moor, on September 15, at 10am.

And the Bronte Mountain Bike Challenge, in aid of Oxenhope Sue Ryder hospice Manorlands, is being held on September 22. There are four routes of varying difficulty to choose from.

The festival is being co-ordinated by the rural regeneration agency, Pennine Prospects.

Its business and development manager, Adele Adams, says the event has become one of the biggest of its kind in northern England.

She added: “It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the unspoilt beauty of our market towns, moors, valleys and canals, plus extraordinary wildlife and industrial heritage.”

The South Pennines boast 460 square miles of upland country, bounded by the Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales – plus Nidderdale and the Forest of Bowland areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Plans are in the pipeline to create a South Pennine Park, to help protect and promote the region.

Pennine Prospects chairman, Pam Warhurst, says the festival offers a “brilliant” opportunity for people to get to know the area better. She adds: “The South Pennines have always had their admirers, but now we have noisier champions who want to share their love of the culture, heritage and landscape.”

Backing has been provided by a number of organisations, and the National Lottery has provided £10,000.

For full details of festival activities, visit pennineprospects.co.uk.