PLANS for the Vale of Glamorgan Walking Festival and the Vale Music Festival, held in May, are underway.

In previous years, a walk combined with a concert has proved to be popular allowing people the opportunity to combine their love of music and walking in a unique way.

This year’s programme has an added interest as composer and critic Steph Power was commissioned to write a piece of music inspired by the Welsh landscape.

This composition written for flute, oboe and piano and performed by the Marsyas Trio will be premiered at Ewenny Priory on Thursday, May 25, at 7.30pm.

The performance will be preceded by a pre-concert walk entitled Mediaeval Splendour at 3.30pm as part of the Walking Festival.

Valeways’ Coffee Shop Strollers welcomed Steph Power on one of their regular walks around Cold Knap recently in order to gain inspiration for her composition.

She returned recently and met the strollers in the Romilly Two Café where she gave a preview of her new composition.

Coffee Shop Strollers’ leader Mike Edwards said: “All who were present were privileged to hear part of this piece.

"Steph explained how she had interwoven the joy of walking with the despair experienced by many refugees, having lost everything continue to walk in search of a better life.

"We look forward to hearing the complete piece.”

Full details of all walks can be found on the Walking Festival at valeofglamorganwalkingfestival.org.uk

Full details of this year’s Music Festival can be found on valeofglamorganfestival.org.uk