Books and Boots – Walks and Words, which runs from September 26 to October 5, will be launched by the poet and performer Brian Patten, who made his name in Liverpool in the 1960s with Adrian Henri and Roger McGough.

For the first time The Station – Richmond's former railway terminus restored and converted to a leisure, culture and commercial centre at a cost of £2.7m – plays host to festival events.

The Richmond festival attracts people drawn not only to explore the varied Dales landscapes but also because the festival offers a range of entertainment and events.

All tastes are catered for with Brian Patten, Blake Morrison, Rory Motion, Wife in the North Judith O'Reilly, Neil Hanson, Kate Colquhoun, Catherine King, Nobby Dimon, Mark Denton, Caroline Brannigan, Djangology, David Hewson, Tony Earnshaw, Blues and a Bad Boy, and many more authors, poets, musicians and films.

Each day there will be a series of guided walks. For the experienced walker they range from 12 to six miles in Swaledale and Wensleydale including the Swaledale Chain – a series of six circular walks making their way down the Dale from the source of the Swale.

For people who prefer a shorter walk there are a wide variety in and around the town. A number look at Richmond's interesting past – Norman Castle, Georgian buildings, links to horse racing, the Wynd's and Lanes and some intriguing views and glimpses.

New this year is a Sound Walk – an opportunity to walk using your ears to map the sounds around Richmond. An alternative is the Drummer Boy walk – following in the footsteps of a legendary drummer boy who disappeared underground on a walk to Easby Abbey.

There are also tales of Taverns and Ghost walks. North Country Theatre return to take visitors through a grass cut labyrinth and provides words, thoughts and palindromes on the journey.

When not walking people can hear from poets, playwrights, cooks, crime writers and journalists. They include Yorkshire Post film critic and Artistic Director of the Bradford International Film Festival, Tony Earnshaw, who will speak about films made in Yorkshire at the Station Cinema before a showing of Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.

People booking longer walks are invited to test new designs produced in Richmond by Altberg.

A programme is available from Richmond Tourist Information on 01748 828742 and it can also be found at www.richmond walking.com or www.richmond bookfestival.com