Walking Post podcast 07: The xTx Trail and the Talgarth Walking Festival

This week we have conversations about the development of a cross-state trail in Texas, the xTx, and on the Talgarth Walking Festival in Wales.Interview times03:35: Talgarth Walking Festival 12:30: X-Texas TrailTalgarth Walking FestivalTalgarth is in Mid-Wales, in the county of Powys, between Hay-on-Wye and Brecon.It hosts the annual Talgarth Walking Festival, which this year is the 11th edition of the event. Beyond the walks, participants can enjoy talks from local experts, family-friendly activities and opportunities to connect with fellow nature enthusiasts and walkers.This year, among the walks is Beverley Thornley’s ‘Notes on a River - Afon Llynfi,’ which gives some insights into her forthcoming art book and her exploration of the Llynfi River. Also, Mark Harrell’s artist trail will highlight local studios and exhibitions.There are more than 25 walks of varying difficulty, including Offa’s Dyke. The event kicks off with a talk at Talgarth Town Hall by Nick Busby, who will give a presentation entitled Exploring Dark Skies.This week on the podcast, we chatted with Havard Prosser, chair of the Talgarth Walkers are Welcome Group.The xTx TrailCurrently, the longest trail in Texas is the Lone Star Hiking Trail, which clocks in at 96 miles. And Texas is a whole lot bigger than that, so a proposed 1,500-mile trail, called the xTexas Trail, or the xTx, would join the epic US trails.By comparison, those renowned trails clock in at 2,190 miles for the Appalachian, and 2,653 for the Pacific Crest trails.Recently, a group of volunteers camped in Kirbyville as day one of the “Sweaty Taste of the xTx: First 100 Miles” group ground-proofing project.The full 1,500-mile xTexas Trail Project route has been conceived, mapped, and ground-proofed by project founder, Charlie Gandy, who is our guest on the podcast this week.The new xTexas Trail Project would see the first cross-state trail in Texas begin on Quicksand Creek on the Sabine River in the east, and end in El Paso. Founded by fifth-generation Texan and active-living advocate Gandy, the xTx rambles through quiet public backcountry, paved and gravel roads, public trails, state and national parks, and will eventually cross private ranch land and farms once permission has been established. It will end in El Paso and includes the Big Bend National Park and the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.The xTexas Trail Project exceeded its launch fundraising goals and has garnered the interest of more than 200 volunteers thus far.To get in touch with the podcast, email us at [email protected]