The Kennet & Avon Canal. Photo: Andrea DG

Ramblers will take part in relay walk celebrating a double anniversary.

The 140km (87-mile) route along the Kennet & Avon Canal will mark both the Ramblers’ 75th anniversary and the 200th year of the canal.

The week-long walk will cover the towpath route between Reading and Bristol and will see politicians, VIPs and members of the public joining canal enthusiasts to pass on a specially designed baton.

Members of the public are welcome to join the event, and the Ramblers said the route is well served by public transport.

Ramblers’ chief executive Tom Franklin, who is recovering from a foot injury but hopes to attend the final stretch of the relay, said: “For 75 years, the Ramblers have existed as Britain’s walking charity, to help everyone – no matter who they are or where they’re from – experience the joy of walking.

“Now we’re asking everyone, of all ages and walking levels, to join me on this historic canal walk and help us pass on the baton for future generations.”

Mark Stephens, British Waterways’ waterway manager for the Kennet & Avon Canal said: “This is a fantastic event, highlighting one of the many leisure uses of this wonderful piece of working industrial heritage.

“The Kennet & Avon Canal is pleased to welcome the Ramblers to the towpath in this their 75th birthday year, as the canal celebrates its 200th anniversary.

“I’ll be joining the relay and hopefully meeting many of the volunteer organisers and walking enthusiasts along the canal.”

The anniversary baton has been specially decorated with canal art by local artist Nikki Softley and will contain historic documents from both the Ramblers and the Kennet and Avon canal.

The relay forms part of a nationwide baton walks programme, where a special Ramblers birthday baton will travel around Britain throughout 2010.

The Kennet & Avon relay starts on Saturday, 8 May.