With 100 coastal walks to choose from, including some barefoot hikes, the Great South West Walks 2014 is now open for bookings.

Thee specially selected circular walks by the South West Coast Path Association, will take place across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset from September 20 to 28.

Walkers can look forward to taking part in easy and family friendly strolls as well as challenging and rough terrain treks; many of the walks have themes such as history and wildlife, mining heritage, foraging, Jurassic geology and even a barefoot hike - each guided by an expert walk leader.

The event will raise vital funds for the South West Coast Path Association and Children's Hospice South West, through these sponsored walks, which will go towards the improvement of the South West Coast Path and supporting children with life limiting illnesses.

Ken Carter chairman of the Great South West Walks project team said: "This year's event is gearing up to be fantastic, with a real variety of themes and types of walks in place. These celebrate the South West's strong heritage and history, which walkers will be able to experience alongside helping to support the Coast Path and CHSW."

One of the walks chosen for Cornwall is a circular walk at Perranuthnoe.

This walk will be led by National Trust Barefoot Ranger Julie Hanson, with hedgerow and wild food foraging along the way.

Julie will be leading this walk barefoot and encourages anyone who is interested in partaking to join her in the sensory phenomenon that is barefoot hiking - by walking barefoot you can experience the Coast Path like never before.

Walkers can try the barefoot experience for the entire route or, for the more tentative, short stretches if slip on shoes are worn.

Julie will also be explaining which wild foods and hedgerow findings can be eaten along the route through foraging techniques.

Julie Hanson, National Trust Barefoot Ranger, is delighted to be able to lead a walk as part of the event saying: "I am really looking forward to leading the Barefoot Hike as part of the Great South West Walks as I feel it is a truly unique way of experiencing the Coast Path. There are many benefits to walking barefoot alongside foot health - plus there is no way of getting closer to nature and being more a part of the environment than feeling the path between your toes. I hope lots of participants join me!"

This walk is one of the Great South West Walks' easy routes at 2.3 miles and is recommended as child friendly.

To take part, participants can visit the Great South West Walks website and choose one or several of the 100 walks that they would like to participate in at www.greatsouthwestwalks.co.uk Alternatively, registration can be made via telephone by calling the South West Coast Path Association on 01752 896237.

Further information about the organisations and the walks can be found on the website, or on Twitter @LoveSWCoastPath or Facebook /SWCPA