Dales walks

SPECIAL free guided walks are being staged over the next three months to give more residents and visitors the chance to explore Open Access areas of the Yorkshire Dales.

The Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000 came into force in the Upper North West and North East England in 2005 and increased the area of open access in the National Park from four per cent to 62 per cent.

The new legislation meant that walkers could enjoy far more of the beautiful landscape than before - nearly 400 sq miles extra within the National Park alone.

To help people understand their new rights under the CRoW Act, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) has organised walks in different parts of the National Park accompanied by the Ranger for that area.

Ranger Services Manager Alan Hulme said: "The walks are a chance for people to exercise their new rights by exploring new areas of the National Park and, at the same time, learning more about its special qualities.

"They will be shown around by the relevant Area Ranger who has an intimate knowledge of the particular section and can explain the work of the Ranger Service."

The walks planned for the rest of the year are:

• July 6: Carlton Moor and Pen Hill, meeting in the Carlton in Coverdale village hall car park (honesty box), 10.30am to 2.30pm. Telephone: 01969 662910.

• July 14: Ivelet Moor, meeting in Muker public car park, 11am to 4pm. Telephone: 01748 884059.

• September 2: Longstone Fell to Aye Gill Pike Moor, meeting in the Longstone Fell car parking area. A684 Garsdale Road, 10am to 4pm. Telephone: 01969 666210.

• September 9: Around Fountains Fell, meeting in the Quarry car park, 10am to 4pm. Telephone: 01969 652380.

• September 15: Buckden Pike, meeting in the Buckden National Park car park, 11am to 4pm. Telephone: 01756 751690.