Dales Launches Three Peaks Survey

Classic view of Pen y Ghent - limestone pavement in foreground - by Hamish Fenton from the OM Gallery.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park has launched a Three Peaks visitor survey to help reduce future erosion on the classic hills which are tackled by an estimaged quarter of a million walkers every year.

The survey is intended to identify why people come to the area and what 'problems' they encounter as they tackle the classic circuit of Pen y Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough – tired legs is not the correct answer...

Steve Hastie, who is the Park's Three Peaks Project Manager explains the survey  like this:

“They [walkers] have a huge impact on the network of footpaths and on the flora and fauna, as well as the local community, and our priority is always to try to lessen that impact and bring about positive benefits as much as we can.

“To do that, we need to understand how and why people use the Three Peaks area and what improvements are needed from their point of view. Once we have this clearer picture, we will be able to plan for the future in a way that will help both the walkers and the environment.”

You can find the survey at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/threepeaks and everyone who completes it will be entered into a draw with a chance to wind a year's membership to the Friends of the Three Peaks and 'exclusive merchandise', it says here.