A new section of the iconic Three Peaks route in the Yorkshire Dales National Park is now open for business.
Work started earlier this year to create an alternative path from Pen-y-ghent to Ribblehead that would avoid the badly-eroded Horton Moor and Black Dubb Moss area.
And the new route, which takes walkers further along the Pennine Way National Trail before turning off and heading over Whitber Hill and Sell Gill Hill, has already been given the thumbs up by users.
The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Three Peaks Area Ranger Steve Hastie, who is also the Three Peaks Project Manager, said: "The feedback we have had so far about the new route is very positive.
“It is far easier to navigate – a lot drier – and it gives people a fantastic view of Ingleborough, Whernside and Far Moor Bridge. On top of that, it runs past Hull Pot and Hunt Pot, which are well worth a short detour to see.
“Another plus is that there won’t be any time wasted in busy periods having to wait at stiles and gates because, unlike the old path, there aren’t any."
As well as providing for the first time a sustainable circuit for people wanting to do the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge, the new section will also create a shorter route for families wanting to stretch their legs by walking from Horton in Ribblesdale along Bracken Bottom, up Pen-y-ghent and then down the new route and back to the start point.
