A new book of walks from stations along the world-famous Settle to Carlisle railway line will help to preserve the beautiful Three Peaks of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Dales Rail Trails was funded by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s (YDNPA) Sustainable Development Fund – which is managed by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust .

The YDNPA’s Three Peaks Project Manager Steve Hastie said: “This is yet another excellent offer of support from a local business – and the Settle Carlisle line is the ideal way to access the area.

“Sustainable tourism is at the heart of the publication, so I’m really happy with the link with the Friends of the Three Peaks.”

Chris Grogan said: “As Corporate members of the Friends of the Three Peaks, we were more than willing to allocate some of the proceeds to the vital work on the path network and we hope that it will benefit walkers for a long time to come.

Malcolm Petyt, the YDNPA’s Member Champion for Recreation Management, said: “This is a very generous donation that is very much appreciated.

“It’s good to see that more and more organisations and companies are joining the Friends of the Three Peaks and helping us to conserve and protect this very fragile environment for future generations.”

The book contains 32 walks from stations along the railway line as well as a guide to the popular, 24-mile Three Peaks Challenge route and details of the 48-mile Six Peaks Trail, which links stations from Settle to Kirkby Stephen.

A popular daffodil walk in Farndale, North York Moors, has had a bit of a tidy up ahead of the arrival of 50,000 visitors.

People from Farndale teamed up with the North York Moors National Park Authority’s Make a Difference volunteers and staff to carry out habitat management work along the popular Farndale daffodil walk.

Local resident Sally and volunteer Dawn clean up near Farndale. Pic NYMNPA

A wet grassland site – known locally as the ‘duck pond’ – on the daffodil walk to the north of Low Mill, had become very overgrown with willow and alder trees.

Members of the Farndale community were concerned about the area becoming overgrown and shady, particularly as this is a popular spot for visitors to pause and admire the stunning display of blooms.

Trees were cut back to open up the area and let more light in to make it more pleasing for visitors.

The cut wood was used to make twiggy bundles and stakes which will be installed along a short stretch of riverbank in the same area to help prevent further riverbank erosion.

Natural England consent was required before the work could take place as the area concerned is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the diversity of habitats and plant species in the area including the wild daffodil.

Sally Weightman, Farm Conservation Advisor at the National Park Authority, said: “It was nice to see a variety of age groups represented by those people involved in the work tasks.

“The assistance of both members of the local community and volunteers was greatly appreciated and it is hoped that local community involvement will continue with further work projects in the future.”

Farndale resident, Sally Potter, added: ”We wanted to mark the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in some way and felt this would give year round pleasure to both locals and visitors to the Dale.”

Daffodil walk in Farndale

Over 50,000 people visit Farndale each year during the daffodil season.

To keep congestion on the narrow roads to a minimum, the National Park Authority runs a daffodil shuttle bus from Hutton-le-Hole car park to several stops along the daffodil walk.

This year the bus will operate on Sundays from 25 March through to 15 April plus Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday.

Timetables will  be available at www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/moorsbus or you can call 01439 770657.

Details have been announced for the fifth National forest walking festival organised by South Derbyshire District Council.

Featuring more than 80 varied walks the event takes place this year between 19-31 May 2012.

Discover rolling English countryside dissected by meandering rivers & canals, dotted with picturesque historic villages.

At its heart The National Forest, an environmental project where 8 million trees have been planted – a massive “Forest for the nation” being created across 200 square miles of gentle countryside.

From a gentle stroll, walks for the whole family, walks suitable for wheelchair users, to longer more strenuous rambles for keen walkers, the packed programme  should have something for you.

More details are available in the festivals leaflet - National Forest Walking Festival

Family walks in Eskdale sponsored by Sprayway contains two walking routes around Eskdale, perfect for families.

Download Family walks in Eskdale leaflet

This leaflet contains two walking routes around Eskdale, perfect for families.

There is a shorter route for little ones and a longer one for the more adventurous.

Forest glades and dry stone walls, crystal clear rivers and becks, all topped off with the magic of a narrow gauge steam railway (Ratty), make Eskdale the perfect place for a family adventure.

Before setting off on any of these walks please plot the route on an appropriate map: OS Landranger 96, OS Landranger 89, OS Explorer OL 6,

Sprayway Family Walks – A series of golakes walking routes perfect for families is sponsored by Sprayway.
Starting from classic destinations throughout the county there is a shorter route for little ones and a longer one for the more adventurous, so the whole family can get out and enjoy the best of the Adventure Capital.
Coniston, Buttermere, Patterdale, Borrowdale and Rydal areas are fetaured in this set.

Family walks from Patterdale sponsored by Sprayway contains two walking routes around Patterdale perfect for families.

Download Family walks from Patterdale leaflet

Patterdale is a small village close to lake Ullswater and is popular with walkers who go to climb famous peaks such as Helvellyn (England’s third highest mountain).

Local folklore suggests that Patterdale is named after St.Patrick (381-461 AD), who walked there after being shipwrecked on Duddon Sands.  It is said that he preached at a holy well and gave his name to the valley of “Patrichesdale”.

Ullswater is the second largest lake in the Lake District and may have been named after the Viking lord Ulfr.

Donald Campbell achieved his first world water speed record on Ullswater on 23rd July 1955, when the jet-propelled Bluebird K7 reached a speed of 202.32 mph.

Before setting off on any of these walks please plot the route on an appropriate map: OS Landranger 90, 

Sprayway Family Walks – A series of golakes walking routes perfect for families is sponsored by Sprayway.
Starting from classic destinations throughout the county there is a shorter route for little ones and a longer one for the more adventurous, so the whole family can get out and enjoy the best of the Adventure Capital.
Coniston, Buttermere, Patterdale, Borrowdale and Rydal areas are fetaured in this set.