New section of Three Peaks route opened for walkers

The Three Peaks challenge is a popular 24-mile walk

A new section of the Three Peaks route in the Yorkshire Dales National Park has been opened for walkers.

Work had been under way to create an alternative path from Pen-y-ghent to Ribblehead to avoid the badly-eroded Horton Moor and Black Dubb Moss area.

The park authority said the new route was easier and drier to navigate.

Conservation experts said diverting walkers away from Black Dubb Moss would give sensitive peatland habitats and vegetation time to recover.

The Three Peaks challenge is a 24-mile walk over Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.

National park rangers and dales volunteers used 650 tonnes of materials to link up two existing stone tracks which are both part of the Pennine Way National Trail to create the alternative route.

It includes three sections of stepped stone flags and a small footbridge across Sell Gill Beck.