Steve Hastie with Ingleborough in the background. Photo: Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

Two major charities have agreed to chip in to help an area hit by erosion caused in part by challenge events they run.

The Yorkshire Three Peaks are used by several local and national charities for fundraising, including the 12-hour challenge to walk all three in one go. Other organisations have told the national park authority they will help.

The area around Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough is one of the most heavily walked in the whole Yorkshire Dales, with an estimated quarter of a million pairs of feet tramping its paths every year.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority admits its maintenance of paths in the area has slipped since extra staff taken on for various projects left, leaving just the two rangers to look after the area which includes the whole of Ribblesdale.

A report in 1986 by the Institute for Terrestrial Ecology gave the region the unenviable distinction of having the most severely eroded path network in the UK. In response, the Three Peaks Project was set up, with 13 staff dedicated to evaluating new path-engineering techniques and revegetation of the eroded areas.

But for the past five years, the management of the paths has been down to the two rangers and charities are being asked to help fund much needed repairs by a new Three Peaks Project.

Its manager, Steve Hastie, also the area ranger, said: “About 250,000 people annually use the routes at all times of the year, some of them taking part in large-scale sponsored or organised events that raise significant sums of money for local and national charities.

“The result is that we have an area that needs more maintenance more frequently than many others in the national park – and it can be very costly.”

Many of the charities that regularly use the Three Peaks for sponsored events have volunteered to donate money towards the upkeep of the area. The national park authority hopes others will follow suit and is also looking for other individuals and organisations to help.

“We believe the majority of the routes and their use would be sustainable with a regular, funded maintenance programme in place,” Mr Hastie said.

The Three Peaks Project logo

“The difficulty is that, with current staffing levels, we are gradually falling behind with maintenance, resulting in the reduced lifespan of previous projects and a corresponding increase in the frequency of repairs.

“We would like to create a sustainable source of both practical and financial support that will help protect and enhance the area and the rights of way network into the future.

“This means giving users of the network the opportunity to support the area and the work of the authority.”

The YDNPA is looking at enlisting the help of people who visit the Three Peaks, as well as those who live or work in the area. In addition, it will be developing merchandise to celebrate walking one, two or all of the peaks and building business and community interest in the Three Peaks.

Denise Armstrong, lifestyle manager of Heart Research UK, which is holding its Three Peaks walk on 20 June, said: “This is our main fundraising event of the year and we are more than happy to support the national park authority in its important work.

“Walking regularly is great exercise to keep your heart healthy. It helps tone your muscles, improve your circulation and can make you feel happier and more relaxed. Taking part in an established event like this is a fantastic way to raise money for heart research and to find the motivation to get into an exercise routine and stick to it.”

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is donating £1 from each registration fee for its 25-mile Can You Hack It challenge which is based around Ingleborough.

Spokeswoman Helen Verity said: “We are really pleased to be able to help the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority by donating £1 of the HACK registration fee for each walker to assist in its work to maintain the paths in this stunning part of the country. We hope others will lend their support as well.”

Mountain rescue teams in the Lake District mooted the idea of organisers of the national Three Peaks Challenge contributing to the increased costs the teams face going to the aid of many ill prepared walkers on Scafell Pike.

Lake District National Park Authority chief executive Richard Leafe supported the call, saying he was delighted that so many thousands of walkers wanted to come to enjoy the Lake District while raising vital funds for such worthwhile charities at the same time.

“But sometimes charity has to begin at home, and I would encourage as many people as possible to think about raising some funds for the people who, no matter how difficult conditions may be, will come to their rescue as soon as the alarm is raised,” he said.
“Small donations from many thousands of walkers can, and will, make a huge difference.”

• The annual Three Peaks Race takes place this Saturday, starting at 10am in Horton in Ribblesdale. Up to 900 runners will tackle the 24 miles, with the winner taking less than three hours to complete the course. Last year, the race formed the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge, attracting competitors from around the world.