New bus services to tempt Dales visitors

Authorities in the Yorkshire Dales are encouraging visitors to use public transport to cut down pollution.Two new bus services will run from outside the national park, linking with trains and tying in with a series of guided walks.The Cravenlink bus will connect with trains from Ilkley and Skipton stations and will run into Bolton Abbey in Wharfedale.

Everest hero Hillary in hospital after fall

Sir Edmund Hillary who, with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay was the first to climb Everest, is recovering in New Zealand after a fall.The 87-year-old, who has continued to campaign for the Nepalese people, was admitted to an Auckland hospital on Sunday following his tumble after returning from the Himalayan state.His wife, Lady June Hillary, said he is in a comfortable condition and improving.

Catch Three Peaks race this weekend

More than 500 super-fit athletes will be pounding the paths of the Yorkshire Dales this Sunday.The annual Three Peaks Race, run over 24 miles (39km) with more than 5,000ft (1,600m) of ascent over the Yorkshire fells Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, will see holder Rob Jebb attempt to keep the title.On the summit of Whernside, with Ingleborough in the distance A good walking time for the strenuous course is around eight to nine hours, but the winner who scales the three fells and the terrain between them usually completes the course in less than three hours.

Everest protesters 'intimidated' by Chinese

Five campaigners who protested at Everest base camp against the Chinese occupation of Tibet said they were subject to intimidation after being arrested.The five were detained on the northern, Tibetan side of Everest after they unfurled a banner which read: One World, One Dream, Free Tibet 2008.The protesters returned to the Nepal capital Kathmandu on Friday after being held by Chinese guards for two days.

Extreme fire risk puts access land off limits

A national park has closed access land to guard against moorland fires.In a repeat of last year’s closures, the Peak District park authority has banned walkers from access land as fire risk indexes have hit critical levels.Kinder Scout summit: out of bounds The park authority stresses that public rights of way – footpaths and bridleways – are unaffected, but the right to roam on moors, introduced by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CroW Act), is suspended.

National park ban for bird man

A Merseyside man has been banned from every national park in the country.John Kinsley was also ordered not to enter any RSPB nature reserve by Llandudno magistrates after he was found guilty of disturbing rare birds of prey.The 36-year old, from Newton-le-Willows, near Warrington, caused a pair of goshawks to leave their nest and a clutch of three eggs failed to hatch.

Bryson will head rural-protection charity

A leading group which champions the protection of the English countryside is set to be led by an American.Bill Bryson, the witty journalist and author from Des Moines, Iowa, will head the Campaign to Protect Rural England – and he’s already started talking rubbish.Left: Bill Bryson at home in Norfolk ©David Rose Litter will be high on Anglophile Bill’s agenda: he has pledged to write to both likely Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron to urge hitting fly-tippers and litterbugs with hefty fines.

Cadair Idris fire 'was arson'

Experts say a fire which destroyed a large area of heath on Cadair Idris was probably started deliberately.Young trees and heathland were affected by the blaze in April, which swept across 30 hectares at the Tan y Gader Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Sheriff will visit second access-row estate

A sheriff will this month visit the estate at the centre of the latest attempt to block walkers’ rights.Euan Snowie wants to exclude the public from his entire 70-acre Boquhan Estate near Kippen, Stirlingshire.