Settle Harriers donates to Three Peaks project – Press Release

Running club Settle Harriers has donated £1,000 to help a project dedicated to maintaining and improving footpaths around the Three Peaks of Ingleborough, Pen y Ghent and Whernside.

This week some of the club’s 270 members met the Thomas Andrews, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s area ranger who works on the Three Peaks Project, to see how the donation is being used. The project looks after the rights of way around the area, in particular restoration work to tackle erosion and make the popular paths more resilient for the future.

Simon Oxley, chairman of Settle Harriers said: “Our members frequently train over the Three Peaks area and we organise annual fell races over each of Ingleborough, Pen y Ghent and Whernside, as well as the Settle Hills race. We really appreciate the work done by the National Park in maintaining the footpaths and stiles in our area and wanted to support this with some of the income we receive from the entry fees for our races.”

As well as being popular with runners, the Three Peaks attract huge numbers of walkers every year. Kate Hilditch is the authority’s area manager for the Southern Dales which includes the famous Yorkshire mountains.

She said: “The National Park Authority’s Three Peaks Project relies on donations to fund path maintenance in an area which is enjoyed by tens of thousands of people each year. Thank you to Settle Harriers for their generous donation to the Three Peaks Project.

“The improvements in the state of the public rights of way network in the Yorkshire Three Peaks area is one of the proudest achievements of the National Park Authority and its partners. But we do need public support to keep up the good work. All money raised through the Three Peaks Project goes directly to looking after the rights of way in the area through our dedicated Three Peaks Ranger.”