A HUGE new area of the Yorkshire Dales National Park opened to the public for the first time on Saturday.

The move came as the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000 was launched in the Upper North West and North East England.

And to mark the occasion, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, in partnership with the Countryside Agency, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and English Nature, played host to nearly 200 guests who celebrated the new right by going for a walk.

The CRoW Act means that nearly 400 square miles (over 1,000 square kilometres) more access land will be opened up within the national park alone.

National park chief executive David Butterworth said: "We are acutely aware that there are some major concerns from farmers and landowners and those involved in nature conservation.

"However, all the speculation of what is going to happen will soon be behind us and we will have real evidence of the impact of this legislation on the land and its users.

"It is at this point, once people are actually taking advantage of the new Act, that we need to work together with land owners and partners to ensure that any difficulties are dealt with quickly and appropriately.

"We know that's going to be a potentially big job in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, where the area of open access is increasing from four per cent to 62 per cent - a significant change for the Dales."

Tayo Adebowale, a board member of the Countryside Agency, said the organisation had been responsible for the "mammoth task" of mapping around 4,000 square miles (950,000 hectares) of open country and registered common land by the end of December.

"Access to the countryside provides wonderful emotional, spiritual and physical benefits and we want to encourage everyone to get out and enjoy their new rights," she said.

Sir Martin Doughty, chairman of English Nature, added: "Dogs remain the single biggest concern, especially at this time of year when a parent bird flushed from the nest by a dog whose owners believe it would not hurt a fly, can cause an egg to chill, or chick to be taken by crows and other predators

"Our message to walkers is simple, get out there, enjoy these special places, watch the birds and smell the flowers. Think about where you are - the land is not only great for nature and landscape, it is someone's livelihood. Respect, protect, enjoy - and keep that dog under control."

Rural Affairs, Landscape and Biodiversity Minister Jim Knight said the Yorkshire Dales offered some of the best walking in the country.

"The spectacular Ribblehead valley is a perfect location to mark the opening of the latest, and by far the biggest, area of access land," he added.

And mountaineer Doug Scott, who was one of the first Britons to climb Everest, said he was "privileged" to be at the launch.

"Those who walk the land must respect the natural cycles of the countryside and the countryside code of behaviour," he said.

Children from Eastwood Primary School in Keighley joined in the celebrations by having a taste of rock climbing and abseiling at Twistleton Scar, in Chapel-le-Dale.

The national park has introduced a number of Access Information Points to tell visitors about open access and up-to-date information is also available at national park centres.

New editions of the Ordnance Survey Explorer maps will show all known access land, but walkers are urged to check the national website www.countrysideaccess. gov.uk before setting out to ensure areas are open before they visit.

Picture shows David Butterworth (far left), YDNPA chairman Carl Lis (far right), Rural Affairs Minister Jim Knight (second right) and other guests at the launch.