MORE walkers can now use new technology to help them plan their trip to the Three Peaks in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

In September, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) launched an app for iPhones containing information to help plan a visit.

Now the authority has released an android version to encourage more people to stretch their legs over the festive season.

The app helps them plan a trip to take in the views from the top of Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough or Whernside – or all three.

Karen Griffiths, the YDNPA’s interpretation officer, said: “The iPhone app has proved to be really popular and we have had some excellent feedback on it.

“The android version will mean the massive amount of information it contains will be there for more people.

“It costs £1.99 and all the money from the sales will be spent on maintaining the rights of way network – which copes with around 100,000 visitors every year – as part of the Three Peaks Project.

“It’s a great tool at a great price that will help with some great work.”

As well as containing 1:50,000 OS maps of the Three Peaks Challenge – summiting all three in 12 hours – and alternative routes for each peak, the app has maps and links to route descriptions for mountain bike rides.

It also has information on geolocated places of interest ranging from geological and archaeological sites through to nature reserves, and some stunning 360° panoramas from the summits and an augmented reality ‘toposcope’ showing the names of the hills surrounding each of the three peaks.

The iPhone and android versions of the Three Peaks Yorkshire app can be downloaded through www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/y3peaksapp and from iTunes and Google Play respectively.

The development of the app was made possible through the funding of the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA).

This is a group of businesses in the European outdoor industry that raises funds to put directly into conservation projects worldwide.

The €30,000 grant was secured by Clapham-based charity Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) on behalf of the YDNPA.

Don Gamble, YDMT’s Projects Development Officer, said: “The Three Peaks are an iconic part of the Yorkshire Dales landscape, enjoyed by a huge number of people each year. The team here at YDMT was delighted to secure the €30,000 grant from EOCA that has funded crucial improvements to the route, restoration of fragile peatland areas and now this new mobile app to further enhance visitors’ experience.”