A NEW all-terrain wheelchair is opening up the foothills of Ingleborough to people who have difficulty walking.

The chair, known as a tramper, is available free of charge by pre-arrangement from the entrance to the Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail in Clapham, the gateway to some of the Yorkshire Dales National Park’s finest limestone scenery.

The 1.3 mile nature trail passes by a lake and winds through scenic woodland into an open dale before reaching the imposing entrance to one of the UK’s finest natural underground wonders, Ingleborough Cave.

The tramper has been funded by grants from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund and Stories in Stone, a four-year programme of community and heritage projects.

Debbie Boswell, Stories in Stone’s Discover Ingleborough officer, said: “One of the scheme’s aims is to increase access opportunities for all visitors to the Ingleborough area, so we are really pleased to see this tramper introduced to one of the most iconic limestone landscapes in the country. We're sure it will be very well used!”

Anyone interested in using the tramper needs to book it in advance. A standard wheelchair is also available for accompanied tramper users wishing to join a guided tour of the cave.

For further information or to make a reservation contact Ingleborough Cave on info@ingleboroughcave.co.uk or 015242 51242

To enquire about the YDNPA’s Sustainable Development Fund call 01969 652337, email SDF@yorkshiredales.org.uk or visit http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/living-and-working/sdf