Walkers on Whernside, with Ingleborough in the distance

National park bosses are seeking the views of a quarter of a million visitors who make the ascent of Yorkshire’s Three Peaks.

A survey by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority will help shape conservation policy and improve the lot of the thousands of walkers who slog up Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent.

The online questionnaire asks whether walkers were part of a group, if it was an organised event, and what difficulties they encountered while tackling the Three Peaks.

Steve Hastie, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s area ranger and Three Peaks Project manager, said: “Roughly 250,000 walkers come here every year to scale the summits and soak up the beauty of the landscape.

“They have a huge impact on the network of footpaths and on the flora and fauna, as well as the local community, and our priority is always to try to lessen that impact and bring about positive benefits as much as we can.

“To do that, we need to understand how and why people use the Three Peaks area and what improvements are needed from their point of view. Once we have this clearer picture, we will be able to plan for the future in a way that will help both the walkers and the environment.”

Malcolm Petyt, the National Park Authority’s member champion for recreation management, said: “I hope everyone who walks all or some of the Three Peaks will take the time to fill in the survey and help us protect the area for future generations.”

Survey participants can take part in a prize draw to win a year’s membership to the Friends of the Three Peaks and exclusive merchandise. The survey is on the Yorkshire Dales national park website.