Landowners have been called on to emulate an aristocrat who throws his land open for the public to walk the Pennine fells.

The Duke of Devonshire - one of Britain's biggest landowners who has thousands of acres near Skipton - has been praised by the Ramblers' Association.

But it has slammed other landowners who bar walkers from millions of acres across the county.

Walkers from England and Wales plan to gather in Todmorden on Sunday to call on Environment Minister, Michael Meacher, to change the law to allow the public the right to roam.

Changes would open up land on Haworth Moor, Cowling Moor and vast tracts of Nidderdale, north East of Skipton.

Ramblers want the Government to introduce new rules which would allow walkers to presume there is a right to walk on mountain and moorland.

David Beskine of the Ramblers' Association, said: "We want the law changed to allow the public the freedom to walk on land subject to some conditions to protect farming and conservation." He said praised the approach of the Duke of Devonshire in allowing walkers across his land.

Local Ramblers' Association West Riding member Keith Wadd said: "We simply want a right to roam over mountain and moorland and on uncultivated land - not across people's gardens as some people think."

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