RIGHT across the Yorkshire Dales National Park, local businesses and venues – including cafés, restaurants, pubs, visitor attractions, hotels and campsites – have been welcoming customers back after lockdown restrictions on the hospitality sector were lifted last weekend.

Neil Heseltine, chairman of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said: “It’s great to see so many local businesses back open, especially in the hospitality sector – which is so important to our local economy. Income from visitors helps to sustain services essential to community life over the winter months.

“To support people coming into the National Park for days trips and longer breaks we have staff working outside our National Park Centres in Grassington, Aysgarth Falls, Hawes and Malham, and out and about in Swaledale, to provide support and advice. They will be on hand with local information, maps, leaflets and tips for making the most of your visit.

“We also have a wealth of information and advice on our website, including details of accommodation providers, cafés and short walks."

"This will be particularly useful for anybody visiting for the first time.

“Finally, the safety of visitors and communities throughout the National Park remains our number one priority, so we would ask everyone to stick to the two-metre social distancing rule, where possible, and to: respect the land, respect the community, respect each other. Take the opportunity to revisit the Countryside Code, and take all your litter home.