Walkers visiting the Lake District in the next few months will be provided with a brand new visitor centre in Keswick.

The new facility, called the Moot Hall Information Centre, will offer information, advice and tips on how to best enjoy one of Britain’s most picturesque locations.

Also available will be guidance on the most suitable walking trails to use in order to maximise visits to the region.

Prior to attending the Keswick Mountain Festival, which got underway yesterday (May 19th), world-renowned adventurer Leo Houlding officially opened the complex on Monday.

Tim Haley, head of information services at Moot Hall, has urged visitors to make full use of all the centre has to offer so that they can fully enjoy the mountain range.

“Moot Hall is really important to us as a vital source of information for all of our Keswick area visitors,” he said.

The Lake District remains a popular destination for walkers of all abilities and ages thanks to its mix of expert and novice trails.

Keswick Mountain Festival began today (May 19th) and offers something for everyone who enjoys the Lakeland hills.

A wide range of events are available to the 5,000 attendees of the five-day festival, including biking, climbing, hiking, paddling and even a triathlon. All activities are set at the Adventure Base, which can be found of beneath the spectacular setting of the summits of Skiddaw and Catbells.

Also, people going to the festival have the opportunity to view the latest offerings from the world’s leading walking brands at stalls around the site. All are welcome to join in at the festival, from expert climbers and ramblers to novices and families.

Famous climber Leo Houlding will be on hand to offer a master-class in the art of scrambling on Saturday, which will be suitable for people of all abilities and grades.

Meanwhile, Julia Bradbury is offering the chance to go down the Honister Slate mine for a special champagne dinner and a tour of one of the region’s most renowned attractions. The Dine in a Mine event costs £125 to attend.

The record for the youngest ever British female to reach the summit of Mount Everest was broken yesterday morning (May 18th).

Novice mountaineer Bonita Norris, aged 22, reached the highest point on earth at 06:30 local time on Monday alongside Kenton Cool, who also claimed a record of his own as he became the first Briton to scale the mountain successfully eight times, reports Grough.

The former record holder for the youngest woman to achieve the feat was Victoria James, who completed the ascent at the age of 25. Ms Norris, of Wokingham in Berkshire, was due to make her push for the summit on Sunday but those plans were curtailed by high winds.

Her expedition was for charitable causes as she was raising cash for the Global Angels charity, which helps underprivileged children around the world.

Up until last year, Ms Norris had never even climbed a mountain but has now scaled the biggest peak the world has to offer.

Following her completion of the task, she blogged: "Thank you all for such incredible support back home, it really kept me going in the toughest of moments."

An extension to a Highland trail may be forced through by the first use of a compulsory path order as it is against the landowner’s wishes, it was revealed today (May17th).

Scotland’s right-to-roam law is likely to be implemented in order to secure the expansion of the Speyside Way path, south of Aviemore, where estate owners and national park officers have been locked in negotiations but have failed to agree a new route, reports Grough.

Kinrara House and the 1,100 acres of land surrounding it are owned by the Clouds Estate, which has objected to the extension of the 65-mile path that connects Aviemore to Buckie.

However, the Cairngorns National Park Authority last week approved the use of a Path Order under the Land Reform Act which, if approved by ministers, will allow the route to be lengthened without the owners’ consent.

If approved, the Speyside Way extension programme is scheduled to be completed by 2014.

The Open Spaces Society (OSS) has objected to the proposed fencing of Kingwood Common in Oxfordshire under the Commons Act 2006.

Nettlebed and District Commons Conservators have submitted proposals to build over 2,220 metres of fencing which would enclose 25 hectares of common land in order to allow cattle to graze there for two separate periods of six to eight weeks.

However, the OSS has rejected these plans under section 38 of the Commons legislation due to the applicants’ reluctance to answer its queries over the incentive for the construction of the fencing and insist that it will be to the detrimental to walkers, riders and cyclists.

Nicola Hodgsin, case officer at OSS, said: "In our view, they have not given proper consideration to alternative proposals to fencing the common in order to reintroduce grazing there. The common is well used and we believe that these interests will be adversely affected by the proposed fencing."

Ms Hodgsin added that the proposals are in conflict with the Conservators’ duty under the Nettlebed and District Commons Act 1906.

A newspaper journalist has today (May 13th) been charged with calling out the Keswick Mountain Rescue team on a false alarm.

Sarah Louise Crickmer, a 27-year-old from South Shields on Tyneside is facing two counts under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 after allegations that she made a call to the rescue team during the flash floods that ripped through Cumbria last autumn.

Ms Crickmer apparently called the group to an incident near Skiddaw in the northern part of the Lake District and is charged as having sent a false message via a public electronic communication network to cause annoyance and inconvenience of anxiety on November 26th. She will appear at Workington Magistrates court on June 4th.

Keswick Mountain Rescue team consists of 45 voluntary members who are available 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year. The group typically attends around 130 callouts annually and relies on charitable donations to keep the service going.