Ramblers who enjoy walking in the Peak District and similar areas around the country may be interested to note that a new trail and bridge in the Yorkshire Dales national park will be completed in the coming months.

The construction process of the new path and timber bridge – which will measure 1.5 miles and forms part of the Pennine Bridleway – is underway and is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2010, according to Grough.

Peter Lambert, officer of the Pennine Bridleway project, commented that the development will use "an innovative design" that will involve "short lengths of timber to create a bridge with three arches spanning nearly 50 metres".

It will stretch from the small rural area of Selside to Cam High Road and will be part of a wider project that is being designed for the good of horse riders and mountain bikers as well as walkers.

Meanwhile, the news source reported yesterday that six disadvantaged children will be given the opportunity to learn skills such as rock climbing at the North Wales Mountain Rescue Association this weekend.

People who enjoy walking in the Lake District and other mountainous spots around the country might be interested to note that disadvantaged youths are to be taught rock climbing and other walking related activities in a charity event.

Grough reports that six youngsters from the Centrepoint charity – of which Prince William is a patron – are to be given tutorials by experts in activities including mountaineering skills this Friday (July 23rd) at the North Wales Mountain rescue Association.

During a similar event last year, Prince William took the hike up the Helvellyn peak along with Centrepoint members and mountaineering professionals and enthusiasts and it is hoped that this event will prove similarly as successful and rewarding.

Chris Lloyd, who works for the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation, commented that the children will b learning about skills such as "navigation and team work" throughout the day.

Meanwhile, it was reported by the news source yesterday that volunteering teams who have worked in the Lake District have been granted a £500 award for their efforts.

People who volunteer to help the upkeep of walking trails in the Lake District have been rewarded for their commitment.

Grough reports that the unpaid teams who have worked on the Fix the Fells project in the national park have been given a sum of £500 in the Marsh Heritage Awards after they put in some 818 days of free labour throughout 2009.

This prize represents a second-placed finish in the Awards’ panel’s mentoring scheme which is intended to encourage experienced volunteers to help newer, less experienced members of the team.

One of the people involved in the Fix the Fells mentoring scheme, Barry Capp, commented that the seven members who had dedicated their time to guiding new volunteers through their training periods were delighted with their achievement.

"It’s encouraging to get such a pat on the back for the work we do to help keep the fells accessible for everyone to enjoy," he said.

Meanwhile, it was revealed last week that mountain rescue teams will not be exempt from the government’s hike in the VAT rate, which comes into effect from January 2011.

Anyone heading out for a walk in the Highlands in the coming days may be advised to be on their guard after it was reported that a "large animal" is on the loose in the area.

According to local police, the creature was spotted by someone at 11.15 BST on Tuesday (July 13th) in woodland at Inshriach, which is near Kincraig.

"The person who reported the sighting was certain the animal was a cat and was the size of a German shepherd dog," a police statement read. The authorities also insisted that the report was as yet unconfirmed.

Ramblers may be better off going walking in the Lake District or another area for the time being, but Douglas Richardson, animal manager of the Highland Wildlife Park, told Grough that mistaken sightings of such animals are common.

Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that mountain rescue teams will not be given special treatment on the government’s new VAT rate.

Mountain rescue services look set to see hikes in VAT as of next year after the government opposed a move to introduce a tax freeze for charities, without which it is thought will cost the peak-side volunteer teams – possibly helping those walking in Snowdonia – an extra £28,000 annually.

According to Grough, this matter led to the closest Commons vote thus far in the new parliament, with Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron both championing for the refunding of the teams’ VAT and voting alongside the coalition to prevent Labour’s treasury committee capping tax.

And Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the treasury, voted to throw out the amendment but prior to the general election said: "It has never been right that a vital service which relies on donations from the public and extraordinary commitment from volunteers gets hit by the government for a sizeable tax payment."

Earlier this week, the news source reported that George Osborne’s planned to include charities in the expanded VAT rate of 20 per cent.

People who are planning to go walking in Snowdonia this summer may be glad to hear that a brand new potentially lifesaving device has been installed at the summit of Snowdon.

Thanks to a joint scheme initiated by the Welsh Ambulance Service, Snowdon Mountain Railway, the Arrhythmia Alliance and AED Locator, a Public Access Defibrillator is to be placed in Hafod Eryi in a bid to help any life-threatening emergency rescue attempts.

The remote device can be used to assist patients who are on or near the summit until professional medical assistance arrives at the scene.

Some 3000 volunteers have been trained by the Ambulance Service to man the current 34 defibrillators placed across walking routes in Wales.

National manager of the Public Access Defibrillator Scheme (PADS), Gerard Rothwell, said: "The summit is such an ideal place to have a PADS site due to the massive amount of people who visit it each year."

Meanwhile, Grough reported earlier this week that members of the Labour party will challenge the government’s planned VAT increase on mountain rescue teams.