WALKERS have been urged to celebrate new rights under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act by taking part in a festival in September.
The first Roses Walking Festival will be launched at Penistone Hill Country Park on September 17.
It will be part of a 16-day programme, taking in almost 100 guided walks through the Pennines.
"It's been a year since the Act designated large swathes of the open common, heath and moor as `access land' and walkers really do have something to celebrate," said one of the organisers David Nortcliffe.
"Many people predicted clashes with disgruntled landowners reluctant to have people walking across their property.
"But ramblers recognise that farmers and other landowners rely on the countryside and have no wish to jeo- pardise their livelihood.
"New partnerships between walkers and landowners have developed over the last 12 months."
Brochures outlining the festival walks and events are available at tourist information centres, museums and Yorkshire Water offices.
