THE beauty of the Yorkshire Dales was showcased to rural champions from across England and Wales.

Seventy delegates representing other national park societies descended on Craven for a national conference, organised by the Gargrave-based Yorkshire Dales Society.

Held over three days at the Coniston Hotel, Coniston Cold, the event was also attended by seven young people whose costs were met by bursaries.

There were presentations by Gary Verity from Welcome to Yorkshire and Professor Chris Baines, from the National Grid's Visual Impact Provision project, which is trying to put underground distribution lines across national park areas.

The National Grid sponsored the conference.

After-dinner speeches were given by Yorkshire Dales National Park chairman Peter Charlesworth, the authority's chief executive David Butterworth, hotel owner Michael Bannister and local actors Bretton Lord and Alan Gibson, who starred in Lad: A Yorkshire Story.

Other guests included Skipton MP Julian Smith.

There were also visits to Malham, Dry Rigg Quarry at Helwith Bridge, Settle College, Lower Winskill Farm near Langcliffe, and some delegates even climbed Penyghent in torrential rain.

In addition, the visitors were given the opportunity to meet local business people, including Malham blacksmith Annabelle Bradley, who made a fire poker with a ram's head, which was promptly purchased by one of the onlookers.

And Kardy Bogg-Hargroves, who is on the Dales Rural Training Scheme, made a thumbstick from a hazel tree from Freeholders Wood at Aysgarth. It will be handed on to the next conference.

Yorkshire Dales Society trustee Graham Yule said: "The delegates saw what a great place Yorkshire is.

"The conference was very successful, with a lot of networking between different national park societies. The feedback that we have had is that everyone enjoyed the visit."

Transport around the area was provided by the Dales and Bowland Community Interest Company.