IT will have come as no surprise to all of us who live in Craven that our area featured highly in Britain's Favourite 100 walks. And even though it might well be over the border in Lancashire, we too can acknowledge there are also a few decent walks in the Forest of Bowland, and Pendle Hill is also worth a second look. Lesley Tate, who is familiar with all of the walks from our area featured in the ITV programme- and even a few outside- reports.

Having 'done' both Helvellyn - which came in at the nation's favourite, and Malham - which was placed third - I know which I'd rather do, but then it might just be because Malhamdale is right on my doorstep and I can choose to do when its not pouring with rain, and visibility is zero. To me, the best walks have variety, good views, and the chance to see some wildlife. Selfishly, I don't like to share my walks with large numbers of people, which also turns me off Helvellyn - just too many others with one mission in mind, I suspect, to 'bag' the third highest peak in England. I avoid the Yorkshire Three Peaks - Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent - in the summer months for the same reason, just too many 'baggers'. It was good to see Pendle Hill and the Forest of Bowland high up on the list too - Gisburn Forest is a favourite with mountain bikers, with all its routes around the forest, it looks like it might well now be attracting more walkers.

The two and a half hour programme on ITV and presented by Julia Bradbury and Ore Oduba gave a swift run down on the best 100 walks in the country - as voted by the public. And, including those in Lancashire, and Brimham rocks, there was an impressive ten from our area.

Along with Malham and Gordale in third place, was Ingleborough, at 25; Ingleton Falls, at 36; Brimham Rocks, at 49; Wainwright's Coast to Coast route, at 54; Grassington to Conistone, at 61; the Forest of Bowland, at 67; Skipton to Saltaire, along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, at 81, and the Pendle Witches Trail, at 86.

Catherine Tyldesley, who appeared in Emmerdale, walked the Pendle Witches Trail, describing the ever present Pendle Hill as looming over everything, and atmospheric.

Ingleton Falls, which came in at number 36, was visited by Vicky Balch, and her mother. Vicky lost a leg in an accident at Alton Towers in 2015, and was making her first return visit to the falls since the accident.

Rambler and presenter, Janet Street Porter, walked Brimham Rocks where she ate a pork pie and claimed she would rather be there, than anywhere else.

And, the Forest of Bowland, including Gisburn Forest, and Stocks Reservoir, may no longer be a hidden gem, after it came in at 67th favourite walk in the country.

The just more than seven mile circular walk from Malham, taking in Malham Cove, Gordale Scar, Janet's Foss, and Malham Tarn, turned out to be a favourite of actor and presenter, Adrian Edmondson.

Ade reminisced about doing the walk with his father, and how they would finish off at The Lister Arms - where he was filmed once again, enjoying a pint.

He described Gordale Scar as resembling the 'entrance to Middle Earth' - the area was also recently used as a backdrop for television's 'Victoria' .

The pub's general manager Darren Dunn, said: "It was a big surprise to have Ade Edmondson visit us when they were filming the series and lovely to hear his story of how he visited us as a child. Of course this time, we made sure he had a great pint of Thwaites beer at the end of his walk. We have some of the most beautiful scenery in the country right here on our doorstep - Janet's Foss, Gordale Scar and Malham Cove are all within easy walking distance of the pub. Malham really is a fantastic place to explore the great outdoors and we're thrilled that has been recognised in this public vote."

Rob Ashforth, area ranger for the Yorkshire Dales National Park, said Gordale Scar was his favourite place in the park - and he covers the whole of Malhamdale, Ribblesdale and the Lancashire part of the national park.

"You know when you walk towards it for the first time that you are going to see a waterfall. But when you turn the corner to see it, it’s breathtaking. I love taking groups of young people – perhaps people who’ve never been into a national park, or even seen a sheep – to a place like that. The Yorkshire Dales National Park really does have the awe inspiring features that a lot of other National Parks don’t have – and that to me is our greatest asset."

He is also a big fan of Janet's Foss. "With its picturesque charm, and the mighty Malham Cove which dominates the landscape and offers amazing views down the dale. Both are stunning places to experience and this walk takes it all in," he said.

Robert Heseltine, a long serving member of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said there was tremendous scenery to be found across Craven and particularly in the national park and in the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

"It is more than spectacular, we locals take these things for granted, but they are the environmental lungs of the nation."

All of the walks, and map details, can be found online at:ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getoutside/itvs-britains-100-favourite-walks/