A GROUP of asylum seekers sampled the delights of Malham.

The 14 refugees came from 10 different countries including Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and the Congo. They now live in Blackburn and Darwen and are at various stages of the asylum process.

Most have to wait months or even years for their cases to be processed and are forbidden to work during this time. They have little chance to visit other parts of the region and live under difficult conditions.

The visit was led by Judy Rogers as part of the Learning in Limestone Country Project. The scheme enables people who would not normally visit the Dales to enjoy its spectacular scenery, thanks to a partnership between the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, Yorkshire Dales National Park, Natural England, Malham Tarn Field Studies Centre and Craven College.

The visit was also supported by Settle Area Quakers, Blackburn Cathedral and many Malhamdale residents.

The refugees were given a warm welcome at Malham National Park Centre before moving on to the newly reopened smithy, where one of the visitors, with experience of shoeing horses, helped the blacksmith. They also visited Hilltop Farm, where they were introduced to Dales farming, and the restored National Trust barn and exhibition on Cove Road.

They then walked to the foot of Malham Cove to visit the peregrine watch before the day was rounded off with afternoon tea at Beck Hall.

Three of the refugees gave votes of thanks for a day which, for all of them, had exceeded their expectations. One of the visitors admitted that he had been in England for five months and this was the first time he had been happy since arriving.