FREEDOM to roam the uplands of the north-west on foot is one step closer to reality. The Countryside Agency has just published its provisional map of common land and open country for Lancashire, Greater Manchester and parts of Yorkshire.

The map shows ramblers all the areas which will soon become available for open access on foot.

A three month public consultation is now underway and you may want to check out the maps which include the local stretch of the West Pennine Moors around Winter Hill.

The maps should be available for viewing at local authority offices and libraries, or check out the Countryside Agency's website (www.countryside.gov.uk). After an appeal period, it is hoped the final conclusive map of "open country" for north-west England should be published within a year.