The High Way, heading into Mallerstang. The Pennine Bridleway will join the route as it heads north
Work has started on the latest link in building a new national trail up the backbone of England.
The Pennine Bridleway will run for 330km (206 miles) when complete, starting in Derbyshire and ending in Northumberland. It will be available for use by walkers, cyclists and horse riders and is due for completion in 2011.
The latest 5½km (3½ miles) is being constructed from existing and newly created rights of way on the fells of the Yorkshire Dales. The new section will be finished to national-trail standards between the Coal Road at Garsdale station and the northern boundary of the national park in Mallerstang.
The bridleway will cross Dandry Mire, pass the Moorcock Inn and Yore House before joining the High Way, part of the historic Lady Anne’s Way, the goes from Skipton to Penrith.
National park workers will install drainage and the new surface with minimal disruption to the surrounding vegetation and landscape.
Peter Lambert, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Pennine Bridleway project officer, said the authority had been working with local landowners and user groups.
“We have a unique opportunity to create a new section of bridleway through the magnificent Dales upland landscape.
“We are very grateful to the landowners, farmers and parish councils involved, for their help and co-operation which has been vital in getting the next phase off the ground.”
The latest link will add to the 77km (48 miles) of the Pennine Bridleway already constructed within the national park, from Long Preston via Settle, Malham Moor, Feizor, Austwick, Selside and Newby Head. The route crosses a national nature reserve and complex special area for conservation at Ingleborough.
The Yorkshire Dales authority is aiming to have 97 per cent of the route within its boundaries complete by March next year, with the rest being finished in 2011.
The Pennine Bridleway project is now involved in the search for new accommodation along the route, for both humans and horses, and has organised a business workshop in November to provide more information.
Funding for the new national trail has come from Natural England, along with a £1.8m grant from Sport England. The route follows old packhorse and drove roads, linking them with new sections. When complete, it will form part of the network of 15 national trails in England and Wales. Three link bridleways have been created to enable riders and walkers to join the trail from the West Pennines, West and South Yorkshire.
