Pennine National Trails Partnership manager Jo McAllister hands the new map to Phil Atherton at Sulber on Ingleborough

Staff handing out copies of a new map on the slopes of Ingleborough began to question their choice of day to launch the promotion as rain lashed the fell.

But national trail workers were eventually rewarded by the sight of mountain biker Phil Atherton emerging from the drizzle at Sulber, on the Pennine Bridleway.

The Kendal man was among the first to receive a copy of the Harvey waterproof map, which shows the entire roue of the national trail, from the Peak District in Derbyshire to Ravenstonedale in Cumbria.

Mr Atherton, who was in the nearby Yorkshire Dales village of Clapham for work, decided to take to the hills at lunchtime. He said: “I read an article about the Pennine Bridleway and had to see it.

“Since I was over here, I thought I’d come out to do a little bit more of it. I’ve never had anything given to me like this before.”

Harvey Maps has produced the new publication with support from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s sustainable development fund. The authority is the lead partner of the Pennine National Trails Partnership, which looks after the route on behalf of Natural England.

Nick Cotton, member champion for recreation management at the national park authority, said: “Thank you to Mr Atherton for being a good sport by posing for a photo and receiving a map.

“All of us who know the benefits of horse riding, cycling or walking can help spread the word about the Pennine Bridleway. Even in the wet, it’s a great route. Sections of the trail are accessible to those with limited mobility, too.

“The purpose of making a map which covers the entire Pennine Bridleway is to encourage more people to discover and enjoy the route. As a national trail it is not yet 10 years old, so many people may not have heard of it.

“It runs through some very high places – a horse rider described it recently as ‘big skies all the way’. It may be a little early to talk of the festivities to come, but the map would make an excellent stocking filler.”

Adam King, chief executive of Harvey Maps, said: “It has been a pleasure working with the Pennine National Trails Partnership and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s sustainable development fund to publish this map which will assist anyone wanting to travel this beautiful and diverse route, on foot, by bike or on horseback.

“The map is specially designed to enable confident navigation along the way and opens up many more opportunities for use of this multi-purpose trail. This waterproof map covers the entire Pennine Bridleway national trail with added information on accommodation, planning, places to visit, horsebox parking and more.”

The 205-miles (330km) route runs roughly parallel to the original Pennine Way but can be accessed by those on bikes and horses as well as by walkers. There are 15 national trails in England and Wales, along with the England Coast Path which, when finalised will join the list of long-distance paths and bridleways.