Drystone Radio

The Pennine Bridleway is a new National Trail in the north of England, being planned and designed specifically for horse riders, off-road cyclists and walkers to enjoy. It will eventually run from the High Peak Trail in Derbyshire to Byrness, Northumberland, a distance of 560km (350 miles) and is due to be opened as funding allows.

Its creation has been made possible to date mainly through financial support from Natural England and a Sport England award of Ł1.8 million.

The section through the National Park is being funded by Natural England, with support from the YDNPA and North Yorkshire County Council, with additional funding from Yorkshire Forward.

The first section of the Trail in the Yorkshire Dales National Park – the Settle Loop – was opened in August 2005 and has already proved to be hit with users.

The 10-mile (16km) circuit starts and finishes in Settle and stretches east towards Malham. It was created to provide a day trip excursion for horse riders, mountain bikers and walkers wanting to spend time exploring the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales rather than just passing through on their way up or down the Trail.

In 1986, Mary Towneley rode from Derbyshire to Northumberland to highlight the state of the country’s bridleways and support the need for the Pennine Bridleway National Trail. A circular route, called the Mary Towneley Loop, includes Hebden Bridge and Todmorden and forms part of the 130 miles of the route already open to the public.

Anyone wanting more information about the Pennine Bridleway National Trail can visit its website at www.nationaltrail.co.uk/penninebridleway.

Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas.
It conserves and enhances the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings. It increases opportunities to make the natural environment an enriching part of people's everyday lives, and improves its long term security by contributing to the sustainable management of our natural resources.

Farmers and landowners have been given a big thank you for their help in the on-going development of a 52-mile section of the Pennine Bridleway National Trail through the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Gareth Evans, the YDNPA’s Pennine Bridleway Project Officer, said: “The farmers and landowners have played a vital role in enabling us to open up the trail through the National Park.

“We would not be able to do it without their involvement and co-operation and we are very grateful for their continued support.”