(AGENPARL) – Mon 22 September 2025 News Release
Next steps for new accessible trail
in Wensleydale to be considered
Bainbridge, 22 September 2025
The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is pressing ahead with plans to create a safe, family friendly accessible trail along the disused railway line between Garsdale Station and Hawes, a project shaped by strong local support and a shared desire to make the Dales safer and more accessible for everyone.
In 2022, over 2,300 people took part in a public consultation – one of the most engaged in the Authority’s history – with nearly 80% backing the idea of a safe, inclusive route for walkers, wheelchair users, cyclists, and horse riders.
Since then, a dedicated Steering Group, including representatives from the National Park Authority and North Yorkshire Council, has been working to bring the route to life. A land agent has been employed to work with landowners along the route to secure access agreements, and while many have engaged positively, some have objected, or not responded.
To keep the project moving, the Authority is now considering a formal Public Path Creation Order under the Highways Act 1980. This legal process would seek to establish the proposed route as a bridleway. Interested parties can submit objections to the Order at this stage, and if these cannot be resolved the matter would be referred to the Secretary of State for a decision.
At their meeting on 30 September, Members of the National Park Authority will be asked to support the proposed approach to making a Creation Order, which, if ultimately confirmed, would formally establish access along the former Wensleydale railway line.
Lizzie Bushby, Deputy Chair and Member Champion for Recreation Management at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority said: “In the initial consultation just under 80% of those responding embraced the vision of a shared use bridleway, highlighting the community’s support for a safe, inclusive travel corridor.
“In their responses, many local residents spoke movingly about the need for a safe way for children to walk and cycle away from the fast and narrow roads that pose daily risks. Their comments reveal real stories: parents picturing stress-free strolls with prams, grandparents hoping to rediscover the old line on foot, and those less mobile dreaming of barrier-free access.
“It’s now down to us to make this happen and the decision that Members will take on the 30th is an important milestone in that journey”.
The route of the former railway line has long been protected in local planning documents to preserve the option of reinstating the railway. With that unlikely in the short term, the focus is now on creating an attractive, accessible trail that benefits families, older residents, and those with limited mobility. Most importantly it gives children a safe and scenic way to explore their local community.
The project also holds real potential to boost the local economy, encouraging sustainable tourism and supporting local business in the Upper Wensleydale area.
Ends
Images
The line of the former railway as it approaches Hawes 📸 Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.
By way of example, some views of users on the Pennine Bridleway and users of other accessible routes in the National Park can be downloaded here.
Cycling and mountain biking around Clapham and Austwick 📸 Paul Harris
Horse riders on the Pennine Bridleway above Mallerstang 📸 Paul Harris
Walking and wheeling to Malham Cove 📸 Yorkshire Dales National Park
Miles without Stiles at Aysgarth Falls 📸 Stephen Garnett
About the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority:
The Board of Members of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is comprised of 10 Secretary of State appointed Members. Four represent the parishes within the National Park, the remainder are national appointees. 15 Members are appointed to represent North Yorkshire, Westmorland and Furness and Lancashire Council’s.
The Yorkshire Dales National Park is one of 15 National Parks in the UK. It is administered by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, which has two main purposes: “to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage” and “to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the National Park”. In carrying out these purposes, the Authority has a duty “to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities”. The National Park Authority comprises 25 members, made up of county and district councillors and members appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment to represent parishes or in recognition of their specialist skills or knowledge.
All our work is guided by the vision for the future of the National Park set out in the Yorkshire Dales National Park Management Plan: “Through their passion for this special place, local people and businesses will keep the Yorkshire Dales National Park a thriving area. Its unique cultural landscape will be treasured for its stunning scenery, exceptional heritage and wonderful wildlife, and every year millions of people will be inspired to be a part of it.”