Active travel is defined as a journey where all, or part of the trip has involved some form of physical activity. In rural areas and protected landscapes forms of active travel would include walking, wheeling (wheelchair or active mobility aid), cycling and horse riding.
The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is embarking on an exciting new project to improve active travel opportunities in and around the National Park by developing an Active Travel plan for the National Park.
The Active Travel Plan will focus on identifying, prioritising and developing safe and accessible walking, wheeling, cycling and, where suitable, horse-riding routes into- and around the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It will also focus on key connections across the National Park, linking up communities and improving connections with gateway towns on the fringes of the National Park.
The work of producing an Active Travel Plan has been made possible by a grant of £100,000 received from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) executive agency responsible for making active travel the preferred choice of getting around – Active Travel England. More information on the grant fund from the DfT can be found on their website.
We are working closely with the three local authorities that cover the National Park which are North Yorkshire Council, Westmorland and Furness Council and Lancashire Council County along with the local authorities around the National Park and other key stakeholders on this project.
Latest update – June 2025
Public consultation second round
Thank you to all the residents, visitors, and organisations that have filled in the second round of public consultation on the draft active travel network active travel. Overall, the second round of the public consultation received 200 comments. All the comments and suggestions received are being reviewed and will help shape the draft Active Travel Network around the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
The draft Active Travel network can still be viewed on the interactive map contained within the second round public consultation survey – Yorkshire Dales National Park Active Travel Plan
Please note – the Active Travel Network is an aspirational network of routes and schemes; lines on the interactive map indicate links between settlements, transport hubs, visitor destinations, and other points of interest around the National Park. No specific routes have been identified at this point in the Active Travel Plan.
A further update on the progress of the Active Travel Plan is expected in July 2025.
Contact us: Email: access@yorkshiredales.org.uk I Access & Recreation Team, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Colvend, Hebden Road, Grassington, North Yorkshire. BD23 5LB
We cannot guarantee that every suggestion will have been incorporated into the active travel plan, the consultation data and information are central to ensuring that the public has input into improvements of active travel opportunities, and the rights of way network in the Yorkshire Dales.