A donation from an organisation that promotes the responsible use of green lanes and public rights of way by recreational motor vehicle users has helped fund major repairs to a section of the historic Lady Anne Clifford Way near Hell Gill, on the Cumbria and North Yorkshire border.
The Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF) donated £4,700 towards a project to restore a badly rutted one kilometre stretch of byway that forms part of the Pennine Bridleway National Trail.
The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority carried out the work along sections of the route beginning approximately one kilometre above The Thrang in Mallerstang. Repairs were undertaken between the Watershed Monument and Hell Gill in Cumbria, and for around 500 metres beyond Hell Gill on the North Yorkshire side, where the condition of the route was particularly poor.
As a result of the repairs, the full width of the track can once again be used, helping to protect surrounding vegetation from further damage and improving the experience for everyone using this historic route.
The TRF has made several donations to the National Park Authority over the past decade, with funding directed towards maintaining green lanes and byways across the National Park.
Dave Craven, Chair of the Trail Riders Fellowship, said: “The Trail Riders Fellowship is committed to responsible and sustainable enjoyment of the countryside. We’re pleased to support this project, which will benefit all users of the Lady Anne Clifford Way and help protect the route for future generations. The TRF promotes a code of conduct for drivers, including recommendations to travel at a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour, slow down for walkers, stop for horse riders and keep group sizes small to reduce impacts on the countryside.”
Lizzie Bushby, Deputy Chair and Member Champion for Recreation Management at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said: “This was an important project on a well-used section of the Pennine Bridleway National Trail, and we are extremely grateful to the Trail Riders Fellowship for their generous contribution. Without this support, it would have been difficult to fund and carry out the work this year. The improvements have made a huge difference to the route and demonstrate what can be achieved through partnership working.”
