Horseriders, walkers and cyclists can now travel in greater safety between two Dales villages.
Work has just finished on a new bridleway linking Clapham and Austwick that avoids the busy A65.
Until now, anyone travelling in either direction along the B6480 had to go on to the busy main road for about 400 metres before rejoining the quieter, minor road.
The new bridleway - a partnership project between the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, the Dales Integrated Transport Alliance and North Yorkshire County Council - cuts out the contact with traffic.
The project was launched following requests from the villages’ parish councils.
The YDNPA’s area ranger for Ribblesdale Steve Hastie said: “Over the years there has been a number of accidents on this section of the A65 - some involving cyclists using the main road as a link between the two sections of the B6480.
“The bridleway was originally requested by the two communities as a safe solution. Already the initial signs are that it will be very well used.”
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