TRANSFORMATIONAL £310,000 plans for a tourist trail to highlight the unique heritage at Langcliffe Quarry, near Settle have been unveiled by North Yorkshire Council.

Buildings at the former limeworks and quarry were used as a waste depot for the former Craven District Council before a major £3.5m redevelopment was completed last year to turn the site into a business space.

Part of the planning application involved the preservation of the three historic kilns as they offer insight into Yorkshire’s lime-working industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Hoffman Kiln, built in 1873, is one of only seven surviving in the country and is one of the largest examples and best-preserved of its type in the UK. The site has also gained new significance as an important habitat for often rare and unusual birds and bats, proving a draw to visitors.

The project will see improved paths, information panels and listening posts installed as well as lost features re-established such as tramway rails.

The buildings are next to the Settle to Carlisle railway line, which historically brought in coal and transported the limestone.

It’s hoped a series of events could take place that explore the site’s development throughout the decades including guided walks, bird-watching days and special interest talks.

Earlier this month, North Yorkshire Council submitted a bid worth £155,000 to the government’s Shared Prosperity Fund that could help fund the project.

Councillors at a recent meeting of North Yorkshire Council's Skipton and Ripon area constituency committee also agreed to spend £25,000 towards developing designs.

A council spokesperson said: “The project aims to improve access around the site for a wider group of users, help people imagine the site in operation, and help them gain a better understanding and appreciation of the local lime-working industry.

“The outcomes of the project will make a positive contribution towards providing economic and cultural benefits for local businesses and people.”