Cat Kilner on a section of the improved path. Photo YDNPA

One of the Yorkshire Dales’ most impressive sites will be accessible to more people after work by the national park authority.

Work to improve the path to Gordale Scar, a deep limestone ravine with a double waterfall, should be complete by the end of this month. Wheelchair users and less able walkers should then be able to visit the base of the waterfall.

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority rangers, volunteers and participants on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award have all worked on the project, which involved improving drainage, flattening one section of the route and clearing scree debris.

Open Country, a Harrogate-based charity that encouraged people with disabilities to get into the countryside, also spent a day on the scheme.

Cat Kilner, the authority’s area ranger for Malhamdale and Lower Ribblesdale, said: “Although Gordale has always been more accessible than many areas in Malhamdale, the improvements will mean it will be much easier for everyone to reach the base of the waterfall.

Gordale Scar

“The path is often virtually washed out in heavy rain so we have improved the drainage to prevent this happening in the future. Another problem was that it was rather steep at one point so we have reduced the gradient there.

“We also have a problem with scree falling onto the path so we have organised a set of volunteers to regularly patrol the route and remove it, which means it should always be accessible.

“Gordale waterfall is a spectacular limestone feature with an apron of delicate tufa rock on its face that is created by calcium carbonate from the stream being deposited. It is only right that this area should be available for everyone to view.”