Mallerstang
A Yorkshire Dales High Way to hell has been transformed into a walkers’ heaven thanks to work by the national park authority.
The green lane, part of a route known as Lady Anne’s Way, was formerly open to motor vehicles, which led to it being deeply rutted and difficult to negotiate. Now, the High Way, leading from Hawes towards Kirkby Stephen through Mallerstang has been rebuilt and resurfaced, with motor traffic banned.
The track has historic connections with Lady Anne Clifford, daughter of the third Earl of Cumberland and owner of Skipton Castle. She is known to have used the route in the 17th century travelling between her ancestral seat and Brough, along what was then the main road for horse-drawn traffic.
Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has introduced a traffic regulation order on the green lane to stop the rutting recurring. Its status as a Byway Open to All Traffic has been downgraded and is now only open to walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders.
Matt Neale, the YNDPA’s area ranger for Upper Wensleydale, said: “As a BOAT, it had been used a lot by off-road motor vehicles – mainly motorbikes – and it was in a terrible condition, with ruts across its width, some almost waist deep. The condition was made worse by poor drainage.
The High Way before its improvement. Photo YDNPA
“It was dangerous for horses and we had a lot of complaints from walkers because you could easily twist your ankle.
“We have rebuilt the path and improved the drainage along the whole section, which is just over a kilometre long, and, due to the sensitive nature of the route, we have introduced a Traffic Regulation Order, which means recreational motor vehicles are banned from it.
“Now it is much easier to use and people will be able to enjoy the views as they travel along it instead of having to look down all the time and concentrate on where they put their feet.”
The improved section lies north-west of Hawes, at Cotter End. The year-long project saw the track surface stripped down to its base and virtually rebuilt.
Landowner Sandra Facer said: “The work by the national park authority has transformed it completely. It’s a huge improvement on what it was a year ago and the TRO will mean it should stay in this condition for a long time.”
The route after the High Way improvements. Photo: YDNPA
Born at Skipton Castle in 1590, Lady Anne Clifford was the third and only surviving child of George Clifford, third Earl of Cumberland, and his wife Margaret Russell.
She inherited the estate in 1643.and spent the next 26 years rebuilding almshouses, churches and castles including Skipton, Pendragon, Appleby, Brough and Brougham, where she finally died in 1676.
Lady Anne’s Way is a km 160km (100-mile) walking route from Skipton, south of the Yorkshire Dales national park boundary, to Penrith, on the edge of the Lake District. It can typically be walked in six days. It passes through Wharfedale, Askrigg, Hawes, Kirkby Stephen and Appleby.
