A new walking, cycling and horse riding route from Harrogate to Ripley will be formally opened on Saturday 25th May 2013.
The new Nidderdale Greenway has been created by reopening the railway viaduct and part of the Harrogate to Ripon railway line for public use.
At 11am a new portrait bench will be unveiled located between Bilton lane and the viaduct, followed by a ribbon cutting on the Nidd Viaduct at 11:20am.
Festivities on Saturday, including circus skills and stalls, will be held at the Ripley end of the route giving pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders an incentive to try this accessible and popular three mile route.
The route is part of a national project from charity Sustrans, backed by the Big Lottery Fund, which is providing new walking and cycling links from where people live to work, school, shops and leisure facilities in communities across the UK.
Sustrans’ Regional Director for Yorkshire and The Humber, David Hall said:
Re-opening Nidd Viaduct and extending the Harrogate railway path to Ripley has been a long term local community aspiration.
Walking and cycling tourism is booming in the UK and this new route will make the dales more accessible and enjoyable on foot and by bike.
Walking and cycling is fantastic for our health and for the economy and it is great to see Yorkshire enjoying the benefits of such an important investment.
We’re pleased to have been able to work closely with Harrogate Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the local community, to deliver this project.
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Caroline James, Big Lottery Fund spokesperson said
The £50 million investment has enabled Sustrans to connect communities all across the UK. The latest route from Harrogate to Ripley means that cyclists, walkers and horse riders can travel over an iconic viaduct and get to their destination without any interference from busy traffic. The new routes encourage safer, healthier and more engaged communities
