After a 20 year battle for funding, the British Horse Society has secured the funding to open a bridleway in the Eden Valley.

Running from Kirkby Stephen to Ullswater, the 135km route will link with the Pennine Bridleway and launches on 24 June. Free route markers and way markers along the bridleway have been paid for with a £18,500 grant from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and DEFRA.

Pam Bonnick, of the Cumbria Bridleways Society said, "This is the first recognised network of maintained routes for horses in Cumbria."

Horse riding is a popular activity in Eden, and it is great that this is being recognised by the new bridleway.