The decision by Natural England to set up a new working party to study ways of reviving ancient but little used rights of way has been given a cautious welcome by the Country Land and Business Association - with a big proviso attached.

Unearthing historical evidence on long-defunct routes is no way to create a modern joined-up access network

Douglas Chalmers - CLA

The CLA will become one of the “stake-holders in the new study group – but is demanding that any newly discovered routes be part of a “joined-up” system of rural access rights.

Douglas Chalmers, Director CLA North, commented:"Unearthing historical evidence on long-defunct routes is no way to create a modern joined-up access network, as was demonstrated by the discontinued and discredited Discovering Lost Ways project.

“This, after five years and nearly £5 million, failed to get a single route onto the definitive map. The new group must learn from this and look forward to what is needed now and in the future.

"This working group cannot be distracted by historic evidence of routes that have never been used in the vain hope that, if opened, they would create a joined-up network for modern needs. This will simply continue a network that is under-resourced and under-used, offering little practicality for most people.”

The Yorkshire Dales are criss-crossed by dozens of ancient routes which have long-since been of any use. They include paths to old tin and lead mine workings long since abandoned and pack-horse trails which fell into disuse when new roads were created for horse-drawn carriages and wagons, never mind modern motor traffic.