A £221,000 tourism-boosting scheme which will enable families to explore a section of a national park without the need for cars has been launched.

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority member and Richmondshire District Council leader Councillor Yvonne Peacock said it was hoped the Swale Trail – a unique facility in the national park – would serve as a key attraction for both residents and visitors to the area.

The 12-mile easy-going off-road route across the valley from Reeth to Keld has brought together sections of bridleway and unsurfaced, unclassified roads and has seen work to upgrade the surfaces, improving drainage and protecting sections which have suffered from river bank erosion and flooding.

It is being particularly marketed towards mountain bikers, walkers, horse riders, people with mobility difficulties and families with buggies.

Cllr Peacock, who opened the trail on Sunday, said while the area had become renowned for its routes featured in international cycling races such as the Tour de France, the absence of cycle routes for families had been recognised as a major gap in the visitor offer of the area.

She said the authorities had been keen to back it partly because it would open sources of income for Swaledale’s traders, and in particular the villages of Reeth, Gunnerside and Keld.

The three villages have 11 shops selling gifts and crafts, two outdoor pursuits businesses, two museums, 17 food outlets and three general stores as well as a wide variety of accommodation.

She said: “Swaledale has more narrow roads than other places and cycling along them is a worry for parents, who as a result can’t really enjoy the scenery.

“With the launch of the Swale Trail, the second that parents get on their bikes they can enjoy the ride.”

A University of Central Lancashire study in 2015 estimated the Swale Trail would initially see up to 15,000 visitors per annum, which could grow as service facilities develop around it.

The academics said the trail’s economic benefit – even allowing for some displacement from other activities in the area – could be up to £420,000 per annum for the local economy.

The trail has been funded through £98,000 from The Yorkshire Dales LEADER programme, £50,000 from the council’s Economic Growth Fund , £60,000 from the park authority and £13,000 from the Pennine Trails National Trails Partnership.

Cllr Peacock said: “We thought it was important, both economically and socially. It has taken a lot of work, particularly as one section of the route collapsed at one point. “This will have a big knock-on effect by making Swaledale more accessible to families. It has been shown that if children come to the Yorkshire Dales with their parents they are more likely to return as adults.

“However, this is not just for visitors, local residents will also benefit.”