The Settle-Carlisle Railway Development Company (SCRDC) has teamed up with a local charity to help support its accessibility festival in and around the Yorkshire Dales.

Support for the event is the first in a number of planned collaborations between SCRDC and Access the Dales to spearhead accessibility improvements along the route.

The CRP’s support included providing free, accessible transport from Kirkby Stephen Station into the town for festival visitors to attend a social ‘Try Your Hand at Boccia’ event. Boccia is a sit-down precision ball sport like bowls, originally designed to be played by people with cerebral palsy.

Joanne Oakey, general manager of the Settle-Carlisle Railway Development Company, said: “As a community rail partnership, we aim to provide a voice for the community, and promote sustainable and accessible travel, and we are excited to work with Access the Dales and Northern to improve accessibility along the Settle-Carlisle line.”

The partnership has also announced that the Ribblehead Station Café and Visitor Centre is now open for another summer season.

Reopened in 2017 after an extensive refurbishment, the venue has panoramic views of the Yorkshire Three Peaks and the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct, and is a popular stop-off point for visitors and locals alike.

The café is run by SCRDC and the Settle-Carlisle Trust, with local volunteers from the Friends of Settle-Carlisle Line, and is now open daily until October.

Find out more about the work of Settle to Carlisle CRP here.