THE FOUNDER of the Dales Way will mark the 50th anniversary of its creation with a talk in Rawdon.

Yorkshire Dales Society chairman Colin Speakman will talk about the long distance footpath at Rawdon Community Library. The Aireborough Civic Society event will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday, May 30.

A spokesman said: “The Dales Way walk started in 1969. The Dales Way is now one of the most popular long distance paths stretching more than 80 miles from Windermere in the Lake District almost to his front door in Ilkley.

“In fact few people know more about walking in the Yorkshire Dales than Colin does. Colin has written over 50 books, many about the Yorkshire countryside.”

Admission is free for Aireborough Civic Society members or £4 for non-members, who can also join on the night for free entry.

The Dales Way follows mostly riverside paths through the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the foothills of southern Lakeland.