The Pennine Bridleway is a new National Trail in the north of England, the first purpose-built long distance bridleway for horse riders, mountain bikers and walkers

Mary Towneley Loop

Mary Towneley Memorial, near Holme Chapel, Lancashire Mike WilliamsİNatural England

Generally this Loop is reasonably demanding because of the way it dips into and out of the steep sided South Pennine valleys.

There are a variety of tracks – grass gravel, grass, aggregate, stone causeway, stone setts as well as some short sections of tarmac. The going is not fast for horses because of the amount of stone track but there are some grassy sections too!

Particular care should be taken on the approaches to the A6033 crossing near Bottomley where the track either side of the road is very steep. To the north of the crossing the stone setts can be slippery when wet. Between the road crossing and Summit care is required as the route passes along Reddyshore Scout where there is a sheer drop on the east side.