Pennine Bridleway | National Trail

Location: North of England.

Length: 130 miles of route is now open; 73 miles through Derbyshire to the South Pennines, the 47 mile Mary Towneley Loop and the 10 mile Settle Loop.

Average number of days to complete: Derbyshire to Mary Towneley Loop is a 5-7 day horse ride/walk and a 3-5 day cycle. The Loop itself is a 3-4 day horse ride/walk and a 2-3 day cycle. Once open, the full route (350 miles) is likely to take 3-4 weeks to horse ride/walk and 2 weeks to cycle.

Users: When fully open, 100% will be available for horse riders, mountain bikers and walkers. 5 miles north of Hayfield there is currently a stretch not yet open to horses (see Planning A Trip pages for further information). A suitable route is currently being negotiated with construction likely over the next 2 to 3 years. Interim routes are waymarked for walkers & mountain bikers.

Highest point: There are 2 highest points on the 130 mile open section, both at approximately 465m (1563ft).  In Derbyshire the highest point is South Head Hill, in between Roych Clough and Hayfield, and Top of Leach is the highest point on the Mary Towneley Loop. The total ascent around the Mary Towneley Loop is 1125m (3690ft).

Start point:

• Cyclists - Middleton Top near Middleton-by-Wirksworth, Derbyshire (High Peak Trail).
• Horse riders - the old Hartington Station (Tissington Trail - with purpose built facilities).
• Walkers can start from either location. Both routes join up south of Parsley Hay.

Finish point: This obviously depends on which way you choose to travel along the Derbyshire to MTL section – if travelling southwards, from the MTL, then the end points are the same as the starting ones listed above.  If you choose to just use the linear southern section, then the finish point is at Summit, where it joins the MTL, although you may be tempted to continue on round the Loop.  Access points to the MTL within 1.6km (1mile) of Walsden, Todmorden and Hebden Bridge stations. For vehicular access, carparks at Clowbridge Reservoir (5km (3 miles) south of Burnley), Watergrove Reservoir (4km (2.5 miles) from Littleborough). At present the Settle Loop is not connected to the rest of the Trail but it makes a great day's ride or walk.  Parking is available for users of the Loop, in Settle's Greenfoot car park or you can park in Stainforth and ride south to the Settle Loop.

Landscape: Green fields bounded by dry stone walls - light grey, almost white in the Peak and Yorkshire Dales National Parks but dark, sometimes smoke blackened gritstone in the South Pennines. Heather moors, purple in late summer, hidden reservoirs nestling in the hills. Ancient packhorse tracks skirting hills and sweeping into valleys. Mill chimneys and canals offering a glimpse of past industries.

Highlights: Flora and fauna all around you in the vibrant, clean and green Chee Dale Nature Reserve, part of the Wye Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest.   Stunning views over the Kinder plateau either side of the exhilarating yet peaceful Roych Clough (one of Britain’s classic mountain bike rides).  Panoramic views of the Pennines and valleys in Calderdale, Rochdale and Lancashire, scenic views over Widdop, Hurstwood and Watergrove reservoirs, the 6 compartmented water trough at Mankinholes, the Rochdale Canal. Classic Yorkshire Dales limestone landscape surrounds the Settle Loop, including great views of the nationally important Malham Tarn.

Trail Officers favourite part: Bottomley to Erringden Moor following an old packhorse route with views across the Calder Valley.

Nearest towns: On the Derbyshire section New Mills is 3 miles (5km) from Hayfield; Buxton for Cheedale and Hartington is about 13km (8 miles) and Matlock is the nearest large town to Middleton, which is approximately 8km (5 miles). The Mary Towneley Loop is 19km (12 miles) to the North of Manchester, 5km (3 miles) from Rochdale, 3km (2miles) from Burnley, 1.5km (1 mile) from Hebden Bridge, 21km (13 miles) from Huddersfield, 19km (12miles) from Bradford, 32km (20 miles) from Leeds and 16km (10 miles) from Blackburn.

Access:

• For Middleton Top, the nearest rail station is Cromford, which is a mile from the start of the High Peak Trail.
• Alternatively, catch the train to Matlock (via Derby) and transfer to buses.
• There is a rail service from Manchester to Buxton every hour with onward bus services to Hartington, Chelmorton and Wormhill.
• Leeds is 2 hours from London, Manchester 2 ½ hours from London.
• There is a train service to Rochdale (15 minutes from Manchester, 80 minutes from Leeds) which also services Littleborough, Walsden, Todmorden and Hebden Bridge. Hebden Bridge is 40 minutes from Manchester, 55 minutes from Leeds. Change at Hebden Bridge for trains to Burnley (a fifteen minute journey).
• Settle is easily accessible by train from Leeds, Bradford and Skipton and is the start of the famous Settle to Carlisle railway.  The service does carry bicycles although you should book in advance.

Information available:

• Currently under development, the route from the Mary Towneley Loop to the Fat Lamb Inn, Cumbria will be 330km (206 miles) and is due to open in 2011.
• The Northern Extension from Cumbria to Byrness, Northumberland has been approved by the Secretary of State and will add 225 km(141) miles to the distance giving a total of 555km (347 miles).  Unfortunately funding for the devlopment of this section of the route has not been secured & work has yet to begin. 
• Please see our publications page - The Mary Towneley Loop and Settle Loop Maps and a Holiday Guide are available from Natural England Tel: 0300 060 2743 or order via this website (see Publications). The Harvey Map: Pennine Bridleway Derbyshire to the South Pennines, price £9.95 and an Aurum National Trail Handbook The Pennine Bridleway: Derbyshire to the South Pennines, £12.99 are available from bookshops and Tourist Information Centres or visit our Publications page for their website / phone numbers.

Julie Thompson, c/oNatural England, 3rd Floor, Bridgewater House, Whitworth Street, Manchester, M1 6LT.
Telephone: 0300 060 1840 
Email: pbw.info@naturalengland.org.uk

For signposting, repairs and route inquiries please contact the Pennine Bridleway Rangers:

Mary Towneley Loop Ranger -  Bill Brady 01282 868409 (leave a message) william.brady@lancashire.gov.uk

Derbyshire and Tameside Ranger - Karen Turnbull 01663 746222 or Mobile 07920 210686  karen.turnbull@derbyshire.gov.uk